ato or no ato
 

im going to build a new sump and am considering an auto top off this time to make life easier but i havent actually seen one functioning and was wondering if someone could give me a step by step or pic by pic on the system and how it works

ATO will make your life better.
period.

set up is easy, I use a tunze osmolator.
no drilling required, all you do is mount the infrared sensor at the appropriate level and then put the pump into some r/o water with the return also mounted in your tank and your off...


aside from my aquacontroller, best piece of equipment I have ever bought.

I use the JBJ one and IMO is one of the more important pieces of equipment on a tank. Keeps everything stable, keep water level the same for your skimmer, ect.

Mine is as simple as having the float valves in the sump at the level I want the water and then a 30G garbage can behind my stand. RO water that is pumped into the sump through tubing with a maxijet 1200 when the float valve trips. Thats it. I fill up the garbage can about once every week and a half or so. I tend to just top it off randomly but it nice not to have to worry about top off water all the time.

Once you use a good ATO, you'll wonder how you ever got by without one.

I use an Osmolator.

After now having one can't see now going without.

I'm just using a humidifier float valve from HD, mounted on a bracket attached diagonally in the corner of the sump so I wouldn't have to drill the side.

Though I'm using the float valve connected directly to my ro/di (no TDS creep btw) it could just as easily be hooked up to a storage container above the sump.

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h316/das75/float.jpg

after reading these posts I think I've got to get a ato unit instead of manually doing it. For some reason I always thought it would be more complicated to set up.

If you build or buy be very carefull. There are lots of horror stories on nano-reef.com where ATO have killed the tanks.

A good one is invaluable I'm sure but if not built correctly a turbo snail can kill your reef.

Osmolater is the way to go...
If it runs for more than 5 minutes it shuts down. There's also a high water level alarm built in.
RC

I use a cheap gravity fed pond float, Kent makes one and I think similar is available from other places, it goes in your sump and total cost was under $30. I've been using the same one for years.

Douglas

i definately want to get one but i dont understand how they work still, sometimes im just to dense i guess lol