Auto Top-Off suggestions needed! - Page 2

Spork3245 · 02/25/2016, 01:22 PM

Bah! I'm really considering spending that extra ~$115 on the Tunze now

(The JBJ ATO + the aqualifter was ~$85).
Does the Tunze come with tubing or do I still need to purchase extra airline tubing?

afrayler · 02/25/2016, 01:26 PM

The Tunze does come with tubing, the amount of it I am blanking on but I did not need to purchase any extra. My ATO reservoir is right next to my display though.

d0ughb0y · 02/25/2016, 01:31 PM

save your money. the jbj works just fine. It is normal for people to justify/rationalize the amount they spend (I also do that). I used to use a jbj ato for a long time, no problem, but now use a diy ato integrated into my diy controller. You can diy an ato pretty easily if you are handy.

Spork3245 · 02/25/2016, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d0ughb0y

save your money. the jbj works just fine. It is normal for people to justify/rationalize the amount they spend (I also do that). I used to use a jbj ato for a long time, no problem, but now use a diy ato integrated into my diy controller. You can diy an ato pretty easily if you are handy.

Can a secondary/back-up sensor be set-up on the JBJ? I'm concerned now since I'll be getting a 27 gallon reservoir... And... That's a lot of extra water if it doesn't shut off

(90 gallon DT with a 40 gallon breeder for a sump... Probably keeps about 25-30 gallons in the sump at any given time... So there's only maybe ~10-ish gallons of extra space while all the pumps and what-not are running).

Spork3245 · 02/25/2016, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

Can a secondary/back-up sensor be set-up on the JBJ? I'm concerned now since I'll be getting a 27 gallon reservoir... And... That's a lot of extra water if it doesn't shut off

(90 gallon DT with a 40 gallon breeder for a sump... Probably keeps about 25-30 gallons in the sump at any given time... So there's only maybe ~10-ish gallons of extra space).

Oh, wait... It looks like the JBJ has two float sensors, I'm assuming one is a back-up? It also looks like it auto-kills power to the pump/lifter after about 4 minutes by default as a fail-safe - Is this info accurate...? If that's the case I may be back on the JBJ-wagon

d0ughb0y · 02/25/2016, 03:07 PM

yes that is correct. I think if you search marine depot site, they may have a video on how it works.

USC-fan · 02/25/2016, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

Oh, wait... It looks like the JBJ has two float sensors, I'm assuming one is a back-up? It also looks like it auto-kills power to the pump/lifter after about 4 minutes by default as a fail-safe - Is this info accurate...? If that's the case I may be back on the JBJ-wagon

Yes and you can change the pump fail safe time.

You can set one sensor in the top off water so it wont run the pump dry.

I have not had a sensor fail in ten years i been running them.

azjohnny · 02/25/2016, 03:30 PM

[QUOTEIt looks like the JBJ has two float sensors, I'm assuming one is a back-up? It also looks like it auto-kills power to the pump/lifter after about 4 minutes by default as a fail-safe - Is this info accurate...? If that's the case I may be back on the JBJ-wagon][/QUOTE]

You can program the JBJ to use the 2nd float to be a high level cut off or in the ATO container to shutoff the pump when the level gets too low. The JBJ controller can be programmed to shut off @ 4 minutes or less

Spork3245 · 02/25/2016, 03:37 PM

Well, unless I'm misunderstanding, it looks like there's not much of a reason to spend so much more for the Tunze since the JBJ has two possible "fail safes" as well. The default timer of 3min 45sec seems perfect. I'm not concerned about the pump running dry since I'll be using Tom's AquaLifter (which can run dry without issue).

d0ughb0y · 02/25/2016, 04:11 PM

The aqualifter pumps water at a slower rate than a powerhead. This will only be an issue if it is going to take more than 4 minutes to raise the water level.

I use this small pump from harborfreight
http://www.harborfreight.com/158-gph...ump-68396.html

those flexible rigid tubes commonly used in RODI fits perfectly to the outlet of this pump.

and I have run this pump dry for hours on end without any problem.

Spork3245 · 02/25/2016, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d0ughb0y

The aqualifter pumps water at a slower rate than a powerhead. This will only be an issue if it is going to take more than 4 minutes to raise the water level.

I use this small pump from harborfreight
http://www.harborfreight.com/158-gph...ump-68396.html

those flexible rigid tubes commonly used in RODI fits perfectly to the outlet of this pump.

and I have run this pump dry for hours on end without any problem.

How quiet is it? I've heard the AquaLifter is practically silent. My tank is in my family room with my TV and all that so it's where I spend the majority of my time when home. The audible "beep" on the JBJ ATO will likely be getting removed pending on how annoying it is

d0ughb0y · 02/25/2016, 04:37 PM

I don't hear it, but it is inside the reservoir inside the cabinet.
the jbj ato max time is 14 minutes, so if you figure running aqualifter for 14 minutes is enough time to raise the water level, then you should be fine. I prefer the pump to be on/off in a few seconds, so I use the harborfreight pump.
the beep is really loud, so you need to disable it.

