ATO Information

[Saltwater_Reefing]

I am currently running a Fluval Evo 13.5 as my first ever salt water aquarium and it's been running since last October. I have Finally trying to actually get good parameters and I think my first thing to get is an ato not exactly sure, if you could tell me if I am right or wrong I honestly just don't know. But I have api test kits right now and I have heard that salifert is pretty decent so I thought about trying to get those test kits as well if you could just inform me better?
I do get tired of adding rodi water every day but I have heard that going cheap on the ATO isn't always the best Idea, I am really just unsure.....

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

In my opinion, an ATO is worth it, as you say it gets tiresome to add water every day, imagine doing it every day for years and years?

They are all roughly in the same price category, roughly about $90-$120 for the "nano" ATO's. There are several good, reliable brands you can buy in this price range. Tunze nano ATO, and auto aqua smart ATO are 2 that I've used, but there are others, there are lots of threads reviewing different nano ato's, you can find them with the search function.

If have corals, or plan to get corals, an ATO will help keep them happy. Same with the API test kit, its not accurate enough for corals, but for fish only tank it's sufficient.

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

In my opinion, an ATO is worth it, as you say it gets tiresome to add water every day, imagine doing it every day for years and years?

They are all roughly in the same price category, roughly about $90-$120 for the "nano" ATO's. There are several good, reliable brands you can buy in this price range. Tunze nano ATO, and auto aqua smart ATO are 2 that I've used, but there are others, there are lots of threads reviewing different nano ato's, you can find them with the search function.

If have corals, or plan to get corals, an ATO will help keep them happy. Same with the API test kit, its not accurate enough for corals, but for fish only tank it's sufficient.

Thank you for your recommendations, since I have never really paid attention to testing and everything, how would I know if I need to dose or not? and if so how often to? I have also though about getting the smart stir if I use salifert

 

[stoney7713]

I considered getting an ATO for my Fluval. I recently installed a screen top, I have a mark on my return chamber for topping off. I add 4 or 5 oz a water daily. When I feed every morning I simply have a gallon of RODI below it and top off. Takes 5 seconds.

An ATO makes a big difference for large tanks going through a gallon of water a day. But these smaller ones are much less demanding.

I really thought I would be wanting one after adding the screen top but it's not bad at all.


Salifert for Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate and Phosphate. Cheap easy and reliable if your on a budget. The Hannah digital checkers are nice but more expensive. Nitrates and Phosphate units are nice though. Some people like the Alkalinity too but the Salifert is accurate enough for me.

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

I considered getting an ATO for my Fluval. I recently installed a screen top, I have a mark on my return chamber for topping off. I add 4 or 5 oz a water daily. When I feed every morning I simply have a gallon of RODI below it and top off. Takes 5 seconds.

An ATO makes a big difference for large tanks going through a gallon of water a day. But these smaller ones are much less demanding.

I really thought I would be wanting one after adding the screen top but it's not bad at all.


Salifert for Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate and Phosphate. Cheap easy and reliable if your on a budget. The Hannah digital checkers are nice but more expensive. Nitrates and Phosphate units are nice though. Some people like the Alkalinity too but the Salifert is accurate enough for me.

how often do you check your water and what light do you use?
do you have a picture of your tank?

 

[stoney7713]

how often do you check your water and what light do you use?
do you have a picture of your tank?

I check weekly for NO3 and PO4. I dose AFR daily, since it's dialed in I check Alk weekly and as long as it's good Calcium every 3 weeks and Magnesium maybe once a month. I only have a few small nems and mushrooms in this tank but it's Gulf live rock, it had several bivalves on the rock. I'm still getting together the corals I want in this tank.

I'm using a noopsyche K7 V3, it's way overkill but if I upgrade the tank I have a light for a larger tank. The mini would be fine too. AI prime 16 is a popular choice.

i don't have a full shot with the light but you can see part of it here.

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

I

I check weekly for NO3 and PO4. I dose AFR daily, since it's dialed in I check Alk weekly and as long as it's good Calcium every 3 weeks and Magnesium maybe once a month. I only have a few small nems and mushrooms in this tank but it's Gulf live rock, it had several bivalves on the rock. I'm still getting together the corals I want in this tank.

I'm using a noopsyche K7 V3, it's way overkill but if I upgrade the tank I have a light for a larger tank. The mini would be fine too. AI prime 16 is a popular choice.

i don't have a full shot with the light but you can see part of it here.

I am using the stock light, I haven't tested my water in a little bit..... the API test is so stupid, especially the calcium one. I want to really try to get my levels stable and then get more corals. all I have right now is a few corals and a emerald crab, yellow watchman goby and a scissor fish

 

[aSaltyKlown]

An ATO was the best thing I had purchased after 6 months of my first tank. I'll never run a tank without one. I have the original Duetto for about 3 years and also used a ReefBreaders Prism on a 20c cube I had. Both work well, the Prism tends to allow the water level to get lower than most before a refill, but I saw not adverse effects or water quality issues.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I've been using a Kamoer ATO One 2 (yes that's the whole correct name).

