ATO Pumps

[mike31154]

If you can find a way to position a top off container above your sump, you can set up a gravity fed ATO through a mechanical float valve. No electricity or pump involved. My system is sumpless, not feasible to do that, so I'm using a small air pump on a timer to pressurize a glass wine carboy. The air pressure pushes the water via tubing to a mechanical float valve in the display. Not the prettiest setup, but has worked almost trouble free for years. Only issues I've had is the digital timer getting out of whack & failing to keep the pressure up. This happened randomnly a few times until I switched to a more reliable timer a few months ago. So far so good. With gravity feed top off, there are really only two failure scenarios, both of them highly unlikely. Mechanical valve stuck open or closed. Gravity will always be there, with or without electricity.

[daplatapus]

I'm running the Tunze osmolator. Nice unit but on the pricey side at $200 or so.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

I'm running the Tunze osmolator. Nice unit.

+1 on Tunze very reliable. Have it running for years now. Pump is very good also except when you use it as a doser and drop dissolved solids to a top off reservoir, then the pump will not live for long, if you just dose clear water and avoid dry runs, the pump will last for a very long time. Even if it doesn't live long, its only $23 to replace.