Spork3245 · 02/25/2016, 04:48 PM

Are there any good (cheap) ATO pumps you'd recommend that are on Amazon, BRS or MarineDepot? (preferably Amazon as I have a credit there at the moment) I'd like to keep all my purchases from the same place and it seems as though the one you linked to is 3x as much on Amazon

I'd rather not go past ~$20 since the aqualifter is ~$15 and seems to be reliable and popular choice.

azjohnny · 02/26/2016, 08:51 AM

When I had my JBJ I used an Ehiem Compact 600 which I got my Marine Depot

Spork3245 · 02/27/2016, 09:43 AM

I went with the Eheim 80gph pump (I forget the exact model number). I figure 1.333 gallons per minute is more-than fast enough as I can't imagine much more than 1 gallon being topped off at one time (probably less... Plus, I want the auto-stop to be able to stop it before the sump overfills). I also went with the JBJ as I just couldn't find a real reason to justify the additional ~$110 for the Tunze outside of the different sensor which really doesn't matter too much since the JBJ has the auto-shut off and a secondary float valve which can be used as a back-up in case the first fails... So... Yea, JBJ

running scott · 02/27/2016, 09:53 AM

I used to have the Hydor smart level. It lasted about two years. I now have the avast marine ATO, I'm useing the toms aqualifter pump it's practically silent and I have been using it for just over two years to pump kalkwasser. Guess what you can buy both from Amazon!

02/25/2016, 04:11 PM	#35
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	The aqualifter pumps water at a slower rate than a powerhead. This will only be an issue if it is going to take more than 4 minutes to raise the water level. I use this small pump from harborfreight http://www.harborfreight.com/158-gph...ump-68396.html those flexible rigid tubes commonly used in RODI fits perfectly to the outlet of this pump. and I have run this pump dry for hours on end without any problem. Last edited by d0ughb0y; 02/25/2016 at 04:17 PM.

02/25/2016, 01:22 PM	#26
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Bah! I'm really considering spending that extra ~$115 on the Tunze now (The JBJ ATO + the aqualifter was ~$85). Does the Tunze come with tubing or do I still need to purchase extra airline tubing?

02/25/2016, 01:26 PM	#27
afrayler Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 8	The Tunze does come with tubing, the amount of it I am blanking on but I did not need to purchase any extra. My ATO reservoir is right next to my display though.

02/25/2016, 01:31 PM	#28
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	save your money. the jbj works just fine. It is normal for people to justify/rationalize the amount they spend (I also do that). I used to use a jbj ato for a long time, no problem, but now use a diy ato integrated into my diy controller. You can diy an ato pretty easily if you are handy.

02/25/2016, 03:07 PM	#31
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	yes that is correct. I think if you search marine depot site, they may have a video on how it works.

02/25/2016, 03:30 PM	#33
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	[QUOTEIt looks like the JBJ has two float sensors, I'm assuming one is a back-up? It also looks like it auto-kills power to the pump/lifter after about 4 minutes by default as a fail-safe - Is this info accurate...? If that's the case I may be back on the JBJ-wagon][/QUOTE] You can program the JBJ to use the 2nd float to be a high level cut off or in the ATO container to shutoff the pump when the level gets too low. The JBJ controller can be programmed to shut off @ 4 minutes or less

02/25/2016, 03:37 PM	#34
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Well, unless I'm misunderstanding, it looks like there's not much of a reason to spend so much more for the Tunze since the JBJ has two possible "fail safes" as well. The default timer of 3min 45sec seems perfect. I'm not concerned about the pump running dry since I'll be using Tom's AquaLifter (which can run dry without issue).

02/25/2016, 04:37 PM	#37
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	I don't hear it, but it is inside the reservoir inside the cabinet. the jbj ato max time is 14 minutes, so if you figure running aqualifter for 14 minutes is enough time to raise the water level, then you should be fine. I prefer the pump to be on/off in a few seconds, so I use the harborfreight pump. the beep is really loud, so you need to disable it.

02/25/2016, 04:48 PM	#38
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	Are there any good (cheap) ATO pumps you'd recommend that are on Amazon, BRS or MarineDepot? (preferably Amazon as I have a credit there at the moment) I'd like to keep all my purchases from the same place and it seems as though the one you linked to is 3x as much on Amazon I'd rather not go past ~$20 since the aqualifter is ~$15 and seems to be reliable and popular choice.

02/26/2016, 08:51 AM	#39
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	When I had my JBJ I used an Ehiem Compact 600 which I got my Marine Depot

02/27/2016, 09:43 AM	#40
Spork3245 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Central New Jersey Posts: 1,088	I went with the Eheim 80gph pump (I forget the exact model number). I figure 1.333 gallons per minute is more-than fast enough as I can't imagine much more than 1 gallon being topped off at one time (probably less... Plus, I want the auto-stop to be able to stop it before the sump overfills). I also went with the JBJ as I just couldn't find a real reason to justify the additional ~$110 for the Tunze outside of the different sensor which really doesn't matter too much since the JBJ has the auto-shut off and a secondary float valve which can be used as a back-up in case the first fails... So... Yea, JBJ

02/27/2016, 09:53 AM	#41
running scott Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bradenton,Fl Posts: 219	I used to have the Hydor smart level. It lasted about two years. I now have the avast marine ATO, I'm useing the toms aqualifter pump it's practically silent and I have been using it for just over two years to pump kalkwasser. Guess what you can buy both from Amazon!