I have had zero problems with it. It's optical with a optical back up. I can't speak about longevity I've only been using it 6 months. I do wipe the sensors off every couple of weeks.

It has a tiny foot print, is reasonably priced. But I've had every brand of ATO fail on me at some point. Yes even the tunze (both versions). From my perspective, if it's gonna fail anyway, don't spend a fortune if there are reasonable options.

 

[ta88brian]

I've been using a Kamoer ATO One 2 (yes that's the whole correct name).

I have had zero problems with it. It's optical with a optical back up. I can't speak about longevity I've only been using it 6 months. I do wipe the sensors off every couple of weeks.

It has a tiny foot print, is reasonably priced. But I've had every brand of ATO fail on me at some point. Yes even the tunze (both versions). From my perspective, if it's gonna fail anyway, don't spend a fortune if there are reasonable options.

Tunze are not your best choice!

 

[stoney7713]

I

I am using the stock light, I haven't tested my water in a little bit..... the API test is so stupid, especially the calcium one. I want to really try to get my levels stable and then get more corals. all I have right now is a few corals and a emerald crab, yellow watchman goby and a scissor fish

The stock light is okay, the main reason I got a different light was because to me it was either two white or too blue. Things just didn't have the pop that I liked.

Did you start with all dry rock? How often do you do water changes?

I really like the Salifert tests.

 

[Jatchetto]

I am currently running a Fluval Evo 13.5 as my first ever salt water aquarium and it's been running since last October. I have Finally trying to actually get good parameters and I think my first thing to get is an ato not exactly sure, if you could tell me if I am right or wrong I honestly just don't know. But I have api test kits right now and I have heard that salifert is pretty decent so I thought about trying to get those test kits as well if you could just inform me better?
I do get tired of adding rodi water every day but I have heard that going cheap on the ATO isn't always the best Idea, I am really just unsure.....

Salifert test kits are great and seem super accurate i have a hanna for alk and hardly use it as i dont test and much as i used to. The ato is great to alleviate things you have to do if you want to leave your tank for a few days it good to know that your tank can kinda just go on after all reefing is a hobby not a job. I recently just picked up a dosing pump so i dont have to do that by hand i think if you can lighten your tank work load it will make it more enjoyable! I got the tunze nano ato and knock on wood its been great. Watch some videos and see one you might like!

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Tunze are not your best choice!

I didn't say it was.

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

The stock light is okay, the main reason I got a different light was because to me it was either two white or too blue. Things just didn't have the pop that I liked.

Did you start with all dry rock? How often do you do water changes?

I really like the Salifert tests.

I got live rock and I do a 10% water change once a week.

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

Salifert test kits are great and seem super accurate i have a hanna for alk and hardly use it as i dont test and much as i used to. The ato is great to alleviate things you have to do if you want to leave your tank for a few days it good to know that your tank can kinda just go on after all reefing is a hobby not a job. I recently just picked up a dosing pump so i dont have to do that by hand i think if you can lighten your tank work load it will make it more enjoyable! I got the tunze nano ato and knock on wood its been great. Watch some videos and see one you might like!

I have the magnesium salifert what other ones should I get?

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

An ATO was the best thing I had purchased after 6 months of my first tank. I'll never run a tank without one. I have the original Duetto for about 3 years and also used a ReefBreaders Prism on a 20c cube I had. Both work well, the Prism tends to allow the water level to get lower than most before a refill, but I saw not adverse effects or water quality issues.

Do you have any experience with BrightWell aquatics amino acid and does it work?
I have reef roids but the corals don't seem to go for it that much, then I looked on amazon and saw this polyp lab booster which I don't know if it's supposed to help the reef roids work or not?

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Do you have any experience with BrightWell aquatics amino acid and does it work?
I have reef roids but the corals don't seem to go for it that much, then I looked on amazon and saw this polyp lab booster which I don't know if it's supposed to help the reef roids work or not?

BW aminos give me dinos. Without fail. Or I should say they , exacerbate a small population.

 

[jhadaway]

I just picked up a tunze nano for my 5.5 gallon office pico on this site for $60. Generous deal. Salinity stability is the easiest thing to stabilize in the reef tank. I have the same ato on my waterbox 100.3. It has great safety features and hasn't failed me yet. Its almost 3years old. I will eventually buy the upgraded version but for now its perfect. Don't skimp on it!

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

I just picked up a tunze nano for my 5.5 gallon office pico on this site for $60. Generous deal. Salinity stability is the easiest thing to stabilize in the reef tank. I have the same ato on my waterbox 100.3. It has great safety features and hasn't failed me yet. Its almost 3years old. I will eventually buy the upgraded version but for now its perfect. Don't skimp on it!

on what site?

 

[Saltwater_Reefing]

BW aminos give me dinos. Without fail. Or I should say they , exacerbate a small population.

they give you what? sorry