ATO That Isn’t A $300 Tunze?

[workhz]

I mean I was going to suggest an auto aqua (the lite is what I use on my 90) since it has worked perfectly fine for 18 months now but for a 300 I don’t think I’d skimp.

 

[TheHunterYall]

I actually did not love the tunze, it was ok.

I would invest in a hydros and their topoff kit, probably could get there for a little over 300 and have more future capability and growth options.

 

[RJT]

Avast makes a great ato

 

[V A R I A N T]

My current ATO on my 240 has been in use for about 10 years. It's the JBJ ATO. Works great. I use a long lived max-jet pump to move the water.
My other ATO is the Tsunami AT-1 and it's been in service for 7-8 years. I do use the Tom's Aqualifter and they are getting hard to find.

Aqua Lifter is BACK!

Koller Products Aqua Lifter Dosing Pump | Premium Aquatics

 

[V A R I A N T]

While I do advocate for the Duetto, personally I use the Neptune ATK with my Apex. I don't use the bracket or the manual float, but do use the dual optical switches. Additionally, I added another optical switch and placed in my ATO reservoir to monitor water level, and am about to add two magnetic floats with a break out box to measure my kalk and All For Reef dosing containers.

 

[ReefSakes]

This one is pretty danm solid and you can plug any kind of pump to it.

 

[BirdFish5000]

Funny I see this thread come up today; just had to buy two new ATOs today. I swear, these things are the most failure prone equipment there is in this hobby.

 

[Dbichler]

Avast it’s amazing 4 years strong zero issues do use the peristaltic pump though which is a little more expensive but not 300

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Auto Top Off — $ 99.99
I have the Avast ATO I like it a lot. You can choose your pump. Once you get it figured out you can set the sensitivity.

 

[itgoeson]

I really like the ReefBreeders Prism

 

[Mike1970]

I’m pretty sure ATO is 1 item you shouldn’t skimp on lots of expensive horror stories when things go wrong

 

[ggNoRe]

I have the Reefbreeder's and a Jebao both are doing there job just fine

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Tunze is the gold standard, IMHO. I just don't care them and the lack of diy repairability. I've also used the jbj with reasonable success. I like it because you can choose the ATO pump and replace the floats.

I now have a controller on all my tanks, so I diy my stuff now for the ATO.

 

[vtecintegra]

3155. Save yourself problems and headaches.

 

[Hugh Mann]

300 gallon tank. On a budget. Does not compute

To slightly alter a phrase from a guy I used to work with who owned a plane.

“I’m on a budget… because I have a 300 gallon tank!”

Joke aside, about 80% of the build is used equipment I got for an absolutely ludicrous steal. The entire setup was less than $1500. No way I’d ever have this tank if I had to pay full price.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Yes, a used tunze osmolator!

 

[kenjung]

Pmup, floating switch and Apex. If you already have Apex and break out box its 60 bucks.

 

[theMeat]

Have been using Hydor Smart Level on many tanks for over a decade without issue. Not sure why it’s not more popular. Guess when something is reliable, slick and inexpensive it doesn’t catch on in this hobby.

 

[Fishingandreefing]

I am on a tight budget myself. The tunze is the one place I did not skimp. Major reason your ato is the most likely to cause an over flow. The tunze has a float switch to prevent this from happening

It did on my tank. A bucket full of kalk ato dumped into my tank, lost a few corals and took me a few days to clean up that mess.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

It did on my tank. A bucket full of kalk ato dumped into my tank, lost a few corals and took me a few days to clean up that mess.

Do you run a sump?