ATO...DIY or store bought!!!

[Joel_155]

Hey All,
So I'm new to reefing and I'm in the process of setting up my 100 gallon tank. I plan to run an ATO but not sure what kind of setup to get. I don't plan on connecting my ATO to my RO/DI unit as I've heard of that ending in disaster.

The question I have is...are there brand preferences with ATO's? Or do people prefer the DIY method. If so...what brand do you prefer or what parts did you use on your setup?

I really appreciate all the help on this! Thanks in advance!

 

[Lorenz725]

I use a JBJ ATO and love it. It is easy to hook up and they make them as fail safe as they can. I just have a 8 gallon container of fresh RO water and if for some reason it does not shout off it would not overflow my sump or do major damage to my tank.

 

[emooring37]

autotopoff.com gets my vote

 

[Matthewbrian316]

+1 on the JBJ ATO it makes things a lil bit easier ... hey it helps

 

[reefereef]

I just picked up a brs 50ml doser and a fee float switches for my ato. Going to controll them with my apex. So DIY gets mu vote .I don't want to have to fill up a bucket every week so it is plumbed into my rodi Res.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

tunze osmolator here.

 

[wildman926]

DIY here. 6g Eclips acrylic aquarium with lid, feeding a Eshopps float valve.

 

[HowieB]

I have a 20 gallon container with a small pump controlled by a dual float switch from autotopoff.com. Works great.

 

[T Diddy]

gravity fed siphon style...virtually disaster-proof.

 

[KonaBear]

autotopoff.com gets my vote.

Just set my system up: 8 gallon reservoir connected to Tom Aqualifter pump run by autotopoff.com's "dual float switch"

Did a bunch of tests to see how fail safe it is and the two switches work very well in unison, plus you can buy a snail guard for 50 cents and make it even more fail safe. Very good quality.

 

[ati70cutlass]

melevs reef , you can make one for less than 10.00... like it alot. hasnt done me wrong yet

 

[Reefologist]

Look into Blueline, if they still make them. They use pressure, and no float switches at all. Mine has been in service for about 10 years, zero problems or maintenance in a decade. I glued it to a mag float and set water level. It has been perfectly accurate every since.2001