Scored my very first controller!!!

[bdmach1]

Just got my hands on a brand new Apex Gold, looking forward to setting thus up! I'm assuming the best way to go for a ATO now is the Apex??? This is for my IM Novo 40....

 

[P-Dub]

Not necessarily the best but certainly the easiest plug and play.

 

[bdmach1]

Not necessarily the best but certainly the easiest plug and play.

@P-Dub , I'm so glad to hear that! I started reading a little bit about it last noght, and started to get a little overwhelmed by it. I am fortunate that my local aquarium store uses Apex, so I do have local support if I have any trouble.:)

 

[jgvergo]

I made my own ATO with float switched that are connected to the Apex. It's very easy. There are lots of videos and web pages. BRS carries the float switches and has instructional videos too.

 

[bdmach1]

I made my own ATO with float switched that are connected to the Apex. It's very easy. There are lots of videos and web pages. BRS carries the float switches and has instructional videos too.

Nice @jgvergo! I was looking at some of that stuff last night, I would really like to use some optical sensors like they use in some of the ATO systems out on the market now..

 

[bdmach1]

Nevermind, just found them. So it looks like Neptune Systems offers the optical sensors. Looks like all I need is those and the FMM with a pump and should be good to go. Lots of reading to do on this tonight...lol

 

[bdmach1]

Just got done watching a Youtube video from Neptune Systems about the ATK. That mechanical float valve looks huge! Is it possible to even put this in the back of a AIO like my IM Nuvo 40?!?

 

[Flameback Pair]

You can remove the float switch from the bracket and you'll be just fine. It just there for some redundancy. I would be a very rare case if the float switch came into use.

 

[JoeIII]

I skipped the FMM - I felt it was too much money to be used as "only" an ATO

two float switches, BreakOut Box, and an aqualifter pump = better ATO than I've had in years for ~$50 (after the purchase of the apex itself of course)

I also set up an alarm if the water level reaches the "high water/safety" switch or if the ATO runs for an extended period (means the pump is not actually moving water)

you can do that with the ATK or FMM, but again, a lot of money for limited functionality.

Think of it as another option. The possibilities are endless once you have the controller so enjoy it!

 

[bdmach1]

I skipped the FMM - I felt it was too much money to be used as "only" an ATO

two float switches, BreakOut Box, and an aqualifter pump = better ATO than I've had in years for ~$50 (after the purchase of the apex itself of course)

I also set up an alarm if the water level reaches the "high water/safety" switch or if the ATO runs for an extended period (means the pump is not actually moving water)

you can do that with the ATK or FMM, but again, a lot of money for limited functionality.

Think of it as another option. The possibilities are endless once you have the controller so enjoy it!

Thanks @JoeIII ,was reading about doing this! I spent my lunch hour reading about doing this very same thing! Do you prefer the float switches over the optical sensors like what are used in some of the ATO's I've seen???

 

[JoeIII]

I use float switches because they are simple and inexpensive - both things I like. A magnet in a bobber moves over a tube that holds a magnetic switch.

Many people use optical sensors because while both can fail, the optical sensors are less likely to do so.

As mentioned, I have two - the "primary" is mounted about an inch lower than the "secondary" and is at my target return section water level. This switch has a cap off a jug (don't remember the source, it is a little larger than a gallon jug cap) on it's threads, with holes drilled in it. This helps keep things like errant ply-filter, algae, etc from fouling the switch and holding it "down" (or "on")
The secondary switch is a high-level backup. it overrides the primary switch in case it gets fouled or stuck, and also triggers a high-water alarm so I know something's gone pear-shaped.
I do not have any pictures of this setup, but it looks very similar to most of the DIY kits out there (they started life in one of those kits)
Both are connected to the avast Break Out Box - I chose this because it is less expensive than the Apex one and I can solder.

This is the programming I have behind it - still tuning the timing, and your values may differ based on your pump and return chamber volume:

ATO (physical outlet - ignore the # comments)
Fallback OFF # don't default to ON, please
Set OFF # default status
If Sw1 CLOSED Then ON # turn on when switch triggers. I know the logic is "backwards" but I didn't feel like flipping the floats on my switches
Min Time 000:45 Then ON # fill enough that fluctuations due to overflow flushing don't cause short cycle
If Sw1 OPEN Then OFF# water level is good, turn off
Defer 000:30 Then ON # make sure the water is actually low, and not triggered due to overflow flushing)
If Sw2 OPEN Then OFF# water leve is high, and SW1 did not trigger, turn off!

ATO_Runtime (virtual outlet, triggers email alarm if ATO is running >10 minutes - either the pump is broken or reservoir is empty)
Set OFF
Defer 010:00 Then ON
If Output ATO = ON Then ON

Return_HighW (virtual outlet, email alarm if water level triggers backup switch, except during and immediately following feed mode)
Set OFF
If Sw2 OPEN Then ON
If FeedA 006 Then OFF

and for completeness sake, EmailAlm:
Set OFF
If Output ATO_RunTime = ON Then ON
If Output Return_HighW = ON Then ON


Of course, any of this programming can be done with the ATK or just an FMM with a few switches.

In the future I would like to add (again, not specific to my use of float switches for ATO, but all possible in the world of APEX)
1) a low water switch, let me know if the water level is too low in the return section (would mean SW1 was stuck in the "up" or "OPEN" position)
2) low water switch in my topoff container, let me know when it needs refilling.
3) a high water switch in the topoff container, along with a PMUP at my mixing station - when I get an alarm from 2) above i can press a button to trigger the PMUP to fill the ATO container to this level instead of carrying buckets. I feel the human interaction is important here to avoid continually filling the container if something else has gone haywire