Any one use ATO without a sump

[millertyler22]

I have a 55 gallon reef that I would like to add ATO but not sure how to with the wave maker. What options do I have?

 

[pondman]

Do you have a sump?

 

[vic67]

I've used two products from autotopoff.com; one was for a in-tank float switch.

 

[millertyler22]

No I do not have a sump that's why I'm curious if there's a way to do it in the display

 

[jadwv2210]

Only way I could think to do it would be with a dosing pump or gravity fed drip. You would have to find the amount of water evaporating and adjust the drip or dosing pump to input that amount. Only problem is evaporation will vary and you'll be adjusting often. I don't think there's any ATO on the market which will work correctly with a varying water level.

 

[millertyler22]

Ha that was my thought I guess a couple mins a day is really nothing to complain about

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I've had an ato in every non sump tank I ever. Most of them DIY. What wave make are you using?
Those gotta be big waves.

 

[reefwiser]

You can use a Tunze ATO in a tank with out a sump no problem.

 

[millertyler22]

Haha I have two wp40s about 2in waves

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Then no. The float switch won't work.

 

[reefwiser]

2 inch wave action can bust a seam on a tank.

 

[shornik]

Tunze ATO and a 5 gallon bucket works perfectly.

 

[AdamNC]

I use the Tunze nano and just have my wavemakers set on ramp up and down rather than pulse. Works good.

 

[millertyler22]

I'll have to try that

 

[Pepcrylic]

I have done it. Sorry no pics
You need to place the float switch inside of some sort of box to protect it from the wave action. I used black acrylic so it wouldnt grow algae

 

[cloak]

I apologize for not reading through the entire thread, but patience? (did somebody already say this? )

Rain or reighn... same deal... salty tears...

 

[jlanger]

I don't like to rely on float switches for my ATO's, so I use my controller to run a top off pump a few minutes each hour to keep the water level stable. If the water level drops, I add more seconds to the "on" time. If the water level rises, I decrease a few seconds to the "on" time. I usually need to adjust when the seasons change and we can open the windows again.

Since my Fluval M60 is an AIO tank, I don't have a true sump but I do have an ATO set up. I have a RKL running the Digital Aquatics DP1 pump to pump water into the return chamber of the AIO. More details here.
You could run the ATO tubing over the back of your tank (keep it above the water line) to supply fresh water from a reservoir.

 

[millertyler22]

I apologize for not reading through the entire thread, but patience? (did somebody already say this? )

Rain or reighn... same deal... salty tears...

What do u mean by this?