Review on Hydros ATO

[Tinklez]

How does the hydros ATO kit compare to tunze?

 

[Jamie9]

About to install mine tomorrow...so I'll let you know in a week or so if nobody else has. Before I purchased it I found a few reviews online. Generally positive and nothing that scared me. My sense is, if you are running a Hydros controller...makes sense to use those ports for this. If you aren't, most people go for the Tunze.

 

[Tinklez]

Yeah I’m thinking if getting the hydros launch when I start my first tank. I like the idea of having everything automated, and able to view the status of things on my phone. What controller did you get? And yes, please do Let me know how it goes!

 

[Jamie9]

I got the "Start", and already kind of wished I gotten the Launch instead...just as I ponder adding probes and other things down the line. I also got the 4 outlet wifi plug strip...I can almost guarantee that I'll upgrade that to an XP8 when a suitable holiday comes around so that I can remotely know if my pump is running or not via power monitoring. I'll hopefully be putting some photos up in my build thread tomorrow or the next day of the wiring/setup and will surely update on how it works out for me.

Edit - One thing that pushed me over the edge...the Hydros Start along with the ATO was only like $100 more than getting a Tunze Ozmalator ATO. I travel somewhat often so having some automation capability is super appealing. And...as long as I have to buy a bunch of plugging strips...might as well get good and functional ones.

 

[Tinklez]

Same I completely agree. I was looking at the start but the launch seems like it’s more feature proof. What are you plugging into your controller right now to monitor?

That’s a good point about it only being $100 more. Just being able to monitor it when you’re not home and had so much peace of mind. One of my greatest fears is water leaks, and being able to know the exact level of water on my tanks when I’m not home it’s really nice.

If you got the launch, would you need to get that Wi-Fi strip as well? I’ve been trying to look into the details, and it’s tough to see what exactly shows power monitoring and what doesn’t.

 

[John Neuzil]

I can't compare Hydros to others but I can say I've use the Hydros ATO on two different tanks since they came out and never had a problem. They have both been flawless.

 

[Jamie9]

So, the "Start" has 4 plugs (not power monitored), and the wifi strip gives me 4 more (also not power monitored). To start I'll have a return pump, a heater, 2 power heads and a light to plug in. I'm thinking about getting the plank autofeeder (2 plugs) and a filter roller (1 plug), that would fill me 8/8. I'll be using 1 of the 4 sense ports for the ATO level sensor and 1 of the 2 drive ports for the ATO pump. Probably will grab another water level sensor or two and a leak detector as well, and I'll use the included temperature probe (sense port). That also leaves me a single drive port for a dosing pump in the future. Launch and Start both have 4 outlets, so regardless of which you choose you'd likely want something more than just that.

But if I'd gone with the Launch...I could have added a pH probe and a salinity probe, plus have more drive ports for dosing pumps in the future. (For almost $300 more though, so there's that).

This is my first reef tank, and first time using aquarium controllers, so I do like that I don't have to be "All in" from the start...I can just add something else down the road if I like what I started with.

As far as I can tell, the ONLY controller that monitors the power usage is the XP8 (which is a controller and will be part of the network but only has power, no sense ports/drive ports/etc).

 

[scowall]

I have the Launch and the XP8. They are very easy to use and program. Don't waste your money on the wifi strips, I have 2 that constantly dropped the connection to my wifi. I also have a Apex Pro, if you dont mind studying and not intimidated I would suggest it. If your just getting into it, the Hydros in my opinion is the way to go.

 

[Tinklez]

What do y’all think of the wave engine? Is it worth getting early on? Should I buy specific pumps/flow devices early on that are compatible?

 

[Hooz]

What do y’all think of the wave engine? Is it worth getting early on? Should I buy specific pumps/flow devices early on that are compatible?

If you want to get a WaveEngine, I'd plan that from the start and buy pumps accordingly. It's a pretty cool pump controller, and very customizable ... as long as there are compatible pumps that fit your needs.

If you want to run "unsupported pumps", you can still use switched outlets (Start, Launch, XP8) to turn them off and on for feed modes, water changes, etc.

