I purchased the AutoAqua Smart Skimmer Security (SSS) controller last week and thought I would share my initial impressions since there are no other reviews of this product on R2R.
A couple of weeks ago my skimmer pump died after nearly 5 years of use. I replaced the pump but was having difficulty getting the new one dialed in. Consequently, my skimmer cup overflowed a few times filling the floor of my aquarium stand with water. I could just turn my skimmer off for the duration of my trip, but I prefer to have it running.
While purchasing some other supplies on BRS, I came across the SSS for $59.99. It advertises a magnetically mounted optical sensor that sticks to the side of your skimmer collection cup. You plug your skimmer into the included switch. When the liquid in the cup reaches the height of the sensor, the skimmer power is automatically turned off. Thinking that this would be a simple solution to my problem, I ordered it.
When the SSS arrived, installation took just a few minutes. The sensor sticks to the outside of the skimmer cup with a small disk going on the inside.
I plugged the included switch into my power strip and the skimmer cord into the switch. Initially, nothing happened. My skimmer was not switched on. I thought that the sensor was not installed correctly. After fiddling with it for several minutes, I read in the directions that there is a 5 minute delay in the switch when it is plugged in. Apparently, this is to prevent false alarms due to power outages. After five minutes, my skimmer switched on. Next, I purposely overflowed my skimmer to test the product. Once the water level rose to cover the disk on the inside of the cup, the skimmer switched off and the switch emitted a continuous beeping sound and began blinking. Resetting the SSS requires the sensor to be removed from the skimmer cup so it can be emptied and the switch to be reset (turned off and back on).
Summary:
Pros:
- The SSS does exactly what it advertises: Turns off your skimmer, preventing the cup from overflowing causing potential damage and water loss.
-Very simple installation. I don't have much high tech gear on my tank in an effort to keep things simple. I liked that this was just plug and play.
-The audible alarm that this sounds is very loud, alerting me that my skimmer has been switched off.
-The sensor mounts firmly to the skimmer cup.
-The instructions are brief but clearly written with helpful illustrations.
Cons:
-When emptying the skimmer cup, the sensor must be removed and the switch must be reset. I didn't find this step to be that inconvenient, although it is an extra step that must be performed every time water touches the sensor or the sensor is taken off the cup. (Note: If your skimmer has a drain at the bottom, you could just drain the collected liquid into another container, avoiding having to remove the cup.
My initial impression is that the SSS is well worth 60 bucks for anyone that has experienced issues with or is worried about their skimmer cup overflowing. I hope this review will be helpful. Please feel free to ask any questions or let me know if there is anything that I can clarify.
A couple of weeks ago my skimmer pump died after nearly 5 years of use. I replaced the pump but was having difficulty getting the new one dialed in. Consequently, my skimmer cup overflowed a few times filling the floor of my aquarium stand with water. I could just turn my skimmer off for the duration of my trip, but I prefer to have it running.
While purchasing some other supplies on BRS, I came across the SSS for $59.99. It advertises a magnetically mounted optical sensor that sticks to the side of your skimmer collection cup. You plug your skimmer into the included switch. When the liquid in the cup reaches the height of the sensor, the skimmer power is automatically turned off. Thinking that this would be a simple solution to my problem, I ordered it.
When the SSS arrived, installation took just a few minutes. The sensor sticks to the outside of the skimmer cup with a small disk going on the inside.
I plugged the included switch into my power strip and the skimmer cord into the switch. Initially, nothing happened. My skimmer was not switched on. I thought that the sensor was not installed correctly. After fiddling with it for several minutes, I read in the directions that there is a 5 minute delay in the switch when it is plugged in. Apparently, this is to prevent false alarms due to power outages. After five minutes, my skimmer switched on. Next, I purposely overflowed my skimmer to test the product. Once the water level rose to cover the disk on the inside of the cup, the skimmer switched off and the switch emitted a continuous beeping sound and began blinking. Resetting the SSS requires the sensor to be removed from the skimmer cup so it can be emptied and the switch to be reset (turned off and back on).
Summary:
Pros:
- The SSS does exactly what it advertises: Turns off your skimmer, preventing the cup from overflowing causing potential damage and water loss.
-Very simple installation. I don't have much high tech gear on my tank in an effort to keep things simple. I liked that this was just plug and play.
-The audible alarm that this sounds is very loud, alerting me that my skimmer has been switched off.
-The sensor mounts firmly to the skimmer cup.
-The instructions are brief but clearly written with helpful illustrations.
Cons:
-When emptying the skimmer cup, the sensor must be removed and the switch must be reset. I didn't find this step to be that inconvenient, although it is an extra step that must be performed every time water touches the sensor or the sensor is taken off the cup. (Note: If your skimmer has a drain at the bottom, you could just drain the collected liquid into another container, avoiding having to remove the cup.
My initial impression is that the SSS is well worth 60 bucks for anyone that has experienced issues with or is worried about their skimmer cup overflowing. I hope this review will be helpful. Please feel free to ask any questions or let me know if there is anything that I can clarify.
