Are any ATOs really safe?

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Why would it be so close to get salt creep?

I put one inside a stand, my fault.

 

[Crustaceon]

The trick to making an ATO safe is to never have enough top off water to overflow your sump or display and always use and anti-siphon device or at the very least, mount the output high enough in the sump so it'll never touch salt water even if the ATO pump sticks on and the ATO container completely empties into the sump/display.

 

[gbroadbridge]

If you want to be a cowboy and mainline your rodi filter to an ato, that is risky business. I don’t even run my rodi inside the house for risk of flooding.

It's not risky at all if properly designed.

The final control should always be a physical float valve that stops water flow in the event of an electronic mishap.

I've been running hard piping from my RODI filter to my ATO reservoir for years, it's necessary if you spend months away from home with the tank running unnatended

 

[Dburr1014]

It's not risky at all if properly designed.

The final control should always be a physical float valve that stops water flow in the event of an electronic mishap.

I've been running hard piping from my RODI filter to my ATO reservoir for years, it's necessary if you spend months away from home with the tank running unnatended

My final control is leak sensors that shut everything down. Ato, rodi, main pump, skimmer, all of it.

 

[gbroadbridge]

My final control is leak sensors that shut everything down. Ato, rodi, main pump, skimmer, all of it.

I have that configured too, however by the time that's happened it's too late

In my case that would mean the leak detector would have automatically called he standby LFS, who charges me $250 an hour to fix really broken things.

They're on 24/7 call and will fix anything , but I've only had to call once in over 5 years.

 

[QuickrdenU]

I think people worry way to much about ATO’s given the number of fail safes. Let’s see…

1. 1st Optical sensor
2. 2nd optical sensor
3. Timer shut off if run too long and text message
4. Manual float valve
5. Leak sensors
6. Possibly the size of your reservoir being so small compared to total sump capacity( Not mine, it will be 50 gallons)
7. You can even add a smart outlet to the mix to only turn it on for 1 or 2 minutes multiple times a day.
8. You can even add a solenoid valve to completely shut off flow when pump is not in use.
9. Ensure RO tank is lower than display tank.

I mean… why the fear? There are plenty of other things that could go terribly wrong if you really enjoy worrying. ATO’s get a bad rap! Use some sense when hooking it up and you’re good.

 

[Dburr1014]

I think people worry way to much about ATO’s given the number of fail safes. Let’s see…

1. 1st Optical sensor
2. 2nd optical sensor
3. Timer shut off if run too long and text message
4. Manual float valve
5. Leak sensors
6. Possibly the size of your reservoir being so small compared to total sump capacity( Not mine, it will be 50 gallons)
7. You can even add a smart outlet to the mix to only turn it on for 1 or 2 minutes multiple times a day.
8. You can even add a solenoid valve to completely shut off flow when pump is not in use.
9. Ensure RO tank is lower than display tank.

I mean… why the fear? There are plenty of other things that could go terribly wrong if you really enjoy worrying. ATO’s get a bad rap! Use some sense when hooking it up and you’re good.

100%
I think the problem is they are not that much thought out or they don't want to put that much work/money into it.

 

[Smoke-Town]

I didnt read the comments so tgis may have been mentioned.
I recently put thetunze 5150 ato pump in a storage tank behind the wall of one of my tanks. It has a backup float valve in case the optical sensor fails which I've never personally heard of happening. It also automatically shuts off after 10 minutes if u started with very low water or sensirs are too high.

The only issue I see is that because the drum is higher than the sump when the drum is filled, the ato will have a steady drip into the sump after it goes off until its down a bit in the drum.

It's never been enough to overfill the sump enough for the float valve alarm on the tunze to go off though. I was thinking of possibly adding a solenoid valve to the line to open and let air in to break the siphon after 11 minutes of the ato being on. I think you could set this up through the hydros system with the "if this then that" configuration. Could also plug the ato into hydros outlets to have the power cut from the ato after 11 minutes to verify it is off

 

[Aquaddictorbj4]

Not advertisement but I really love @AUTOAQUA's ATO with dual optical sensor and QST system.
Using them for over 2 years and really safe.

 

[moreef]

So I use an apex and due to that have 2 fail safes. First one is I have high water level optical sensor that if triggered does 2 things first will shut off ato and second will send my cell phone text message alarm of the event. Second is I have figured out that anytime I need a top off the pump does not need to run longer then 30 seconds so I set a program that if the ato runs more then 30 seconds it also will shut ato off and also send cell phone text message alarm. This is brainless and will never fail with the Redundant apex failsafes

Do you happen to have the apex code for this you could post

My final control is leak sensors that shut everything down. Ato, rodi, main pump, skimmer, all of it.

you happen to have the apex code for this you can share?

 

[Dburr1014]

Do you happen to have the apex code for this you could post

you happen to have the apex code for this you can share?

Line number seven in this example you need to do for all of the things you want shut down. The LKTANK is my leak sensors.

 

[moreef]

Line number seven in this example you need to do for all of the things you want shut down. The LKTANK is my leak sensors.

That’s so easy even I can do it lol. Thanks man

 

[rottennem]

I’ve had no problems with the Redsea Ato. The app is great and it also has a live temperature/Water level sensor. It comes with a leak detector and an auto timeout. Hopefully i don’t jinx myself lol

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Do you happen to have the apex code for this you could post

you happen to have the apex code for this you can share?

Line 8 and 9 would not be in your code

 

[((FORDTECH))]

And then there is code written in my email alarm section 4, when the high sensor closes to set an alarm as well as a low level sensor that when it opens, will sound an alarm

 

[Ordovician_Reef]

So my final fail safe is mechanical. If the tank overflows, the overflow gets caught in a galvanized steel pan placed under the stand (also nice for providing level surface on office carpet):

The dimensions of that pan can hold 4 gallons of water. Remove the space taken by the stand frame (hollow between), and I would guess it can comfortably hold 3 gallons before spilling onto the carpet.

With a 5 gallon ATO jug in the stand, I think it can overflow the tank, but probably not by >2-3 gallons. So, worst case in terms of office mess would be having to drain the pan (siphon or towels). Worse for the tank inhabitants, of course. Corals/fish might not like the diluted saltwater, but still might not be too bad. Urchin would die for sure, as well as anything else sensitive to salinity swings.

Now that's the best idea I have seen all week!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Now that's the best idea I have seen all week!

Really ?!?!? The first time I stubbed my toe on that thing I would throw it out the window. And it looks horrible. And is unsafe from a tripping stand point!!! And then give it six months and see what the rust on it’s gonna look like. But for all purposes I guess it will work..