Is there an auto top off that also doses?

[fity2pounder]

Hello all. As the title says, I'm wondering if there is an auto top off system that also doses (likely just two or three things...Alk, Cal, Mg)? I'm looking to keep things as simple as possible, but also not have to manually do a lot of the work myself. Ideas or suggestions? Thanks in advance!!

 

[DLHDesign]

The two things (ATO and dosing) are aiming at different depletions. The ATO is aimed at replacing the water that has evaporated from the tank. The dosing pumps aim to replace elements that have been consumed/converted by lifeforms in the tank. It is unlikely that the two will deplete at the same rate given the normal mix rates of the supplements. You could mix up some of the elements to levels that are low enough that they could be added in along with the ATO water, but tanks don't evaporate at a consistent rate (air humidity, ambient temperature, etc. all change that rate), so you wouldn't have a very stable tank.
Additionally, there are elements that - basically - can't be combined into a single fluid. Alk and Ca, if mixed into ATO water, would precipitate out and cause you loads of issues.

 

[Steven91]

You could dose kalkwasser in your ato water, though depending on how much water evaporated it might not be enough on it's own

 

[fity2pounder]

The two things (ATO and dosing) are aiming at different depletions. The ATO is aimed at replacing the water that has evaporated from the tank. The dosing pumps aim to replace elements that have been consumed/converted by lifeforms in the tank. It is unlikely that the two will deplete at the same rate given the normal mix rates of the supplements. You could mix up some of the elements to levels that are low enough that they could be added in along with the ATO water, but tanks don't evaporate at a consistent rate (air humidity, ambient temperature, etc. all change that rate), so you wouldn't have a very stable tank.
Additionally, there are elements that - basically - can't be combined into a single fluid. Alk and Ca, if mixed into ATO water, would precipitate out and cause you loads of issues.

Sorry I didn't explain myself very well in the initial posting. I'm aware that ato and dosing are for completely separate purposes, but I'm wondering if they have one machine/system that can handle them all. Something that could dose a specific amount of alkalinity, a different amount of calcium, a third amount of magnesium, and have a separate pump and sensor (in the same system) for water top off??? Or am I just asking for too much? lol

 

[DLHDesign]

I'm wondering if they have one machine/system that can handle them all

I guess it depends upon what you mean by "machine/system". An APEX controller - along with an "Auto Top-off Kit" and a DOS or two (depending upon the number of additives required) would handle it all; yes. There are other controllers that handle all that as well (GHL, I'm pretty sure; though I've not used the gear myself).

If you meant a single device that you buy with a single pump; no - I'm not aware of such. Given the differing failure rates of all the various components, I wouldn't really think this would be a viable product - it would tie the long-lived pieces (controllers and other electronics) in with the shorter-lived ones (pumps, tubing, etc.). And while some of it can be modularized for cleaning/replacement, the costs of building a specialized machine likely wouldn't compete with the more general controllers mentioned above, I'd not think.

 

[Ditto]

A GHL Master doser can do this.

You can purchase just a GHL master doser with four heads where three of the dosing heads are used for dosing your 3 elements, (select your how much you want to dose and how many times the system will do the rest, or set specific times to dose and amounts, or only x days a weeek, etc.) and the 4 head could be used for ato with either a 1 or 2 senor design. You would plug the 1 or two sensors into the doser unit and it will then use the 4 head to do the auto top off. You do not need to purchase a controller for the above to work. The unit will blink different colors when everything is ok, when it is dosing, if your containers are low up to 30.00oml in size or an issue. Can be controller via the iOS/andtoid app, or the GHL cloud web interface or via the USB port. WiFi enabled also.

Hope this helps.

 

[MaiReef]

I would say the best is to get a dosing unit for the elements. I use an ATO w/ a Kalk reactor which would be the closest thing, but again as said above(probably need to add calc/alk). I am going to add https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/wifi-dosing-bundle/ which will take care of alk/calc/mag. Good deal and once calculated properly adds the correct amount.

 

[fity2pounder]

A GHL Master doser can do this.

You can purchase just a GHL master doser with four heads where three of the dosing heads are used for dosing your 3 elements, (select your how much you want to dose and how many times the system will do the rest, or set specific times to dose and amounts, or only x days a weeek, etc.) and the 4 head could be used for ato with either a 1 or 2 senor design. You would plug the 1 or two sensors into the doser unit and it will then use the 4 head to do the auto top off. You do not need to purchase a controller for the above to work. The unit will blink different colors when everything is ok, when it is dosing, if your containers are low up to 30.00oml in size or an issue. Can be controller via the iOS/andtoid app, or the GHL cloud web interface or via the USB port. WiFi enabled also.

Hope this helps.

Awesomeness!! I’ll have to check this bad boy out!!

 

[malacoda]

A GHL Master doser can do this.

You can purchase just a GHL master doser with four heads where three of the dosing heads are used for dosing your 3 elements, (select your how much you want to dose and how many times the system will do the rest, or set specific times to dose and amounts, or only x days a weeek, etc.) and the 4 head could be used for ato with either a 1 or 2 senor design. You would plug the 1 or two sensors into the doser unit and it will then use the 4 head to do the auto top off. You do not need to purchase a controller for the above to work. The unit will blink different colors when everything is ok, when it is dosing, if your containers are low up to 30.00oml in size or an issue. Can be controller via the iOS/andtoid app, or the GHL cloud web interface or via the USB port. WiFi enabled also.

Hope this helps.

The GHL doser will only work as an ATO on SMALL TANKS -- 30g or less.

They do have an optical level sensor you can buy separately. And the software let's you set one of the pumps up for either ATO use or AWC (auto water changes) use.

However, GHL themselves say it is not intended for use as a primary ATO. Reason being that ATO use requires a pump to run FAR more often, and wear much faster, than the dosing.

I actually use one of the pumps on my GHL 2.1 Doser to perform ATO and find I have to replace the rollers and blue roller cover every 4-6 months.

I can tell it needs to be changed when wear causes it to start squealing like a banshee.