Easy Budget ATO
- Thread starter M3d1C
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Thank you for your service also. Keep your face covered whenever you can and stay healthy!
jeffchapok
Valuable Member
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- Dec 31, 2018
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I added an ATO for the grand total of $6 for this float valve and some leftover tubing from my RODI. This was the prototype just to see if it would work. I later replaced the cup with a very high-tech Rubbermaid container. It worked fine as long as you didn't let it run dry and lose the siphon.
I have since added a real ATO with a 6 gal reservoir and a pump and controller. But for a small tank, this would work fine. With a gallon container you shouldn't need to fill it but every couple of days. The only problem would be if you don't have a sump, the float valve will have to go in the display tank and the reservoir must be mounted higher somewhere, since this is gravity fed.
I have since added a real ATO with a 6 gal reservoir and a pump and controller. But for a small tank, this would work fine. With a gallon container you shouldn't need to fill it but every couple of days. The only problem would be if you don't have a sump, the float valve will have to go in the display tank and the reservoir must be mounted higher somewhere, since this is gravity fed.
These were great guys! I managed to make a cheap ATO out of a float switch I pulled out of an old A/C condensate pump, a fountain pump from an old desktop fountain that was in our 'to get rid of pile,' some ice maker line and a milk jug. On top of that, my wife is getting a lot more comfortable doing tank maintenance/testing and really enjoying it! I appreciate all of the ideas and inspiration. I may go with something like the Tunze Osmolator when we upgrade our tank but I've got something that works for now! I felt really stupid after Bulk Reef Supply emailed me back what they did but now I feel like a mad scientist! Lol! Guess I'll take my business elsewhere and my future questions in the hobby will go right here!!! Thanks again!
They're the ones that do the videos on YouTube right? I don't know it's probably silly but it just made me feel really stupid and I'm having a hard time getting over that. Especially from the place who's videos and information gave me the confidence to get into the hobby only to be shut down so coldly. When I have new EMTs orienting, I teach them a quote from Maya Angelou. "People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Thankfully, everyone here really came through and I was able to "engineer" an auto top off for now to get by.
o-townFLA
Active Member
They are the dudes. Ryan (hippie looking dude 
) is part owner of BRS. I haven’t personally had an issue with BRS but have read of some others misfortune because of a bad customer service rep and BRS made it right...
) is part owner of BRS. I haven’t personally had an issue with BRS but have read of some others misfortune because of a bad customer service rep and BRS made it right...
Thanks @o-townFLA for tagging us in this thread. @M3d1C I'm really sorry to hear about your experience with our customer service team. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth if I were in your shoes too. I'd like to gather some more info on this email conversation, so when you have a free moment, I'll send you a PM requesting a couple of pieces of information so that I can send this to our customer service team manager.
