Jbj auto top vs hydor smart level top off
- Thread starter fishboy15
- Start date
- Tagged users None
gioNVA
Active Member
I've had my JBJ for at least 6-7 years. Worked great up until the controller box caught fire this weekend. Kids were yelling fire and once I opened the stand, the box was on fire. I'd say stay away from it.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2007
- Messages
- 6,381
- Reaction score
- 4,853
- Location
- Waukesha, Wi
- What state or country do you live in
- Wisconsin
I have both and Hydor by a long shot because it dont use float switches.. Also the stupid hanging brackets on the JBJ unless they have changed since I bought mine are horrible and mine have broke several times.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2007
- Messages
- 6,381
- Reaction score
- 4,853
- Location
- Waukesha, Wi
- What state or country do you live in
- Wisconsin
I dont know how that could be it is a very small distance between on and off , much smaller than most top offs except a Tunze which too me is the best out there. In my last sump it only took a couple of cups to shut off and with my new sump it takes more because it has a a bigger return section so it takes more to fill it.. So either he has a very large sump or he had the wrong size pump on it and he was overfilling. It requires a pump that does between so many gallons a hour.
thenanoreef
Active Member
Im going to chime in here. I have the hydor and its great, but I also have a small tank (nuvo 24), so the chamber that the water drops in is relatively small (less than a gallon) due to this it was hard for me to stop my innovative marine aqua lifter pump from over filling and triggering the high water level alarm on the ato. This was tweaked with about a week of testing and modding the tubing. Other than that, it works great.
thenanoreef
thenanoreef
Marc.The.Shark
Active Member
I have the hydor and it works flawlessly in my 8 gallon system with 3 gal sump. It's in a very small return area and works just fine topping up. The key is to make sure that it runs for the minimum amount of time or it'll reset. I think its like 25 seconds or so. I use the Toms Aqualifter & have a inline plastic airline ball valve that's closed about half way to restrict flow a little. Works perfect, tops off about 2-3 times a day maybe 6-8 oz. So just plan the size of your pump that you want to use accordingingly and you'll be fine.
What if I have a 29 gallon tank and it has a black rim around it? Will the sensor be placed high enough to where I won't be able to see any water below the rim of the tank? I heard it wasn't good for rimmed tanks. I don't have a sumo either.
Will the sensor be able to fit inside the tank but still have enough room to top off to where I won't see the water line in the tank
Will the sensor be able to fit inside the tank but still have enough room to top off to where I won't see the water line in the tank
thenanoreef
Active Member
I run it in the sump part of my AIO. I don't know how/why you would run it in your display b/c the water level doesn't change in the display only in the sump.
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
Whether it's an AIO or straight 29 gallon tank, you can run an ATO. If an AIO, I'd put it in a back chamber to maintain the water level....and obviously, if a straight tank, right in the DT.......not a problem.
