Auto Top Off

[Fishit]

Hey guys any suggestions on auto top off set ups looking to go decently cheep but something that works good with out worry also

 

[averhoog]

I use one I think it is called smart ato just a magnetic senior and small pump think it was like 100$ from ia

 

[Fishit]

Who makes that one ?

 

[reefgeek]

Do you run a controller on your setup? If so you can throw some float switch inputs and program an outlet fairly cheaply (compared to the cost of a controller at least). If you don't have a controller then JBJ makes or used to make a fairly simple float based ATO that ran under $100.00, used it myself for several years on my 60 cube.

 

[saltyair]

I am 100% sold on the smart ato - I had the return hose come off and the ato didn't keep running and the alarm went off. A good thing when your dosing kalkwater
If I would have bought a cheap one I would have lost everything
The smart ato is the best investment I have made


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[Sewerat]

I use a 10gal tank with a hole drilled it in on top of sump, a quick connect rodi hose out the bottom, float valve in sump. Gravity is my ATO

 

[barebottomcouple]

I use a 10gal tank with a hole drilled it in on top of sump, a quick connect rodi hose out the bottom, float valve in sump. Gravity is my ATO

that sounds awesome no bs think that's exactly what I'm gonna do on my seahorse tank

 

[4Hummer]

My JBJ ATO worked great.

Auto Shut off if pump runs to long, Multiple configurations, Good Price.

 

[Fishit]

Would a vac pump on a timer and a float valve as back up work you think or would it blow the hoses off I like the gravity feed idea but am worried if that float ever sticks

 

[Fishit]

And thanks for the input guys

 

[Kman]

If you have a controller then i would tie it into that. I used to use a JBJ and it was a great unit. Till the winter hit and the heat from the furnace came on and increased my evaporation. I have a 110 gallon sump and because of the surface area it has, it had to run to long and it would time out. So every few days i had to unplug the unit and plug it back in. The JBJ does have have adjustments if you open it for how long it runs that can be adjusted. But i still had issues after i adjusted it. With a smaller sump it would not be an issue and the JBJ works great. Mine is now tied into my Apex and I love that if i have an issue it tells me. I would recommend if you get any ATO to use a second float to shut the unit off if the water gets to high. The JBJ does come with two floats.

 

[EricTMah]

X2 what Kman said.

But one correction to his statement.

The JBJ does come with a second float switch. But that is used in the your ato reservoir to shut down the ato if there's no water left in the reservoir to ensure your pump doesn't run dry.

A simple fix to kman's issue of it running too long that it triggers the time out is to use a faster pump. High gph rating would decrease the ato run time which would fix the time out problem.



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[Sewerat]

Would a vac pump on a timer and a float valve as back up work you think or would it blow the hoses off I like the gravity feed idea but am worried if that float ever sticks

That's why with a small tank if it does stick 2-10 gals depending on your system won't over flow the system. I don't use the float direct to the rodi unit for that reason. I manually fill my tank when req but then the gravity maintains the whole system at perfect level for me. At worst case it empties out about 5 gals max into my system. I've got close to 200gals in my system so 5 won't upset it that much.

 

[Kman]

The bigger pump in my case didn't fix the timeout issue but in most cases it would. The second switch does work in the sump if you rotate the float by poping off the pin on the bottom and rotating the float.

 

[Kman]

That's why with a small tank if it does stick 2-10 gals depending on your system won't over flow the system. I don't use the float direct to the rodi unit for that reason. I manually fill my tank when req but then the gravity maintains the whole system at perfect level for me. At worst case it empties out about 5 gals max into my system. I've got close to 200gals in my system so 5 won't upset it that much.

5 gallon is not much in a 200 gallon system. It sure is in a small one. lol

I used this guys tragedy in the below link when selecting my last ATO on what can go wrong.

https://forum.neptunesystems.com/showthread.php?2325-For-Those-With-ATO-Add-a-couple-more-lines-of-code

 

[4Hummer]

The JBJ ATO comes with 2 float switches, and can be be setup in one of two ways. (A or B mode) You can have Both Floats in the Sump. One as a High Level and one Low Level switch (Double the safety factor) This is how I had mine setup.

Or one float in the Sump, one in the Fresh Water Container. This way you won't run your pump Dry.

As was mentioned you can adjust the "RUN TIME" or how long the pump will run before the JBJ cuts power to the pump (You have to open it up and adjust a POT) there is also an Audible Alarm you can enable disable inside

I found that finding the right size pump is the key. (A Toms Aqualifter was TOO Underpowered) The max run time for the Pump is 3 minutes, and the Aqualifter just pumps to slow. I ended up using a MaxiJet 400, and set the max run time at 1min.

So If within 1 minute the Sump is not at the proper level the JBJ Cuts the power to the Pump and goes into fail safe mode. I Figured this way I would never burn out the pump from running dry. OR overflow my Tank/ add to much Fresh Water.

ONLY THING I DISLIKED ABOUT this unit was getting it out of fail safe mode requires unplugging it.
And no Notification of Low Top Off Water on my reef keeper display.


It's now all running on my reef keeper instead, and I'm using DIY pressure switches instead of mechanical float switches. (Cause I'm geeky like that)

For around $100. The JBJ is pretty darn good. and the only reason I switched was because.... Well... errr.... I wanted.... um.... To spend more money !


Just remember to clean the float switches every once and awhile

 

[saltyair]

http://www.autoaqua.com.tw/en/products/automatic.htm

 

[Kman]

That SMART ATO looks cool.

 

[Kyle1970]

Price scares me off of the Smart ATO and some of the other options.

 

[jeeper4fun]

I just got one of these in my sump with a hose to a 5 gal pail. Drill hole in side/bottom of bucket and silicone it. Got the bucket stacked ontop of another pail behind the tank for leverage.
I fill the pail ever 3-4 days

http://www.aquariumsupplies.ca/auto-shut-wfloat-valve-p-1509.html