Avast marine ATO (apex connected)

SchnitzelReef · 05/16/2016, 07:56 PM

Pretty excited about how clean my new ATO turned out. I've been waiting for the new Apex FMM, but I couldn't wait any more. I really wanted an optical sensor like the Tunze, but it could be another 6months to a year before Neptune releases their ATO. (Which will use an optical eye as the ATO sensor)

I was using a Tunze Osmolator, and it was working like it should, but it wasn't right for my setup. The Tunze has an auto off feature built into the controller. If the water level doesn't reach the sensor within 15 minutes, the ATO shuts down, and it won't restart unless you unplug the power. My ATO is gravity fed from my shed, and it trickles out. There was many times that it took longer then 15 minutes to fill. Now that it's getting hotter out, I had to reset my Tunze multiple times a day. If Tunze just had a way to bypass this safety feature, I would have never changed. Oh well.

Since Neptune is taking forever I started looking into float switches to connect to my break out box. I really like this feature, because not only does it control your ATO, I can also check in on my Apex Fusion and see if my sumps water level is high or not. That's a big plus for me, especially when I'm on vacation or gone for extended periods of time.

The guys at avast marine were great to deal with, and told me if I didn't like their ATO to send it back and I would get a full refund. Avast marine uses a pressure switch, so there is no moving parts. They told me they have been using the same pressure switches for years with out having one go bad. (This of course doesn't mean there aren't some people that have had problems with Avasts ATO. I've read a few negative reviews online, but that's with any product.) One of the big pluses with their ATO, is they offer it with bare wires to connect directly to an apex break out box. Neptune systems doesn't even offer some sort of float switch/sensor for ATO uses.
Before I bought the Avast ATO, I already purchased some common float switches to use in my sump as a back up to whatever ATO I went with. I got a Tunze ATO magnet that the float switch can hang on in my sump. I figured that way looked the cleanest.

So my current setup is avast marine ATO as primary control, and back up float switch that will shut down the ATO if for some reason the Avast pressure switch were to get stuck on. And I also setup my apex to send me an email so I will be alerted that my ATO isn't working correctly.

Here's my apex code for the ATO

Pretty basic really.

Avast magnet mount. Comes with either a 2 or 4 hole setup. They can be used to hold probes, or in my case 1/4" lines.

The pressure switch is connected to this black box, that is where the actual pressure switch is located. The tube inside the tank is just a clear acrylic tube. No wires, no electricity, no moving parts. I really like that.

You can see the ATO "open/closed" that is my avast ATO. And on the right side is my back up "SUMPHI" float switch. The other 2 floats are in my RO/DI reservoir.

Here's the final setup

1 line is ATO, 1 is effluent from my calcium reactor, and 1 is for my auto water change pump.

I've been wanting to setup float switches in my sump since the day I got my apex. I'm really bummed it took me 4 years to get it done. It's so simple to setup and program.

If anyone has any questions, shoot away. I'll post back after a few days, and let everyone know how the pressure sensor works out. (Sorry for the long read, it's kind of a lot of info)

mr9iron · 05/16/2016, 09:03 PM

That looks great. When I had the Avast pressure switch I had to put it quite a way underwater before it would close the switch.

SchnitzelReef · 05/16/2016, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr9iron

That looks great. When I had the Avast pressure switch I had to put it quite a way underwater before it would close the switch.

I've read where people had problems like that. Some people were able to fix it by tightening the connections on the pressure switch

Bent · 05/16/2016, 09:41 PM

Avast rocks

mjc0760 · 05/17/2016, 06:43 AM

My pressure switch quit working properly about a week ago. I tried testing it by blowing into the tube. I could hear the switch clicking open and closed, but I could also hear air leaking around the rubber gasket. I put some silicone around it to seal it up and will try it again. For now, I'm just running the ATO off of an extra float switch I had laying around. (Ever wonder why reefers have so many "extra" parts lying around? I guess that's a topic for another thread...)

SchnitzelReef · 05/17/2016, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjc0760

My pressure switch quit working properly about a week ago. I tried testing it by blowing into the tube. I could hear the switch clicking open and closed, but I could also hear air leaking around the rubber gasket. I put some silicone around it to seal it up and will try it again. For now, I'm just running the ATO off of an extra float switch I had laying around. (Ever wonder why reefers have so many "extra" parts lying around? I guess that's a topic for another thread...)

I would email Dan at avast marine. His customer support has been great. I bet he will take care of you. Support@avastmarine.com

ccrider93 · 05/17/2016, 08:41 PM

FWIW on the depth of the sensor. I put mine roughly 1" into the water. What I did notice is that it takes fusion a bit to update the status of the switch, initially I wasn't waiting long enough to see the change.

Something suggested to me was to take a light or a pump and configure it to fire off the switch, so you can see that pump/light operate immediately.

