ATO systems

[IndexKey]

After deciding to go with a fuge in the back of the JBJ 28, I'm looking further down the road to an ATO system. I'm trying to decide what works best in the small space without breaking the bank, and even considering an RKL, though I'm not sure how that rigs as an ATO, though I've heard it mentioned a lot. Any opinions, experiences, and fail safe advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

John

 

[pico-reefer]

if your looking for a cheap reliable unit, the autotopoff.com dual unit is the ticket.

 

[BarryRey]

I have a JBJ ATO kit with a Tom's Aqualifter pump. Float switch in the left most chamber, pump hanging on the back wall with a cable tie (double stick tape) feeding into the right most chamber, ATO electronics in the stand, reservoir using a 1.5 gallon Rubbermaid container. I initially had the reservoir in the bottom of the stand but had issue with it being too much of a draw for the pump. Now I have it sitting on a tv tray beside the tank jus a few inches below the bottom of the tank. Total cost little over $100. Has been working fine for 8 months now.

 

[IndexKey]

what do you have to do to maintain the float switches so they don't stick or anything like that? what do you do for a failsafe, or do you have one at all? other ideas and suggestions?

John

 

[Just2Many]

what do you have to do to maintain the float switches so they don't stick or anything like that? what do you do for a failsafe, or do you have one at all? other ideas and suggestions?

John

I had a similar set up as above, the fail safe for me was to install a second sensor upside down and then wire it with the first one. This allowed two sensors to be on one plug in the unit.
However, I don't think you will have enough room in the back to actually fit that in, just my opinion. :wave:

 

[BarryRey]

The JBJ does come with two sensors, one you put in the tank to know when to top it off and another to put in the reservoir which will protect your pump from running if the reservoir is out of water. I did not use the second sensor on mine.

It also has a feature where it will only run for so many minutes at a time. You can't configure it but the Aqualifter pump I have only has the water drip into the tank, basically uses an air line. I have seen where the ATO has shutoff when I was messing with the main pumps which caused the water level to drop. If you used a larger pump for your ATO system, then there may be a concern if your sensors malfunctioned.

Here is a pretty good youtube video describing the JBJ ATO system, although he doesn't mention anything about the other failsafe feature besides the second sensor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2X0I-Zd2vo

Maybe I will try the suggestion from JUST2MANY of mounting the second sensor upside down to be on the safe side.

 

[IndexKey]

what should I do every day to make sure there isn't anything wrong with the float switch? do I wipe off salt creep and thats it? more suggestions and ideas please!

John

 

[pico-reefer]

the dual auto top off i listed above from autotopoff.com has 2 float switches, 1 for the water level, and one for fail safe. its like less than half the price of the JBJ, and ive read were the JBJ's sometimes fail. so far i havent heard a bad thing about the autotopoff.com unit

 

[IndexKey]

will that auto top off fit in the JBJ, or should I go for the sump model? I see they offer a specially designed nano version of it, but I'm not quite sure which one I'd need on my tank. Also, what pump would be a good idea to run from the base of the stand to the sump in the back, using airline tubing to pump the water? the pumps they offer only have up to about 3.4 feet of headpower, not sure if that's enough.


John

 

[Jhigga15]

I have a Tunze ATO in my Biocube and it's great!!! Plug and play, works great every time!!! Well worth the extra money.

 

[john miller]

I just installed a JBJ ATO in my NanoCube 28 and love it. I set it for both switches to be in the tank. One in each return section, one turns it on the other shuts it off. I have an Instant Ocean salt bucket beside the tank and a MJ 1200 return pump because of the head height. A MJ 900 would have worked but my LFS didn't have one.

 

[IndexKey]

bump

 

[dogstar74]

You've had some good advice here. If you're wanting to make one, you can buy the parts and assemble them as you wish. Here's a diagram.

Items to buy or re-puropose.
1. Wall wart about 5VDC
2. Float switch - ebay
3. Relay
4. Air pump
5. Air tight fresh water reservoir
6. Some rigid airline.

Hope this helps.
Aaron

 

[kelso1980]

Have you considered using a timer for and ATO? That's what I'm using because I have a 5.5G and the float switch was not sensitive enough. With a timer I never have to worry about salt creep or a snail getting it stuck on. I dont have a fuge so a timer works better for me anyways because I didnt want to be able to see the float switch in my display.

 

[IndexKey]

I'm really liking the Autotopoff.com models, I'm just not sure which one I should I get. I definitely want the double of some kind, but I'm not sure which double I need, be it the sump, nano, or tank model.

John

 

[Jhigga15]

I have been traveling and my ATO is really saving my tank. The Tunze one has been flawless

 

[Mike31154]

Elevated reservoir, tubing, mechanical float valve. No electricity, gravity does the work. Keep the reservoir to a reasonable size in the unlikely event mechanical float valve sticks, so you don't flood the tank/sump. I've been using a variation of the gravity feed method using a glass container pressurized by a small air pump on a timer. Water pushed through mechanical float valve by positive air pressure in the container. Over two years not a hiccup. Mechanical float valve is dead simple & reliable.

 

[gitsoe]

You've had some good advice here. If you're wanting to make one, you can buy the parts and assemble them as you wish. Here's a diagram.

Items to buy or re-puropose.
1. Wall wart about 5VDC
2. Float switch - ebay
3. Relay
4. Air pump
5. Air tight fresh water reservoir
6. Some rigid airline.

Hope this helps.
Aaron

+1
If you are restricted with space, i think you should just make it yourself, find switches that will fit, you can make it really cheap too.
I found this video thats pretty much shows you how to make it just make sure to add a RELAY or you can have a fire.
Relays go for less then $10

 

[natedogg]

Elos Osmo Digital, love it.

 

[BlueCorn]

I've always built my own, here's the latest in our BC29 HQI.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2018747