Auto top off

[Jl330]

Looking for some tips. We go on vacation a lot so I'm upping my automation game.

Looking for a good parts list and tutorial for an auto top off.

 

[fishnchip]

the smart micro ato!!! it's awesome and I haven't had a single complaint so far!

 

[JimFuller]

I use the Neptune ATO. It works great. I used it without a controller, it work *** d ok. When I put an Apex controller on it works a lot better. Plus it notifies me of problems.

 

[Jl330]

I use the Neptune ATO. It works great. I used it without a controller, it work *** d ok. When I put an Apex controller on it works a lot better. Plus it notifies me of problems.

I don't think I'll use a controller just yet.

 

[leepink23]

I read the Tunze Osmolator is great, I use the apex Atk but wouldn’t recommend it since you don’t have an apex.

 

[EW_Fish]

You can build one for cheap but parts take forever to get. Or you can buy one for about 80 bucks in the for sale threads

 

[Ranjib]

You want DIY stuff or off the shelf? Smart ATO micro is very good, off the shelf ATO

 

[EW_Fish]

Float :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Hot-Sa...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Pump :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultra-quie...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Video :

 

[Ron Reefman]

I had a JBJ Auto Top Off and the float switch in the sump would work fine for a couple of weeks and then quit turning the pump on when the sump water got low. Shake the float switch some and it works for a couple of days and then fails again. The float switch in the fresh water tank never failed. So I switched them. In just a few weeks I had the exact same issue. The float in the saltwater just usn't reliable enough, or requires too much maintenance. I might as well top off manually!

 

[Jl330]

You want DIY stuff or off the shelf? Smart ATO micro is very good, off the shelf ATO

If the ofthe shelf is better and I can trust it when traveling, I'll go that route. I'd rather pay a few bucks extra and not overflow my tanks.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I had a JBJ Auto Top Off and the float switch in the sump would work fine for a couple of weeks and then quit turning the pump on when the sump water got low. Shake the float switch some and it works for a couple of days and then fails again. The float switch in the fresh water tank never failed. So I switched them. In just a few weeks I had the exact same issue. The float in the saltwater just usn't reliable enough, or requires too much maintenance. I might as well top off manually!

That's why I did my own gravity ATO of 4 gallons. Takes about 4-5 days to refill.

 

[Bruno516]

SpectraPure ATO!

 

[rioreef]

AutoTopOff.com

I have been using the same unit for 13+ years. They have many options with redundancy, latching, etc

 

[Neo Jeo]

JBJ ATO is bad... Go with a Tunze Osmolator

 

[Sonor]

Been using Tunze Osmolators for over 9 years now , no problems and very simple to use.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Smart ATO or the Tunze Osmolator are the two best in my opinion. Been using the Smart ATO for three years now. Best part about it is there are no moving parts, so no float switches that can get gunked up and stuck on or off. It uses a laser sensor to detect your water level

 

[pdisner]

If had nothing but problems with my tunze. I have to constantly check on it. I have to unplug I and plug back in repeatedly for it to start working.

 

[pdisner]

Anybody else have this issue? When u call or email tech support, they knew exactly what was going on and their best answer to the problem was to unplug and plug back in til it works. That pretty much left a bad taste in my mouth. They wouldn’t even cover under warranty.

 

[Ranjib]

If the off the shelf is better and I can trust it when traveling, I'll go that route. I'd rather pay a few bucks extra and not overflow my tanks.

Smart ATO micor is definitely reliable enough that you can take a vacation (assuming your water reservoir is big enough). I use one personally and been very happy with it (and taken multiple weeklong vacations).
Having a controller backed ATO allows you to get alerts and see how the ato is doing remotely (control remotely as well), I have never used Apex, I do this using reef-pi, and thats just an added safety net. Its definitely not a necessity and most off the shelf ato will suffice I think. Just go with one of the popular ones that have been used by many reefers (like tunze, or smart ato micro for example)

 

[Ranjib]

If had nothing but problems with my tunze. I have to constantly check on it. I have to unplug I and plug back in repeatedly for it to start working.

thats very unfortunate. I have not used it personally, but know whole lot of people (more than smart ato micro users) who uses it and swear by it here in r2r as well as in NR,