Just a little warning....

[Richie27]

Wow! Thanks for posting. I've been looking into purchasing this ATO but have changed my mind. Thank you for saving me from this headache!

We need to remember that these big companies are not in it for the fish...or even the consumer. They're in it for the $$$. The only way to turn their big heads is to hit them where it hurts. Spread the word about the defects of this product. When sales go down, the company WILL take notice. Fight back...collectively. Spread the word, peeps!

i have float valves hooked directly to my RO and go’s in to my skimmer section of the sump so I never have to think about refilling it water level is always perfect

 

[mitch91175]

I will be doing my maintenance on my MP40s this weekend. I do a rotation with a spare wetside that I have while I clean them one at a time. Works out well and I can thoroughly inspect them at that time. Never again will I allow a piece of equipment cause me to loose coral because of laziness.

 

[Flippers4pups]

i have float valves hooked directly to my RO and go’s in to my skimmer section of the sump so I never have to think about refilling it water level is always perfect

You have probably already heard of the risks of doing a ATO this way. So, this may sound redundant.

Mechanical float switches can fail by the float seat getting debris on it, keeping it from closing completely. Having a RO/DI unit attached to a mechanical float is very risky. It may or may not fail, but if it does, it will flood until you turn off the RO/DI unit causing a catastrophic tank crash and major flooding of your house.

Back in the nineties I had my ATO set up this way and it failed. I lost everything in my system and flooded my basement. Wife was not happy at all and it was a huge pain to clean up.

Just a word of caution from someone that learned back then the hard way.

 

[User1]

Hmm...Neptune's ATK ATO uses magnets - that is what I'm using. I'll have to stay on top of that one.

 

[dbl]

I think the moral of the story is that we should all be checking/examining our equipment on an at least somewhat regular basis. There are many, many magnets in many, many systems without issue. My $.02 anyway.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think these posts need to be addressed ATO manufacturer and evasive action or solution rendered on their behalf.
They are aware of the intent with this product and likely have failed and need to resolute this issue before many more hobbyists and even LFS suffers sales and consequences of loss.

 

[rs1831]

I think these posts need to be addressed ATO manufacturer and evasive action or solution rendered on their behalf.
They are aware of the intent with this product and likely have failed and need to resolute this issue before many more hobbyists and even LFS suffers sales and consequences of loss.

I agree. I contacted the manufacturer and they did not respond. The distributor felt that a $10 part makes up for all the corals that I lost.

 

[Rick Mathew]

I also have had the magnet issue...I now inspect every magnet ones a month as part of my maintenance...also putting a two-part epoxy over the joints is helpful to slow down any water seepage.

 

[Z3speed4me]

Looks like magnet checking will be on my to-do list starting, well now.

 

[Brian W]

Mine Smart ATO started to open slightly, I saw rust. So I took it out and threw it away. Luckily this was around Black Friday, so I just bought a ATK from Neptune.