Ato

darkiss · 10/18/2012, 06:31 PM

Should I install an ato system?

My salt level swings1.025 to 1.026. And I add in about 700ml of water a day to keep it from going over 1.026

Also how cheap could I make one for

laugh · 10/18/2012, 07:49 PM

Without a doubt YES. There is no reason to not have one. What a PITA to top off manually everyday. You can build one very cheap. You can buy float switches and a relay online for less than $15

darkiss · 10/18/2012, 07:52 PM

Yea I am thinking about buying a dosing pump and a Madison float valve.

How do you hold the float valve in the water, and prevent it from getting stuck

laugh · 10/18/2012, 07:59 PM

I made a bracket out of acrylic and snail guards out of PVC fittings.

MinnFish · 10/18/2012, 08:27 PM

DIY kit for 40, includes all u need. Except 3 dollar electrical cord.

darkiss · 10/18/2012, 09:11 PM

What DIY kit?

darkiss · 10/18/2012, 09:12 PM

Laugh, wonder if I can use one of the suction cups on my heater to hold it in place ?

belljim · 10/18/2012, 09:16 PM

Yes, spend the money and buy a tunze ATO. The quality and service make them stand out among their competition.

darkiss · 10/18/2012, 09:19 PM

Looked at that one and also read some bad reviews about optical. Also I don't what a loud beep, I just want it to work proper

disc1 · 10/18/2012, 09:19 PM

No doubt it will make life easier. Nothing like being able to leave the tank for a few days without having to worry about someone showing up to top it off.

darkiss · 10/18/2012, 09:20 PM

Yea 750ml about a day in the am, right after I feed my cat is do able just not if I leave or something

laugh · 10/18/2012, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkiss

Laugh, wonder if I can use one of the suction cups on my heater to hold it in place ?

I would not trust any suction cup.

a.browning · 10/18/2012, 11:04 PM

Tunze are definitely worth it. I have had mine for over 2 years now with no issues ever. There is no loud beep when the unit is running. There is an alarm if your sump level rises too much, so you'll know if something went wrong. It's a little more expensive but the reliability and quality is well worth it. You get what you pay for!

MinnFish · 10/19/2012, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinnFish

DIY kit for 40, includes all u need. Except 3 dollar electrical cord.

I do apologize. U will need a aqua lifter. Check BRS website.

gb530 · 10/19/2012, 01:54 AM

I agree with a.browning that you get what you pay for. This is the ATO setup I recommend to people...

All you need:
- JBJ Auto top off system ($70)
- water reservoir (I'm using a 10 gallon glass tank) ($15)
- Aqua Lifter pump ($15)

Best setup for the price, IMO

Drew707 · 10/19/2012, 02:03 AM

Autotopoff.com check it out and there is a video on youtube to see it in action

good luck!

aandfsoccr04 · 10/19/2012, 07:57 AM

You should definitely get an auto top off. There are a lot of different ones which should do the trick. One of the best purchases I've made in this hobby. I use the tunze osmolator.

darkiss · 10/19/2012, 08:00 AM

nice ya i will this next paycheck.

Starting Cost of an Aquarium is a bit much, but I know once I get everything going all I will need is salt =]~

a.browning · 10/19/2012, 08:58 AM

Yep, startup costs are high but if you go with the right quality equipment you will basically never have to worry about it again, other than routine maintainence. I made the mistake of starting with "okay" equipment, and within a year I had upgraded everything to better equipment.. could have saved a lot of time/money if I had started with the nicer things.

darkiss · 10/19/2012, 09:05 AM

ya, I am thinking about just putting in a Float Valve to my tank, so then I don't have to plug in any more crap to my walls.

Yes I have already spent money on the best equipment, just hope I don't get bad algae or something

darkiss · 10/19/2012, 09:25 AM

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=20412

sponger0 · 10/19/2012, 09:31 AM

Autotopoff.com has good ones. People who have had it said its a good buy. I use the JBJ ATO and have had it for a year and has worked flawlessly.

The Tunze is a big expensive but boasts accuracy, but I have heard if the laser not working new out of the box.

