Best ato to use?

scooter24 · Jul 18, 2015

Ok I'm looking into ATO for my tank and I was going to go with a tunze. After further research I found out the tunze when turned off and back on will cycle the ATO and pump extra fresh water into my sump even when the level is not low. My plan is to use kalkwasser in my ATO resuvoir. And I'm sure you guys and gals can see how this could be a problem. I'm trying to see what other ATO systems out there do this if any? I want to get the best of the best ato but I'm not sure if I like how tunze does this. Does anyone know a way to fix that problem or if I should just look into a different ATO? Thanks!

Miketc17 · Jul 18, 2015

I would HIGHLY recommend the AutoAqua Smart ATO. My girlfriend got me it for Christmas and I absolutely love it. I haven't had a single issue with it since I've had it. It's extremely easy to set up and very compact. You should definitely look into it.

scooter24 · Jul 18, 2015

I don't loose power except a few times a year so that wouldn't hurt the tank really if it cycled a little extra water in the tank. Still would like it. What I'm more concerned about I'd when I get a controller for my tank. When I would feed I would shut off return pump and sKimmel things like that wich would raise water in the sump. I can leave the ato on but the alarm wpuld go off because of the float switch. But I could raise it up above the water line when my display drains into my sump from the return being off. So it wouldn't go off but still work as a backup for the ato in case the eye failed. Does anyone no if the water level raises just on the eye will the alarm still go off? Or is that tied to just the back up float switch? I don't think it is but just curious.

steve&mari · Jul 18, 2015

We have the tunze I've got the float switch higher then the eye so alarm doesn't go off while feeding. But still goes off before flooding. I was deciding between the tunze n the smart Ato went tunze and don't regret it at all. The small amount of ro at startup for priming pump won't hurt anything drastically. But may get the smart Ato for daughters goldfish tank just to compare. If I like it as much as the tunze it'll go into frag tank I'm putting together. If I don't care for it as much it's the goldfish's lol.

steve&mari · Jul 18, 2015

Float switch is only attached to alarm

scooter24 · Jul 18, 2015

Lol good answer, goldfish setup is a little cheaper. yea the priming at start up isn't a super big deal I was just worried about me using kalkwasser. Then again I guess I could set it up in a different container or does differently. Does the optical eye set off the alarm or is it just the back up float switch?

scooter24 · Jul 18, 2015

Ok thanks! I still think Im going to go with the tunze. Just had a little freak out moment when I realized this.

steve&mari · Jul 18, 2015

You wouldn't want the lime water going into the return chamber. It'll mess with optical sensors causing inaccurate readings by sensor.

steve&mari · Jul 18, 2015

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tunze-osmolator-problems.154706/page-2#post-2357991

There's more about dosing into same chamber as sensor is in. Hope it helps you.

deerhunter06 · Jul 18, 2015

steve&mari said:
You wouldn't want the lime water going into the return chamber. It'll mess with optical sensors causing inaccurate readings by sensor.

that's the way I do it... just requires it to be cleaned about once every 3 months.

scooter24 · Jul 18, 2015

Ok yea I'm new to dosing so trying to learn the ins and outs and what is the best dosing method for me. I was assuming dosing kalkwasser would be easiest for me but like I said still learning.

jsker · Jul 18, 2015

Question; I like the Aaqua smart ato, but I have a standard rim tank and I keep my water level right at the bottom of the rim. Has anyone modified there plastic rim, any ideas?

scooter24 · Jul 18, 2015

Are u placing the ato on the display tank?

steve&mari · Jul 18, 2015

My daughter's had her goldfish for going on ten years they go from about 6" smallest to about 9" is biggest she's upgraded to a 125 gallon for goldfish flipping crazy lol. She has a couple clawed frogs n red tail sharks with em. And I'm babysitting it at our house while she's getting settled moving few hours away for new job. Has to get a place living with in law now so we're helping her out. But gives me a tester tank for Ato

lol.

steve&mari · Jul 18, 2015

jsker said:
Question; I like the Aaqua smart ato, but I have a standard rim tank and I keep my water level right at the bottom of the rim. Has anyone modified there plastic rim, any ideas?

Carefully use a holesaw to scribe the line in trim to score then finish cut with razor knife. Tape a shim to tank against trim to level out hole saw and protect tank. Haven't done it for Ato but it's how I would do it.

Miketc17 · Jul 19, 2015

jsker said:
Question; I like the Aaqua smart ato, but I have a standard rim tank and I keep my water level right at the bottom of the rim. Has anyone modified there plastic rim, any ideas?

Since I've had the Smart ATO, I've upgraded tanks 3 times. Like you, I like my water level as high as possible. The sensor is extremely small and all you have to cut out is a small square. I use a box cutter with a fresh new blade to imprint an outline. Then I use a sharp knife to cut it out. I put a little piece of cardboard behind the piece of trim I'm cutting to protect the tank. Needle nose pliers can also be a huge help once you have deep enough cuts. It's very simple and you just have to be patient. I've done it this way 3 times and has worked out every time for me.

Harold Green · Jul 19, 2015

Probably too simple for most reefers but I have two float switches in my sump return section that control a relay that powers a pump in my remotely located ato reservoir. It feeds the sump through a 1/2" pvc line so I'm able to add kalk liquid to the ato reservoir without issue of it stopping up anything.

twilliard · Jul 19, 2015

Simple as can be.. ro line to float. Nothing electrical to fail.
use a doser for the kalk

jsker · Jul 19, 2015

scooter24 said:
Are u placing the ato on the display tank?

Yes

steve&mari said:
Carefully use a holesaw to scribe the line in trim to score then finish cut with razor knife. Tape a shim to tank against trim to level out hole saw and protect tank. Haven't done it for Ato but it's how I would do it.

Miketc17 said:
Since I've had the Smart ATO, I've upgraded tanks 3 times. Like you, I like my water level as high as possible. The sensor is extremely small and all you have to cut out is a small square. I use a box cutter with a fresh new blade to imprint an outline. Then I use a sharp knife to cut it out. I put a little piece of cardboard behind the piece of trim I'm cutting to protect the tank. Needle nose pliers can also be a huge help once you have deep enough cuts. It's very simple and you just have to be patient. I've done it this way 3 times and has worked out every time for me.

@steve&mari @MikeTR good advice thank you. I was thinking the same thing but want to here if someone else attempted to cut into the plastic trim.

Harold Green · Jul 19, 2015

twilliard said:
Simple as can be.. ro line to float. Nothing electrical to fail.
use a doser for the kalk

I'd be leery of the float switch failing and the ro filter flooding the entire house. I always use a secondary float switch as an emergency shut off in case the first float fails. That way all you have to do is monitor the water height to make sure the primary float hasn't failed.