I wouldn't use the wifi strips for anything, really. I've had nothing but bad experiences with them.

 

[Tinklez]

That’s good to know. What can you modify with the wave length? Do you think it’s worth preparing to get? Still learning what all the equipment does

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have to say the ATO sucks. I've had mine for 3 years, and I replaced the pump twice and I replaced the sensor once, so thats 3 pumps and 2 sensors in 3 years.

But I love the wave engine.

 

[Tinklez]

What pumps do you have with the wave engine? That’s good to know about the ATO

 

[JeffB418]

The hydros ATO function is very flexible, expandable, and powerful. You don't have to use the ATO kit to use the ATO function on Hydros. You can piecewise together parts as well, for example you can buy a Triple Level Sensor (https://www.coralvue.com/hydros-triple-optical-water-level-sensor) to use to run the ATO and then any 120V pump you want to off an XP8/Start/Launch AC outlet for the fill pump. You can also add secondary sensors (leak, additional optical sensors) for redundancy and safety backups as well. Optical sensors over time have improved as well with manufacturers increasing reliability I've found. Ive used the micro ATO pump and its worked fine, but I've also DIY'd the Tunze High Jet to a drive port connector and have used that with great success on Start/Launch/XD/Kraken (some have had issues with using that pump on a X2/X4 since the drive ports on those have lower power handling specs).

 

[n2585722]

I never got the ATO kit. I use a dosing pump for my ATO pump. It is at the reservoir in my garage and that 35ft away from my tank. I do have one of the optical sensors that I have been using for a couple of years now with no issues. I did add some silicone RTV where the wire enters the sensor case since that is the most likely place for a leak since that is under water. My tubing frum the pump in the garage goes up through the attic to the tank. I have used several types of dosing pumps over the years and all seem to work well doing that.

 

[realwizer]

Been using ATO on hydros for years now, and it’s solid. I use my X4 to control the pump and sensors.

Previously I used MagTool ATO’s. I did have a few of these fail on me so I moved to the Hydros.

I also refill my ATO reservoir through hydros and a solenoid valve on my RODI.

You didn’t ask, but I used to have a Neptune and moving to hydros was the perfect choice for me. Love the system and never had issues with any part of it (including wifi power strips).

 

[Dr. D]

I love the Hydros ecosystem, but I had two Hydros ATO pumps die before I invested in a Tunze ATO system and I’ve never looked back.

 

[Jamie9]

Installing my Hydros ATO right now. Just about had it, went to fasten the tube holder above my return chamber...that's when I learned that it doesn't come tightened...and it doesn't float. So, that tube holder may be lost in the depths of my 24" deep sump chamber forever. Just tore out my light, return pump and heater...but that dang thing must have gotten far off to the side in an inaccessible place. Don't want to leave it there though as with my luck it'll get sucked into my return pump and break something. So...that'll be a fun fishing trip for after work today... (I don't blame Hydros for that, it's my fault...but it sure would have been great if that little plastic piece floated!)

 

[Jamie9]

Having found that plastic piece and completed setup, I can at least say that on day 1 everything is working great. Might be my install, but I find that the 3 level sensor pretty much always gets covered to “wet” (top sensor covered) every time the pump tops it off. So it works fine as an ATO, but I wouldn’t use it to prevent an overfill situation, I’ll likely get another single level sensor for that. I’ll report back in if anything changes down the road.

 

[n2585722]

Having found that plastic piece and completed setup, I can at least say that on day 1 everything is working great. Might be my install, but I find that the 3 level sensor pretty much always gets covered to “wet” (top sensor covered) every time the pump tops it off. So it works fine as an ATO, but I wouldn’t use it to prevent an overfill situation, I’ll likely get another single level sensor for that. I’ll report back in if anything changes down the road.

You can set a maximum on time and set run past max on time to off and then set an alert level for that alert. Those are in the advanced settings for the output. Just enable advanced settings to show those settings. I also set the maximum off time to three hours. That will not turn on the output but it will send an alert with the setting set for maximum runtime. That way if there is an issue with the ATO sensor it will not keep running or if it goes to long without a top off it will also send you an alert so you can check on it.