ATO or Doser??

[Luckyduck]

Hey guys, I'm currently on the market for some new gadgets. Mainly I would like an auto top off but wouldn't mind simplifying dosing or more or less keeping my tank stable. I don't want to spend more than $200 so it really only affords me a couple options as far as dosers. Would I be better off spending $100 on a Tunze Osmoliator or a Coral Box Doser and using one of the channels for RO water? I have mixed feelings about dosers. I have read A LOT of reviews. Seems a lot of them get air bubbles, drip or over dose. This scares the crap out of me fearing an over dose and tank loss. Not really sure which direction to go. Any ideas from my fellow reefers? I have a small 15 gallon nano so even a few ml overdose could spell disaster. I don't mind re-calibrating every few weeks if this will keep the units in check.

 

[Rrwilson1223]

I’ve got the Tunze and would definitely recommend it. Makes life much easier. Not to mention keeps salinity stable.

 

[Luckyduck]

I’ve got the Tunze and would definitely recommend it. Makes life much easier. Not to mention keeps salinity stable.

I'm sure it does, that would definitely be the one I get if I went that route. However a doser would do the same thing with one pump pulling RODI water and the other 3 pumps I could keep my majors stable for the same price if I went with a Jebao Doser. There's my dilemma lol

 

[Rrwilson1223]

Oh I see what you mean. Only issue with using a doser for top off is you will need to know exactly how much water to pump in each day. Tunze does a good job of keeping it constant.

But I have a doser for Alk and Ca as well so I see the merits of both. The Jebao Doser is definitely a good simple one. Set mine up 4 months ago and it’s been reliable.

 

[Luckyduck]

Oh I see what you mean. Only issue with using a doser for top off is you will need to know exactly how much water to pump in each day. Tunze does a good job of keeping it constant.

But I have a doser for Alk and Ca as well so I see the merits of both. The Jebao Doser is definitely a good simple one. Set mine up 4 months ago and it’s been reliable.

Well that's good to know you like your Doser. I have actually been keeping track the last 12 hours of how much water I have been adding manually with a Pyrex measuring cup. 500 ml. Now to measure the next 24. I only have a 15 gallon nano so a 5 gallon Nalgene jug should last me quite a while. I think I'm gonna go with the Doser. The main reason for wanting it is the wife and I are going on vacation next month and there's no way the neighbor can watch our animals and take care of my tank. We 2 cats & a dog and we're also fostering 4 kittens; as well she has 2 cats and is fostering 4 kittens. We had a ferral colony in our back yard that we trapped and spayed and neutered but not before they all had kittens a few weeks ago. Thanks for the info man, I appreciate hearing your experience!