Is an ato possible without sump!?!
- Thread starter Tank.Bro!
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Fin
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Yes. THe water level controls the switch, which goes up or down. When the float is in the down position (low water level) it turns on the pump and replenished evaporated water, until the level is back to normal. It may cut on many times throughout the day, adding only small amounts of water at a time.
I use the Tom's Aqua-Llifter pumps. They are inexpensive (like $15) and are pretty reliable. If one quits on you (or breaks) they are easy to replace. These do not sit inside of the reservoir though. They have a suction side, which will draw the water out of the reservoir and into the pump, then up to your tank. They will add water very slowly, which I find preferable to dumping large amounts of water into the tank at once.
The reservoir can be anything that you have room for. On my 140, I use an acrylic tank of about 20 gallons. On my nano, I use a 5 gallon Petco tank. On another tank I have, I use a Sterilite container. Just about anything can be adapted to be a reservoir.
A more in-depth explanation can be found here: http://www.autotopoff.com/faq.html
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Fin
Professional Procrastinator
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A pump, a reservoir and tubing. You will also need to figure out how to secure the return pump tubing from the reservoir to the tank rim. You need to make sure this will not come off and also don't place the end of it below the water line. You don't want to siphon tank water back into your fresh water reservoir.
A price worth paying when it comes to quality and longevity.
Jbj ATO $71.89 at Salty Supply. I've been running mine for 4yrs now, never an issue of any kind. Don't always have to spend a bunch for a quality product 
