Anyone using the AutoAqua Smart ATO Lite

[rirun]

Hi.

Is anyone using the Lite model? I see a lot of Micros being used but nothing really on the Lite model.

Thanks.

 

[Steven Garland]

I'm curious on this too,Amazon has them for $70. At the moment besides the CoralBox N50 its the cheapest ato for smaller aquariums.

 

[rirun]

I got one off of eBay and so far so good. It took about 15-20 days to arrive from overseas. It's been running for about a month and no issues so far.

 

[Entz]

Looks very similar to the Micro. Same pump and everything. Lite has the "newer sensor" but AFAICT it doesn't have the Audible alarm.

Price is fantastic if its basically the same thing. Depending on if the beeping is important.

Micro has treated me well.

 

[Paul Sands]

Looks very similar to the Micro. Same pump and everything. Lite has the "newer sensor" but AFAICT it doesn't have the Audible alarm.

Price is fantastic if its basically the same thing. Depending on if the beeping is important.

Micro has treated me well.

Well, my micros seem to always alarm around 2am, so the lack of an audible alarm would seem like a win-win to me.

 

[Steven Garland]

I am looking into this one as well,I would love to have no alarm. My JBJ didn't have an alarm if IRC and I loved that,if so it NEVER went off lol.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

I have the lite and it does not have an alarm. For that reason I would recommend the micro for most people. I have mine on a QT tank so features are not critical. It’s a good cheap ato for a secondary tank but not sure id use it on an expensive setup.

 

[appacalypse]

Do you think the Lite would work for a 75 gallon DT with 26gallon sump.

I have the lite and it does not have an alarm. For that reason I would recommend the micro for most people. I have mine on a QT tank so features are not critical. It’s a good cheap ato for a secondary tank but not sure id use it on an expensive setup.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Do you think the Lite would work for a 75 gallon DT with 26gallon sump.

Yes it would work as long as the head height does not exceed the pump limits. If you have a standard height stand I dont think it would be an issue.

 

[ThePlummer]

I know this is a old post, but I've just had an issue with the prism light housing cracking and went into total failure, and it's only about a year old. Went to the website to see about a replacement eye... That's a big negatory... They don't seem to have much of a customer service.

This is very disheartening for me at this point, because I'm also using their Floodguardian and it uses the same prism eye. I'm just waiting for the day that I come home to find my ATO tank overfilling all over the floor, because that eye developed cracks and leaked into it also.

Not to mention that I'm also using AutoAqua's skimmer protection... I've recently had the skimmer put about 10 gallons of skimmate on the floor, due to the eye not sensing the can as full. I was unable to determine why the skimmer didn't shut off, because when I tried it again, it worked fine. Now, the only thing I could come up with, was that the skimmer can was full, and had shut off, then we had an intermittent power failure which reset the eye, and being full, the eye didn't detect any change, so it turned on the skimmer and it just continued to overflow.

I've seen many reviews of this companies failures, then saw one review where the housing was cracked and water got in it... I looked at mine very closely, and it's got about a half dozen cracks in it also.

I would not recommend buying anything from AutoAqua at this point, they can't seem to use a plastic that doesn't deteriorate rather quickly.

 

[clhardy5]

I know this is a old post, but I've just had an issue with the prism light housing cracking and went into total failure, and it's only about a year old. Went to the website to see about a replacement eye... That's a big negatory... They don't seem to have much of a customer service.

This is very disheartening for me at this point, because I'm also using their Floodguardian and it uses the same prism eye. I'm just waiting for the day that I come home to find my ATO tank overfilling all over the floor, because that eye developed cracks and leaked into it also.

Not to mention that I'm also using AutoAqua's skimmer protection... I've recently had the skimmer put about 10 gallons of skimmate on the floor, due to the eye not sensing the can as full. I was unable to determine why the skimmer didn't shut off, because when I tried it again, it worked fine. Now, the only thing I could come up with, was that the skimmer can was full, and had shut off, then we had an intermittent power failure which reset the eye, and being full, the eye didn't detect any change, so it turned on the skimmer and it just continued to overflow.

I've seen many reviews of this companies failures, then saw one review where the housing was cracked and water got in it... I looked at mine very closely, and it's got about a half dozen cracks in it also.

I would not recommend buying anything from AutoAqua at this point, they can't seem to use a plastic that doesn't deteriorate rather quickly.

I had one that cracked and got ruined as well....After only 3 months. I contacted the company, and they said they do not warranty them in the US. Won't ever buy another.

 

[rirun]

Mine lasted about a year.

 

[DHill6]

Eye opener...I had a smart ATO lasted years without a problem until it quit working. I was looking into another option but staying away from this one.

 

[Steven Garland]

I highly dislike the new type of sensors.. I have had nothing bud but luck. XPAQUA and JBJ optical sensors have failed me. Both overflowed my tank numerous times. Such a shame.

 

[rirun]

I replaced mine with the reef breeders exo-ato. It’s bigger but so far so good.

 

[ThePlummer]

I thought the ReefBreeders Exo-Alto would be a good alternative, since the electronics aren't under water, that the optical lens is on the wet side, makes sense to me, however, in my current situation, none of the wires are going to be nearly long enough to do what I need done.

Then I thought about the JBJ, and since there is a report of the same issue with this one as the Lite, that seals the deal for me.

I'm just going to have to go with the ReefBreeders and cut the wires and add a 'extension cord' to it. I suspect that will void the warranty, but what good is a warranty with Auto Aqua, when the refuse to warranty any sales of the Lite in the US anyway.