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Appreciate the feedback on that other ATO. I will certainly check it out!Welcome! It seems like you’ve been doing some research. In my experience, both Tunze ATO‘s I’ve owned failed on me within a year. I’ve tried the Smart ATO’s and those seems to have their little quirks as well. I seem to always go back To the JBJ ATO, only thing I do for those is switch the one float switch that sits in the Tank/sump every 2 years for precautionary measures. The Kessil AP9X seems promising! I have the 360X and love it!
I have an IM Nuvo Fusion Pro 20 AIO as an observation tank and the 14 AIO as a QT/hospital tank running all the time. Not an eyesore like some of the QT tanks I ran in the past.Yeah, you're probably right. If I won't have it up and running all the time, likely way too much price for the function.
I think that was the very reason I had considered a full tank setup for it. As of right now though, I have decided to focus on the main tank. I can worry about the QT after. I have a good long while before I need a QT anyway.I have an IM Nuvo Fusion Pro 20 AIO as an observation tank and the 14 AIO as a QT/hospital tank running all the time. Not an eyesore like some of the QT tanks I ran in the past.
You can also pull the socks and use baskets with polyfillI think I am going to mod the sump on the aquarium at install. It looks like a small bit of work but it seems worth removing the filter socks for a Clarisea. I figure the 3000 will work well enough for what I need since it is designed for up to a 160 gallon tank @ 800gph.
I have been looking at the outlay and the more research I do, the more expensive all of this gets. I'm going to have to start prioritizing some of this gear, but I think the Clarisea is a good move at install. I already know I won't be a fan of cleaning the filters socks every couple of days.
As long as you use one, imo.I think that was the very reason I had considered a full tank setup for it. As of right now though, I have decided to focus on the main tank. I can worry about the QT after. I have a good long while before I need a QT anyway.
I have a reefer 250 running a reef octopus varios 4 return. Love that pump and probably won’t ever stray away from it. Only issue I’ve had with the Red Sea ATO is the needle valve to control the flow out of the ATO tank started leaking past the o ring causing a drip. Tried local hardware stores to find a compatible o ring and never found one. Figured since I have a warranty I might as well use it and they replied with just hook the hose directly from the tank to the float valve and skip the flow control valve. It’s been running like that since day one and it’s been fine. I thought I was going to be in for a new ATO unit but this float system is simple and it just works. I will say though I do not like where the ATO tank sits if you have a skimmer. It’s right in the way for watching return pump chamber height, servicing the return pump or cleaning the bubble trap floss.
Ahhhh yes a clarisea isn’t going to fit worth a dink with the ATO sitting on top…I think mines not long for the world either. I just cleaned my sponge filter for the first time since adding my skimmer and yeah that ATO made it miserable haha.I like that setup, but I think I would have a problem with it. Since I will be pulling the socks out for the Clarisea, I don't think I can use the ATO reservoir where they have it positioned. I had planned on a new ATO with an external tank on the other side of the cabinet wall. I doubt I will ever have need for a chiller. At least those are my thoughts for now.
Disclaimer: My decisions and logic can change without notice.
Hello all,
I am normally outside running on trails and competing on obstacle courses, but radiation and chemo have taken a hefty toll over the last year. I have slowed tremendously and I have been looking for a great hobby that is challenging but with a lot less running. I have had a number of freshwater tanks in the past, so I wanted to switch things up a bit and give saltwater a go.
I bet this "build" thread is a bit odd since I do not technically have a tank yet. I have been reading, researching, and deciding what to put together over the last few weeks. I want to take my time now so that I can put it together the right way and at the same time make sure that I have what I need if I ever decide to expand outside of a FOWLR tank. I have a space in my apartment that is 52" wide and 9ft tall. I'm looking to put in a Reefer XL300 or Reefer 350. I'm not sure that I want to go with anything bigger since I worry about putting to much weight on my apartment floor. I also want to be sure that I can keep up with this project. Bigger may not necessarily be better for me right now. I expect to have a tank within 4 weeks or so and begin the real build.
Parts and pieces have been changing almost daily. I am looking at a lot of equipment that I know I don't need right now, but I am doing capacity planning and research up front so that I know what my gear may look like down the road. I realize I may not need a lot of this from the start. I am including everything here to be as complete as I can for the future.
The short list of things as of right now:
Any thoughts or guidance on what I have listed here is appreciated. Trying to do as much research as I can now to minimize problems and losses later.
- Tank : RedSea Reefer XL300 or Reefer 350
- Skimmer: Reefer Skimmer 600
- Lighting: Kessil AP9X - I realize I do not need this right now, but this light is one I am quite interested in for the future.
- Return Pump: COR-20 Intelligent Return Pump (2000 GPH) - I am not sure I want to go with this pump, but I have not yet found a pump that seems to be liked universally. I have been able to find a number of bad reviews on pretty much everything I have found. I have been considering this pump because I may want to run an Apex later down the road.
- ATO: Neptune Systems ATK or Tunze 3155 ATO - I haven't been able to decide on this. Same issue as return pump. It has been difficult to find an ATO that is universally liked. The ATK makes sense if I go with Apex later, but I think the Tunze may be better based on reviews. Really not sure.
- Heater: IM Helio
- Controller: Neptune Systems Apex - This one has thrown me for a loop. So many add-ons. Not sure which ones would be necessities and which ones would simply be a nice to have. I have been looking at several of the modules or add-ons. I figure DOS gear is completely unnecessary until I get to the point where I am supporting coral and such.
- Cor20
- WSK
- Flow Monitoring Kit
- ATK
- UV: Smart UV 25 Watt - Pentair Aquatics - Not even sure I will ever need this. I have been reading some decent results for its use and Pentair seems like one of the better ones available from what I can tell right now. More research is definitely needed here.
Red Sea gravity ATO sucks. I tossed it and an using a IM ATO that I had from years ago.Thank you a ton for the advice. It is much appreciated.
I had been looking at ATOs because the RedSea mechanism doesn't seem to have much love for its function. I guess it can't hurt to give it a try before investing in another ATO.
Noted on the other devices.
I'm trying to hold out for the new Tunze early next year. If I can limp along long enough until that time it would be awesome. Otherwise, I think I like the idea of using something other than the RS mechanism from the start. Are you referring to the Hydrofill stuff from IM? I have actually been looking at it and want to use that reservoir regardless of whether I use their kit. I have also been looking at the Neptune kit since I will be using Apex for my aquarium.Red Sea gravity ATO sucks. I tossed it and an using a IM ATO that I had from years ago.