autotop off

[Azazael13]

I have a 30 gallon sump that I want to put an ATO in. What are some options that are too costly? My reservoir will most likely be a 5-7gal bucket (no room for much else). I would prefer an all in one option. (meaning I don't need to buy a different pump).

Thanks.

[flyguy7150]

gravity fed...check out my build thread red house

[Azazael13]

only problem with that is that the ATO will be sitting at the same level as the sump. My wife has made it painfully clear that nothing is to be outside the stand...

[jgoodrich71]

I have the AquaMedic Auto top off, used to replace evaporated water with kalkwasser. I am happy with it. Cost less than $100. I have had it a little over a year. I had to replace the peristaltic tubing once (it comes with 1 replacement). The only negative I can say about it, is that it makes a loud clunking noise when it come on.

For less than $100 for a peristaltic pump with an attached float switch, I am happy with it.

[Eklikewhoa]

TUNZE

[Azazael13]

tunze doesn't fit the whole 'not expensive' part though

[drstupid]

i have the reeffanatic top off controller (see reefgeek) and use an aqualifter on top of a 5 gallon bucket as the reservoir. under $100 for the lot, including tubing.

i don't think you want more than a 5 gallon reservoir anyways, so you can't flood the system with fresh water if a switch fails.

i have the controller setup with a high water and a low water float switch, so if the water level gets too high it will shut off the top off pump (safety first). you can alternatively set up the second switch in the reservoir to shut off the pump if the water level in that gets too low. the aqualifter can run dry, so no need for that.

i like the aqualifter because it's cheap, can run dry, it's reliable (i've run kalk through it for over a year without cleaning it), and it won't do more than 3 gallons an hour so it's hard to screw up your system if you have a switch failure.

[DamnPepShrimp]

drstupid, is this what you use?

http://www.reefgeek.com/equipment/Fl...y_Reef_Fanatic

It comes with everything you need, you just have to supply your own bucket? Doesn't need to be a 5g right? So no pumps I assume, it's just gravity fed to your sump, so it can run dry?

Azazael13, I'm in the same boat, I really can't have anything outside the stand, so I have to come up with a similar solution.

[cloak]

Kent float valve. This one is one a timer so every six hours the tank will get a dose. Had it for years with no problems. Wasn't very expensive.

[ganjero]

So dosing kal with the aqualifter, isnt that too much too fast?

Originally posted by drstupid
i have the reeffanatic top off controller (see reefgeek) and use an aqualifter on top of a 5 gallon bucket as the reservoir. under $100 for the lot, including tubing.

i don't think you want more than a 5 gallon reservoir anyways, so you can't flood the system with fresh water if a switch fails.

i have the controller setup with a high water and a low water float switch, so if the water level gets too high it will shut off the top off pump (safety first). you can alternatively set up the second switch in the reservoir to shut off the pump if the water level in that gets too low. the aqualifter can run dry, so no need for that.

i like the aqualifter because it's cheap, can run dry, it's reliable (i've run kalk through it for over a year without cleaning it), and it won't do more than 3 gallons an hour so it's hard to screw up your system if you have a switch failure.

[Rosseau]

I just ordered something along these lines...

http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html




The JBJ ATO is pretty cheap also.

[drstupid]

Originally posted by ganjero
So dosing kal with the aqualifter, isnt that too much too fast?

no, it's been fine with my system at least. i evaporate 2-5 gallons a day on maybe 150 gallons total volume, depending on the season. i add kalk about 4 tablespoons at a time, once a week, pretty much based on my PH, when it drops below 8 i add more. too much at once makes my skimmer go nuts. i do need to add sodium chloride occasionally, the kalk + calcium reactor can't keep my calcium up where i like it (430+ is my baseline). i'm considering making a kalk reactor, haven't decided it's worth the extra effort yet.

pepshrimp, that's the controller. you need your own bucket, and a pump (if you pay $10 for an aqualifter you're getting reamed). the aqualifter is basically a diaphram air pump that can draw water, it's very simple in design and can run dry. perfect if you don't have space for gravity fed, like azazael's situation.

i think that two float switches are more failsafe than one float valve, but that's me. others disagree. i rely on the facts that the pump can't dose quickly and the reservoir can't hold much.

[drstupid]

they've gotten more expensive, but this is the pump:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~OE1137.html

[DamnPepShrimp]

drstupid, do I need that air pump if I can run a gravity drain back into the sump? I may have room, so all I'd need is that auto top of kit? So it's best to put your 2 part in the auto top off so it's added that way?

[drstupid]

the reeffanatic is an electronic controller, it typically drives a pump. i guess you could get a solenoid that it could open, but you're probably better off with a float switch if you want to use gravity.

i've never heard of adding two part to the top off. i add kalk, ganjero expressed a common opinion about that practice (rate of evaporation does not correspond to need for calcium).

[Azazael13]

This seems ok to me.
http://www.aquahub.com/store/product26.html I would just need a small powerhead or pump to go with it.

[Josh125]

Pick up a used litermeter I, it may take a while to score one but for the cost (should be ~100) it is absolutly the most fail proof and trusted top off unit out there.

[Husky_1]

Originally posted by Azazael13
This seems ok to me.
http://www.aquahub.com/store/product26.html I would just need a small powerhead or pump to go with it.

That is what I use, except I got the next version that has 3 float switches. I put the 3rd in my ATO reservoir which is a 5 gallon bucket with a MJ400 pushing it. To make the system a stand nice in the bucket I made a little pvc tripod so that the pump and sloshguard are at approppriate levels.

[OliverM3]

could you elevate it if it wasn't a bucket?
I use a square tote to hold 5g with a $15 Kent float.
So it only cost me about $20 total for an auto top off that lasts me a week.
There are some pics in my gallery.

[hyperfocal]

I use the Spectrapure LLC-S. It's a bit more expensive, but I like the fact that it has no moving parts in contact with the salt water -- so no potential for salt creep to jam things up.

[opiumpipez]

Originally posted by Rosseau
I just ordered something along these lines...

http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html




The JBJ ATO is pretty cheap also.

ill back the aquahub ato. simple, easy. i believe it is aroudn $40.
forget tunze if you are on a budget.

[Azazael13]

Placed an order for the aquahub ato and an aqualifter pump to go with it. Thanks all

[lilchris]

Try the ATO from fishbowl innovations. It is a controller w/ a timer on it. It will shut down after (how ever many minutes you have it set for)if the float switches malfunction and doesn't break connection. It is a cool little unit. The only thing is that you will have to buy a pump. I have a aquamedic pump on mine and dose kalkwasser. Before that I had a maxijet setting in my reservoir. The entire thing will cost around 100 bucks. DOn't know if you are going to get an all in one setup for much less than that.

[ganjero]

what about using a digital timer with the aqualifter?

[DamnPepShrimp]

So all you need with this http://www.aquahub.com/store/product26.html
is a reservoir and a small pump? I have a rio600 I could use, assuming that will work? Seems pretty simple enough, comes with 2 float valves, fits the budget nicely.