Will my Tunze ATO work with a Digital Aquatics Controller?

[Pigpen17]

Maybe it's a dumb question.

So I have bought the Tunze Osmolator 3155, but I still have my eye on the Digital Aquatics Lite Controller as well. If and when I get the controller, can I hook the Tunze into it and still keep the electric eye and safety float operating?

And if anyone as been following my progression with this, again, I must say I am not crazy. Just re thinking things all the time. I should have waited a bit longer and thought harder on this before I went and dropped the cash for the Tunze, but I just liked it so much more than the Digital Aquatics ATO.

[BigEZ77]

I would recommend spending the extra cash on a Apex Jr. Much more user friendly, more features, easier expansion down the road, the list goes on and on. I returned the Reefkeeper Lite myself. Sorry I can't help you with the ATO compatibility.

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by BigEZ77

I would recommend spending the extra cash on a Apex Jr. Much more user friendly, more features, easier expansion down the road, the list goes on and on. I returned the Reefkeeper Lite myself. Sorry I can't help you with the ATO compatibility.

Yeah. Isn't that just the way. I started out looking to buy an $80.00 heater controller, and now I'm $200.00 into an ATO and looking at controllers, and thinking it's time to add a sump, which of course I may as well upgrade the tank if I'm going to do that.

[BigEZ77]

In this hobby...yup!

[Pigpen17]

Bumping.

This is sort of a pivotal moment in my saltwater hobby. I know it seems like I have a lot on the table at once, but I kind of do. I have been sumpless with no issues at all, but now I have a lot of darn equipment on my tank and it's just not making sense anymore. Time to start re planning, which of course brings up a lot of options and questions.

[davehead86]

I run a ReefKeeper lite and a Tunze ATO. There would be no way to have the Tunze components plugged directly into the Reefkeeper. If you are worried about the ATO failing the Tunze is the best bet, it has dual redundancies to prevent an over flow. You could also get a float and plug it into the ReefKeeper and if it gets triggered have the ReefKeeper shut off that outlet.



Personally I love my ReefKeeper. I have it as a basic backup and dont need all that fancy stuff the Apex does. My tank isnt big enough for all of that and the ReefKeeper does a great job at allowing me to use it as a failure prevention tool. My heater is plugged into it with an alarm and power off setting. My doser is plugged into it with the ph probe and an alarm and power off option. You will need an SLX or Lab addition to have a PH probe, ORP probe, Salinity probe etc to monitor those parameters and shut things off. The SLX also has wire spots for the float sensors for backup. Very useful.

The reefkeeper is cheaper but not a cheap product. The probes are cheaper and so are all the add ons.

Thats just my .02c

[Pigpen17]

Originally Posted by davehead86

I run a ReefKeeper lite and a Tunze ATO. There would be no way to have the Tunze components plugged directly into the Reefkeeper. If you are worried about the ATO failing the Tunze is the best bet, it has dual redundancies to prevent an over flow. You could also get a float and plug it into the ReefKeeper and if it gets triggered have the ReefKeeper shut off that outlet.



Personally I love my ReefKeeper. I have it as a basic backup and dont need all that fancy stuff the Apex does. My tank isnt big enough for all of that and the ReefKeeper does a great job at allowing me to use it as a failure prevention tool. My heater is plugged into it with an alarm and power off setting. My doser is plugged into it with the ph probe and an alarm and power off option. You will need an SLX or Lab addition to have a PH probe, ORP probe, Salinity probe etc to monitor those parameters and shut things off. The SLX also has wire spots for the float sensors for backup. Very useful.

The reefkeeper is cheaper but not a cheap product. The probes are cheaper and so are all the add ons.

Thats just my .02c

Thanks. Yeah, I do like the Tunze ATO and will keep it regardless of the controller I buy. Still looking and reading on those.

[davehead86]

Originally Posted by Pigpen17

Thanks. Yeah, I do like the Tunze ATO and will keep it regardless of the controller I buy. Still looking and reading on those.

If you want it on your computer you cant have a MAC with the ReefKeepers. Not compatible.

If you want a fancy online webpage and a phone app then the reefkeeper isnt for you either.

The reefkeeper lites are designed for lots of operations that dont need adjustment after setup. I wouldnt use it for lights or pumps etc. But I bought Ecotech for all the important stuff that has its own app. No need for Apex.

[BigEZ77]

Originally Posted by davehead86

If you want a fancy online webpage and a phone app then the reefkeeper isnt for you either.

Big reason why I'm going with the Apex...remote monitoring and control. Also it's compatible with a lot of my gear.

[davehead86]

Originally Posted by BigEZ77

Big reason why I'm going with the Apex...remote monitoring and control. Also it's compatible with a lot of my gear.

The new DA unit can do all of that but he is talking about lite units.


And with the apex or reefkeeper lite if you want that control you need to buy their net modules and then wireless bridges etc to make it all work. The reefkeeper has a more clumsy type website (picture windows 98 type styling).

So again its possible, Apex makes it easier.

[BigEZ77]

Yes, I had a lite unit and returned it. Taken from the Apex Jr page..."The Apex Jr. is Internet-ready straight out of the box. Just plug it into your router and you are good to go". No need for extra modules anymore...can feed and adjust lights remotely with the Fusion cloud.

[Pigpen17]

Yeah, I've been reading up on the Apex after reading this. They are sweet, but it seems like most of the bells and whistles are internet based. The DA lite might be a good starter controller for me. It's rally going to come down to compatibility with my current equipment, or what I can buy that I don't have yet. For instance, I would love to run my lights through it and see if I can get actual ramp up and down, but I'm not going to buy new lights to do that.

[BigEZ77]

I hear ya...I have the Kessil and Gyre, so it makes sense for me.