Auto Top off ??? What to get

[David J]

So while im waiting for my tank to cycle im noticing that letting the water level go down each day is actually making it impossible to regulate the temperature efficiently. As the water level drops so does the lvl on my heater causing it to read a higher temp. So eventually my water becomes 70-72 degrees instead of 77-78. I've been manually topping it off once a day but once its finished cycling I can see this being a problem when I try to stock the tank due to the temp swings. So Im looking at a auto top off system. I plan on probably getting a Apex Neptune so does anyone have experiencing with their top off systems ? I have a 25 gal Innovative Marine lagoon tank. No sump. I thought I would maybe get their top off system so I can ingrate it later when I purchase the Neptune controller.


Also what do you guys use for a reservoir ? I see some that are $120 which to me seems silly. Are people just using a 10 gal tank, 5 Gal water jug ect ??

 

[Robink]

I used to use a 5 gallon food grade bucket. I ordered it from Amazon. Marine depot has an inexpensive top off unit, includes the pump.

 

[jsbzcmcdaniel]

I run the Neptune ATK and it works well. My sump has a reservoir for topoff but I may move to a 10g container so I can convert the reservoir to a refugium. I dont plan on a fancy reseveroir just a food safe water storage container. If you can find a cheaper way to get the job done go for it. Doesn't have to be a name brand just something that works. My dosing containers are VOSS water bottles...lol

 

[doodledreads]

if you plan to get an Apex down the lane, their ATK module is a no brainer. For the container, you can use anything you want. The bigger the volume, the less you need to refill it. I use 5 gallon bucket hidden inside a wicker basket next to the tank. I bought a fancy looking one from World Market with a lid.

 

[saintsreturn]

I used a 5g jug for years. Works great and is easy to pull out and swap out. Then i got tired of swapping them so i bought the IM 10g glass stand with drawer and love it. As for a pump, my favorite was the JBJ with aqua lifter. I currently have a Smart ATO and was going to sell it for the new titanium ones as i like the reliability of a dosing type pump versus a pump subject to siphon. That said, i am now building a reef pi for less money. Good luck

 

[Reef-junky]

Any container will work. Just make sure it won’t leach anything into the tank.

 

[rkpetersen]

Reposition your heater if at all possible. Slight changes in water level shouldn't result in that kind of temperature fluctuation.

 

[David J]

@rkpetersen I did, so I had it originally in the 2nd chamber on left side. But the temp was always off and I have the 100watt Cobalt. Well set for 76 but reading 72, So I moved it to the middle with the circ pump and it gets up to temp. But like this morning the center water was only 1/2 way up the heater. which its suppose to be fully submerged.

 

[Reab]

ATK is a no go, WAY too large for the back of the 25. Personally, I use the Auto Aqua Smart micro. Works like a charm. The Neptune ato is a good choice if you only use an optical sensor, but the whole kit block thing just won't work. I use a 5g bucket from Firehouse subs $2 and I know it will hold water as it holds their pickles.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I have an RO/DI unit hooked right to my automatic top-off in my sump. We have it attached to our irrigation/watering system and pulls the water from there. It runs a little bit at a time all day long. It works great.

 

[David J]

@Reab do you have the 25 lagoon ? I'm pretty sure it would fit. You may have to take off the float.

 

[David J]

anyone else have advice on this. My tank is almost done cycling. Ammonia is pretty much 0, nitrites are still high but im detecting nitrates. Im probably going to order the APex ATK tonight unless someone can say otherwise. It should fit in the back sump maybe have to take off the manual float but it will still have 2 sensors and a timer.

 

[shollis2814]

So, I haven't finished it yet. I have a 20 long with a sump. I have a 10 gallon reservoir that I usually keep 5 gallons in and a pump next to the sump. I bought this kit https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquahub-diy-top-it-off-kit-premium.html and I hope to finish it up tonight. I put some of my wiring in some 1/2" tubing and siliconed it off since I don't want wires in the water at all and when a power outage happens or I turn off the pumps, the sensors will be submerged.

In the meantime, I just plug up the pump in the reservoir until I have topped off.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I've successfully used the Hydor ATO system with a small pump I purchased off of Amazon for over three years now.

I use a 6 gallon water jerry can for my reservoir of limewater. I enlarged the inlet opening a bit to get the pump inside. Works fine as long as I don't let it run dry!

 

[Water Dog]

I’m not a believer in the all your eggs in one Neptune proprietary basket, as it leads to a single point of failure... the Apex. While I do own a 2016 Apex, I have reliably used the Tunze 3155 for many years and now have a Spectrapure ULPC-ATO.

If you want Apex integration, look at the Avast ATO. It uses a bombproof pressure switch. The pressure tube has no mechanical parts to get fouled and no optical eye to clean.

That’s part of the reason I went from the Tunze (optical eye) to the Spectrapure (pressure switch) ATO.

 

[David J]

Got the Apex Neptune ATK, working flawless. So easy to use. Setup in 2 minutes.

 

[PatW]

I use a dirt cheap ATO system from autotopoff.com. My reservoir is a 5 gallon food grade bucket. The place also sells inexpensive pumps for ATO systems.