Neptune's Auto Top Off Kit
- Thread starter PapaDragon
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the FMM is a good tool for optical switches, leak detection and what not. i dont have very good things to say about the atk besides thank goodness for the many levels of redundancy. since i've had mine, the 1st and 2nd optical switches fail alot, even when perfectly clean. (seems to be common on the neptune forum) and thankfully the mechanical float valve closes up the pump. maybe its my coding but when the hi sensor is active (alot of the time because of the 1st sensor failure) i get hundreds of alerts a day. its nice to see when it turns on and off in the logging report but thats about my only positive. last week the pmup failed on my system, which is only run in clean rodi and neptune said because it purchased from another reefer (who had it new from neptune within a year of me getting it) would not honor a replacement for it. the pump would wine and not spin, the fmm clicks on and off trying to power it.
disclaimer: i only ran it with apex, never stand alone.
i went back to my tunze osmolator which has never given me a problem. the pmup when working though is significantly quieter than the tunze pump
disclaimer: i only ran it with apex, never stand alone.
i went back to my tunze osmolator which has never given me a problem. the pmup when working though is significantly quieter than the tunze pump
Crabs McJones
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I too am wondering this. I just got an apex for black friday and was contemplating getting the ato just so my apex could control it. Currently using the Smart ATO. I'd like to follow this thread for everyones thoughts 
Crabs, i have the smart ato (micro) on my qt and formerly on my main tank and i would trust that over the atk too... just saying. i have yet to see someone complain to the extent on tunze (or the smart ato) than i have on atk. i too really want it to work seem perfect for the apex integration
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I've had the smart ato for years now, and the only complaint i've had is the inside magnet rusting. However coralvue has acknowledged this issue, and will replace it everytime it rusts no questions asked. I also came up with a backyard fix, I took some aquarium silicone and put it around the edge where it rusts. That was 2 years ago and it's still going strong, not a hint of rust anywhere
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PapaDragon
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This is disappointing. I am setting up a new tank and was hoping for better news.
Seriously, I like the ability to monitor my tank remotely with the Apex, but I’m not a fan of the proprietary eco system approach. Focus and be good in your specific realm of expertise or risk being mediocre at a broad range of things. This is what I feel Neptune is sadly becoming. Based on numerous reports of issues with WAVs, leaky DOSs, PMUPs and the ATKs, I’d rather buy from companies that have a proven record in their particular area.
As far as ATOs go, you can’t go wrong with the Tunze 3155 or the Spectrapure Ultra Precise ATO. If you insist on Apex integration, then get the Avast ATO with either the Apex I/O input or the wiring for the break out box.
As far as ATOs go, you can’t go wrong with the Tunze 3155 or the Spectrapure Ultra Precise ATO. If you insist on Apex integration, then get the Avast ATO with either the Apex I/O input or the wiring for the break out box.
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PapaDragon
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I’m an engineer and this truthfully isn’t that difficult of a problem. It pretty much comes down to the sensors they choose. I’m just surprised that with the resources that Neptune has they didn’t thoroughly field test this.
Yet a problem exists, does it not? My point is, when it comes to ATOs, there are proven reliable units that have a proven track record of success.
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Daniel@R2R
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I have the ATK and love it! I love that the monitoring through fusion sends me alerts. I also love the double failsafe built into it (2 optical sensors + a float valve). It was also super easy to install. Can't really think of anything I don't like about it.
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PapaDragon
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How long have you had it?
ADAM
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Ive had sensor issues with the ATK seemingly since the beginning. I took my ATK off last night and installed my backup Osmolator. Sensors on the ATK are hit or miss and I was tired of having to tinker with the ATK couple times a week. I will probably use the Apex FMM and one of the in-line flow sensors to monitor top off in the future. My ATK was in stand alone mode, which I had purchased before my Apex. I never connected thru my Apex bc of the sensor issues and having to tinker with them. I would always check the water level before leaving for work and every evening after dinner and at least once every two days I’d have to power cycle the FMM due to fault. I had to power cycle enough that I installed a WiFi plug so I could setup two auto-power cycles a day! However in the two years my son’s tank has been running I never had an issue with the Osmolator..... if I don’t break it within two years it’s a beast!
._Z_.
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I ran one stand alone for a year in the back chamber of AIO. It would fail ALL the time in the ways that people have mentioned, replacing that thing with the tunze osmolator was the best reefing decision I’ve made.
My ATK is great, as long as the sensors are kept clean you won't have an issue with it
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