ATO recommendations

[Devaji108]

Hey all I might be getting ahead of my self here but i know I will be needed an ATO once my tank is up and running.

tank is 40/40 and will have a 29H ATO res.
I have a reef angel controller and I do have a few float switches...
I am looking for a reliable system as I do travel a few times a year and don't want to worry about it. ( several weeks up to a month)

I hear good things about the Tunze Osmolator I like that there is no float switch and the eye. but kinda pricy...

the Nano will work but then again i am back to float switches if the nano had the eye i would have bought it over the 4th when it was on sale.


avast makes something with out a float switch I hear but don't know much about it.

any thoughts?
I guess i could just use my RA and add a few more float switches for redundancy would be the cheapest way...

any thoughts?

 

[Johnseye]

I use Spectrapure. Rock solid.

 

[scuzy]

the avast pressure sensors works great. i hate float switches.

 

[vhuang168]

Using an AquaMedic Refill. Uses an optical sensor as the main level sensor and an electronic water sensor as failsafe. Has float sensor to be used in the reservoir as a run dry sensor + a time cut off in case everything else fails!

Been using it for 2 months with no issues with the unit except for when my skimmer was still breaking in an making a ton of micro bubbles. That fooled the optical sensor but the failsafe electronic sensor worked and stopped the pump.

Cheap too. $100 from Aqua Cave

 

[firemountain]

I run the Avast ATO in the sump of my DT, as well as on the top of my 30g QT. By far the best one out there in my opinion. It has the same technology as the Spectrapure unit, but is held in place my a heavy duty magnet, whereas the Spectrapure is held in place on the tank by a pair of suction cups.

 

[cmcoker]

+1 on the AVAST ATO. I have been running mine about a year and a half. No maintenance, no problems.

 

[aclinville]

Avast marine!!!!

 

[bayoupr]

Litemeter 3, over 3yrs with no problems.

 

[Portsie]

Tunze 3155, yeah it's a little pricey, but well worth it imo. I've been using mine to top off with kalk for 2+ years and have never had a problem.

 

[KingTriton1]

Tunze 3155 or autotopoff.com

 

[Bent]

I got my stuff from autotopoff.com.

 

[hkgar]

If you are counting votes, I vote the Avast, been running a couple years controlled by my Apex.

Here is a link to it

http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/rigging/Top-off-Kit

 

[solitude127]

Another Avast Marine ATO user here hooked to my Apex

 

[tkeracer619]

I got my stuff from autotopoff.com.

Me too, I use autotopoff.com and masterflex economy peristaltic pumps.

 

[VWD]

Tunze 3155 here for the last few weeks, works better then any I have had in the past.

 

[Devaji108]

OK let me ask you guys these questions.
can any ATO work on two tanks? thinking of a small 20L macro about 10 feet from the 40br
possible?

for those of you using the avast ATO what pump are you using? will a tom's aqua lifter work? or should one go a bit bigger? is there a GPH recommendation.

thanks guys!

 

[cmcoker]

I have an avast. I use kalk in my ATO, with an aqualifter pump. No controller so I have it plugged into a digital timer set to run one minute every 30min so I don't get a pH spike

 

[Devaji108]

I am liking the Avast price seams right 89$ + a pump . i saw they have a maxi jet adaptor to go to tubing anyone done this?

also they do make pumps. but after you pay 100 for the pump might as well go with a tunze with the eye.

 

[BFG]

Tunze. The alarm was a lifesaver, alerting me when my expensive return pump from Royal Exclusive failed.

 

[hkgar]

Using Avast with a Masterflex peristaltic pump controlled by Apex. The Masterflex peristaltic pump pretty much eliminates any concerns about siphoning, plus my feed tube is kept above the water line. Brute 32 gallon for storage.