ATO or no ATO that is the question

[Andrew9307]

i want an ATO so i can stop worrying about filling my sump up every other day. What is the best one to use and how do you set it up and what do you prefer ATO or no ATO?

 

[Aquaph8]

I wouldn't go without one ever again, makes my life so much easier.

Andrew I moved your thread to reef discussion, you might get more action here

 

[jcharrsn]

I DIYed an ATO for under 20 bucks works like a charm. Won't reef without it at this point. Came off of this site.

www.reefworkshop.com

 

[Saltgator]

Agreed that one is needed. I haven't purchased one yet, but had a spare 29g and an aqua lifter around doing my top offs until I purchase one. Makes everything easier on me too.

Country boy using tapatalk on a HTC Evo

 

[wysiwyg]

havnt urchased one yet but its on the top of my wish list

 

[Andrew9307]

thanks aquaph8 and jcharrsn thanks for the site i might try it out if not just ssave untill i can get a new one or nice used one from my LFS

 

[J Rog]

Ya, I would never have a tank with no ATO. It just cuts out that much more stuff you already have to do on the tank..

 

[Sahin]

Back when had the JBJ Nanocube 28G I bought the Tunze Osmolator. IMO it is the best investment I made for my tank. That thing is so precise and is now running on my current tank. After 2 years I spent £18 replacing the water pump, but thats fine considering the little pump brings RO water into my tank from about 5ft below and then travels another 8ft across to the tank, so its worked quite hard.

I have a GHL Profilux P2 EX PLUS controller on my tank, but I trust my Tunze Osmolator so much that I wouldnt go without it.

I only need to add water to the top off bucket once week. I reply on evaporative cooling, else I reckon I could have gone 2 weeks. Plus my tank is Rimless/open top.

So all in all, after, lights, pumps, skimmer, I would buy an auto top off. Put off buying a few corals and fishes for a month and spend the money on buying an auto top off. It makes enjoying your tank on a daily basis that much better. No need to top off every night. You can go out for a weekend (or a whole week if you use a larger top off container) and dont need to worry about the tanks water dropping.

 

[Steelerfan747]

Definitely ATO. I did without for many years and now that I have one, I could never imaging going back

 

[Steelerfan747]

Just like Sahin, I also have the Tunze osmolator and find it to be the best investment I ever made and the best piece of equipment I have (could not do without it) I am looking to set up another tank and will get another for that one as well

 

[ritter6788]

My tank is so much easier now with ATO. I just set up a new prop tank and forgot how much of a pain it was to manually top off. I'll be ordering an ATO soon for it too.

 

[jelly]

ATO all the way. these are what i run and love them very easy to set up. i also use one on RO/DI filter. AutoTopoff.com

 

[Andrew9307]

i will look into the tunze i know r2r has a contest with one right now maybe i could win that one. trying to reef on a budget isnt easy lol.

 

[blkhawk10]

ATO is one of the best additions I've made equipment wise to my tank. It keeps the salinity stable and re-leaves the stress of me having to come home every so often to top off the water, now I'm worry free.

 

[3Twinklets]

I had one on my old 350 and I loved it. I would have one now if I did not have the space problem with hiding the water storage tank behind my new one. I need a storage tank that is about 10 inches round and 4' high!! (My tank is a circular 165 gallon that sits in the corner. The whole setup is 84" high.

 

[mtmesser]

I went a year without one and tried a Tunze and now have one on every tank I have. Definitely worth the investment.