Best ATO

[marlinmero]

well my Reef Fanatic Level Controller "“ Auto Top Off died this evening, keeps tripping the gfi. So im looking for a new one and wanted to see what you fine people would suggest. ive heard good things about the jbj. id like to stay around $100

 

[Dmoody]

Try to find a used tunze osmolator. Best advice I can give

 

[alexander_ktn]

Yes, the Osmolator is very good, safety- and quality-wise. What I don't like is that the pump used is quite noisy, if you compare it to ATOs with peristaltic pumps.

 

[AvonleaPA]

I've heard good things about the Avast ATO, and recently purchased one. I have yet to set it up, though.

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

 

[ganjero]

Tunze osmolator 3155 gets my vote. That said, I do not like the tunze osmolator nano 3152 which is almost the same but without the optical sensor, just the floating one so there is no redundancy (not the safest thing).

 

[BlakDuc]

+1 for the Tunze. I messed around with the Jbj and others even using the reef keeper lite and finally dropped the coin and got the tunze.

 

[MikeD]

What's the difference between the Tunze and the Elos digital?

 

[NTP66]

I've heard good things about the Avast ATO, and recently purchased one. I have yet to set it up, though.

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

This is what I use, coupled with an Aqualifter, and love it. I never have to worry about a switch going bad, and have the float valve as an emergency shut off.

 

[ganjero]

What's the difference between the Tunze and the Elos digital?

Very similar but as of today it doesn't have a backup sensor like tje tunze (float sensor is the backup). I read somewhere elos will be adding one in the future.

More in depth differences:

Sensor: Tunze uses an optic sensor, elos uses a heated prob. Both sensors work very good and are very precise.

Tubing: Elos uses a bigger tubing a doses bigger amounts of water, so if you use Kalk in you ATO tunze would be better as the water will be dosed at a slower rate.

Start-up: Tunze runs almost instantly after plug. Elos takes about 5 min which is the length of the diagnostics check run.

Safety sensor: Tunze uses a high float emergency for an added level of safety (the pump will not run if the sensor is raised). Elos rely on 1 sensor only.

 

[JohnV8r]

+1 on the Tunze. Five years of service without any trouble.

 

[marlinmero]

you guys are killing my wallet. lol Im thinking the tunze for the two forms of sensing for safety. my apartment and fish are worth an extra 100 bucks.
I'm going to look into the avast one to though, it looks like it has potential.
THANK YOU AGAIN GUYS!!!

 

[aandfsoccr04]

another vote for tunze osmolator.

 

[a.browning]

I have been very happy with my Tunze, coming up on 3 years of perfect operation.

 

[Bigcefa]

Spectrapure!! Look em up

 

[Charlene]

Spectrapure!! Look em up

Probably the most advanced of the bunch....

 

[JonnyD91]

http://www.genesisreefsystems.com/product/storm-pro/

Prob. the most expensive of the bunch, but they are pretty advanced. THe basic model is 100 bucks less.

 

[OregonReefer2]

Very similar but as of today it doesn't have a backup sensor like tje tunze (float sensor is the backup). I read somewhere elos will be adding one in the future.

More in depth differences:

Sensor: Tunze uses an optic sensor, elos uses a heated prob. Both sensors work very good and are very precise.

Tubing: Elos uses a bigger tubing a doses bigger amounts of water, so if you use Kalk in you ATO tunze would be better as the water will be dosed at a slower rate.

Start-up: Tunze runs almost instantly after plug. Elos takes about 5 min which is the length of the diagnostics check run.

Safety sensor: Tunze uses a high float emergency for an added level of safety (the pump will not run if the sensor is raised). Elos rely on 1 sensor only.

You left something out...

If you need to make minor adjustments to the water level the Tunze, with the magnetic mounts, make it very easy... The Elos uses a zip tie (really a freaking zip tie?) to mount the sensor to a cheap acrylic float switch mount

+1 on the Tunze, one of the best pieces of equipment I've purchased

Side note: I never hear my Tunze pump and have never before heard of anyone complaining about the pump noise

 

[marlinmero]

in my main display i have it hooked straight to my rodi in the kitchen thats on the other side of the wall. i have a standard DIY ATO system on it.
goes from the RODI to a bucket under the tank with a leverage style float to shut off the flow from the rodi. so when the water level gets low in the sump the DIY ATO kicks on the aqualifter that sucks out of the bucket and pumps into the sump.
its a simple setup actually but with all those parts working together it's bound to fail.
Is there a better safer way to go straight from the RODI to my sump? and get rid of the bucket, DIY ATO, and aqualifter?

I had bought a leverage style float shutoff that has a hang on bracket i thought about using. but im scared if the float sinks or something there's no safety.