10/18/2012, 06:31 PM	#1
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	Ato Should I install an ato system? My salt level swings1.025 to 1.026. And I add in about 700ml of water a day to keep it from going over 1.026 Also how cheap could I make one for

10/18/2012, 07:49 PM	#2
laugh Member of the Registry Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 1,226	Without a doubt YES. There is no reason to not have one. What a PITA to top off manually everyday. You can build one very cheap. You can buy float switches and a relay online for less than $15 __________________ NORK President Current Tank Info: All gone

10/18/2012, 07:59 PM	#4
laugh Member of the Registry Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 1,226	I made a bracket out of acrylic and snail guards out of PVC fittings. __________________ NORK President Current Tank Info: All gone

10/18/2012, 09:19 PM	#10
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	No doubt it will make life easier. Nothing like being able to leave the tank for a few days without having to worry about someone showing up to top it off. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

10/18/2012, 11:04 PM	#13
a.browning Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 975	Tunze are definitely worth it. I have had mine for over 2 years now with no issues ever. There is no loud beep when the unit is running. There is an alarm if your sump level rises too much, so you'll know if something went wrong. It's a little more expensive but the reliability and quality is well worth it. You get what you pay for! __________________ 75 SPS, 80 & 45 Frag Tank, 40B Leather Tank

10/18/2012, 07:52 PM	#3
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	Yea I am thinking about buying a dosing pump and a Madison float valve. How do you hold the float valve in the water, and prevent it from getting stuck

10/18/2012, 08:27 PM	#5
MinnFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home of 10,000 lakes Posts: 917	DIY kit for 40, includes all u need. Except 3 dollar electrical cord.

10/18/2012, 09:11 PM	#6
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	What DIY kit?

10/18/2012, 09:12 PM	#7
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	Laugh, wonder if I can use one of the suction cups on my heater to hold it in place ?

10/18/2012, 09:16 PM	#8
belljim Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: st cloud, mn Posts: 55	Yes, spend the money and buy a tunze ATO. The quality and service make them stand out among their competition.

10/18/2012, 09:20 PM	#11
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	Yea 750ml about a day in the am, right after I feed my cat is do able just not if I leave or something

10/19/2012, 01:54 AM	#15
gb530 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 492	I agree with a.browning that you get what you pay for. This is the ATO setup I recommend to people... All you need: - JBJ Auto top off system ($70) - water reservoir (I'm using a 10 gallon glass tank) ($15) - Aqua Lifter pump ($15) Best setup for the price, IMO __________________ 90g SPS Dominant, ATI 6x54w T5HO + Reef Brite LED blue strip, Reef Octopus XS-160 Skimmer, DIY algae scrubber, and other cool stuff

10/19/2012, 02:03 AM	#16
Drew707 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: fairfield ca Posts: 285	Autotopoff.com check it out and there is a video on youtube to see it in action good luck! __________________ Hold the lemon.. ill take salt with my water thanx Current Tank Info: 55 breeder mixed reef

10/19/2012, 07:57 AM	#17
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	You should definitely get an auto top off. There are a lot of different ones which should do the trick. One of the best purchases I've made in this hobby. I use the tunze osmolator. __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

10/19/2012, 08:00 AM	#18
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	nice ya i will this next paycheck. Starting Cost of an Aquarium is a bit much, but I know once I get everything going all I will need is salt =]~

10/19/2012, 08:58 AM	#19
a.browning Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 975	Yep, startup costs are high but if you go with the right quality equipment you will basically never have to worry about it again, other than routine maintainence. I made the mistake of starting with "okay" equipment, and within a year I had upgraded everything to better equipment.. could have saved a lot of time/money if I had started with the nicer things. __________________ 75 SPS, 80 & 45 Frag Tank, 40B Leather Tank

10/19/2012, 09:05 AM	#20
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	ya, I am thinking about just putting in a Float Valve to my tank, so then I don't have to plug in any more crap to my walls. Yes I have already spent money on the best equipment, just hope I don't get bad algae or something

10/19/2012, 09:25 AM	#21
darkiss Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 569	http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=20412

10/19/2012, 09:31 AM	#22
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Autotopoff.com has good ones. People who have had it said its a good buy. I use the JBJ ATO and have had it for a year and has worked flawlessly. The Tunze is a big expensive but boasts accuracy, but I have heard if the laser not working new out of the box.