I'm definitely happy with this pressure switch, and am super happy to hear that it works for so long w/o maintenance. Anything in this hobby that reduces my maintenance is worth the price.

mjc0760 · 05/18/2016, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchnitzelReef

I would email Dan at avast marine. His customer support has been great. I bet he will take care of you. Support@avastmarine.com

It seems to be working right now with the silicone sealing it up...
But I totally agree on the super customer service!

05/16/2016, 07:56 PM	#1
SchnitzelReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,569	Avast marine ATO (apex connected) Pretty excited about how clean my new ATO turned out. I've been waiting for the new Apex FMM, but I couldn't wait any more. I really wanted an optical sensor like the Tunze, but it could be another 6months to a year before Neptune releases their ATO. (Which will use an optical eye as the ATO sensor) I was using a Tunze Osmolator, and it was working like it should, but it wasn't right for my setup. The Tunze has an auto off feature built into the controller. If the water level doesn't reach the sensor within 15 minutes, the ATO shuts down, and it won't restart unless you unplug the power. My ATO is gravity fed from my shed, and it trickles out. There was many times that it took longer then 15 minutes to fill. Now that it's getting hotter out, I had to reset my Tunze multiple times a day. If Tunze just had a way to bypass this safety feature, I would have never changed. Oh well. Since Neptune is taking forever I started looking into float switches to connect to my break out box. I really like this feature, because not only does it control your ATO, I can also check in on my Apex Fusion and see if my sumps water level is high or not. That's a big plus for me, especially when I'm on vacation or gone for extended periods of time. The guys at avast marine were great to deal with, and told me if I didn't like their ATO to send it back and I would get a full refund. Avast marine uses a pressure switch, so there is no moving parts. They told me they have been using the same pressure switches for years with out having one go bad. (This of course doesn't mean there aren't some people that have had problems with Avasts ATO. I've read a few negative reviews online, but that's with any product.) One of the big pluses with their ATO, is they offer it with bare wires to connect directly to an apex break out box. Neptune systems doesn't even offer some sort of float switch/sensor for ATO uses. Before I bought the Avast ATO, I already purchased some common float switches to use in my sump as a back up to whatever ATO I went with. I got a Tunze ATO magnet that the float switch can hang on in my sump. I figured that way looked the cleanest. So my current setup is avast marine ATO as primary control, and back up float switch that will shut down the ATO if for some reason the Avast pressure switch were to get stuck on. And I also setup my apex to send me an email so I will be alerted that my ATO isn't working correctly. Here's my apex code for the ATO Pretty basic really. Avast magnet mount. Comes with either a 2 or 4 hole setup. They can be used to hold probes, or in my case 1/4" lines. The pressure switch is connected to this black box, that is where the actual pressure switch is located. The tube inside the tank is just a clear acrylic tube. No wires, no electricity, no moving parts. I really like that. You can see the ATO "open/closed" that is my avast ATO. And on the right side is my back up "SUMPHI" float switch. The other 2 floats are in my RO/DI reservoir. Here's the final setup 1 line is ATO, 1 is effluent from my calcium reactor, and 1 is for my auto water change pump. I've been wanting to setup float switches in my sump since the day I got my apex. I'm really bummed it took me 4 years to get it done. It's so simple to setup and program. If anyone has any questions, shoot away. I'll post back after a few days, and let everyone know how the pressure sensor works out. (Sorry for the long read, it's kind of a lot of info)

05/16/2016, 09:03 PM	#2
mr9iron 15& Over Club Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,552 Blog Entries: 1	That looks great. When I had the Avast pressure switch I had to put it quite a way underwater before it would close the switch. __________________ Vince ______________________________ Current Tank Info: Frag tank at the moment, planning another

05/16/2016, 09:41 PM	#4
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Avast rocks __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

05/17/2016, 06:43 AM	#5
mjc0760 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Robbinsville NJ Posts: 98	My pressure switch quit working properly about a week ago. I tried testing it by blowing into the tube. I could hear the switch clicking open and closed, but I could also hear air leaking around the rubber gasket. I put some silicone around it to seal it up and will try it again. For now, I'm just running the ATO off of an extra float switch I had laying around. (Ever wonder why reefers have so many "extra" parts lying around? I guess that's a topic for another thread...) __________________ Aqueon 90g RR, Trigger Systems Emerald 34 sump, 2 Radion XR30w G3 PROs, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer, MaxSpect Gyre XF130 and XF230, Sicce Syncra Silent 4.0 Return, Apex Controller, Avast ATO, BRS Media R Current Tank Info: 90 gallon mixed reef

05/17/2016, 08:41 PM	#7
ccrider93 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 44	FWIW on the depth of the sensor. I put mine roughly 1" into the water. What I did notice is that it takes fusion a bit to update the status of the switch, initially I wasn't waiting long enough to see the change. Something suggested to me was to take a light or a pump and configure it to fire off the switch, so you can see that pump/light operate immediately. I'm definitely happy with this pressure switch, and am super happy to hear that it works for so long w/o maintenance. Anything in this hobby that reduces my maintenance is worth the price.