Considering ATO

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

(not sure how, as they are pretty simple mechanical devices).

salt creep, snails?

[paddyob]

Thanks. Appreciate the input.

[whatcaneyedo]

I used a simple float valve and bucket for a few years. It worked well except then I wanted to start including kalkwasser in my ATO which would cause the valve to plug up all of the time. I would also manually fill the bucket which meant packing about 15 gal of water across the basement each week. To deal with the kalkwasser issue I bought a used Tunze ATO for $50. It lasted for about 5 years until recently the photo eye started to act up. Sometimes it wouldn't start and sometimes it wouldn't stop. Rather than replace it with a new system I recently just added two float switches and a maxi jet to my Apex and programmed it to do the ATO. So far so good so I'll just leave it alone for now.

To cut back on my weekly bucket brigading and for a few other reasons I've got an RO/DI on a solenoid controlled by the Apex to top off a fresh water can three times a week. I recall reading somewhere that its not good for the membrane to run short bursts of water through it so this allows me to run it non stop for a couple of hours at a time. It also means that if something sticks on I won't flood the aquarium with an excessive amount of freshwater.

[Money pit]

My first was a JBJ, my second is a Tunze. I like the Tunze better, but I would recommend either depending on your budget.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Myka

I won't use anything other than a Tunze Osmolator. Never had any issues with them. I have two that are 3 or 4 years old.



Agreed. 100%



If there is a malfunction the difference is a wet floor vs a potential crash from sudden salinity drop. I know of at least 2 or 3 tanks that have had complete crashes this way. Redundancy is insurance, laziness is risk.

Malfunction is highly unlikely if even posible. The solenoids fail in off position and even if one fails the second one will prevent failure. Max on time is set with profilux or timer so even if float fails sump will only fill slightly over float. Profilux also has alarm for this case.

How would such a system fail? More likely one would forget to fill reservoir, pump runs dry and fails, tank crash.

Don't mistake laziness with convenience or progress for that matter.

[ALang]

Originally Posted by Reefie

I'm running one, just got sick of manually topping off. It paid for itself over the summer as my place has a ton of windows and lots of natural sunlight.

I'd recommend the Tunze Osmolator, super simple to install. Just keep the Top Off tube out of the water or use a check valve. I kept mine out of the water just because if you don't it will back-siphon. The instructions don't mention any of that, I had it submerged, so guess what happened to me? Haha!

Exactly what he said.
I'd never go without one again.
I have a 30gal top-off tank that I fill only about once a week. Great for going on short holidays.

[molotov]

I plan on using one of these.

http://www.conceptaquatics.ca/index....o-top-off.html

No solonoids, no pumps, no electricity, just plain physics. I can't see there being anything more reliable, simple and straight forward. Of course you'd want to have it plumbed to a reservoir. I cannot see anyone plumbing an ATO to an endless water supply.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by molotov

I plan on using one of these.

http://www.conceptaquatics.ca/index....o-top-off.html

No solonoids, no pumps, no electricity, just plain physics. I can't see there being anything more reliable, simple and straight forward. Of course you'd want to have it plumbed to a reservoir. I cannot see anyone plumbing an ATO to an endless water supply.

Manual floats are less reliable than electronic. Electronic has endless capabilities for redundancy and safety back-ups. Salt creep alone is enough to keep a manual float from closing.

[ScubaSteve]

I've got a Tunze ATO. By far THE BEST investment I've made for my tank.

[molotov]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Manual floats are less reliable than electronic. Electronic has endless capabilities for redundancy and safety back-ups. Salt creep alone is enough to keep a manual float from closing.

I completely agree that salt creep would be enough to keep a manual float from closing. I also think salt creep could also cause a float switch to fail as well.

For redundancy using a mechanical float switch, I would position one mechanical float slightly higher than the main float. Should the main float ever fail, the higher float would cut water to the failed float. My thinking could be flawed but I've read quite a few reviews on BRS and people swear by them. I am new to this and definetly no pro so anyways those are just my thoughts.