jbeanz24
Active Member
Hey everyone, wrapping up my 120 build. I'm getting ready to order an ATO. Its looking like I'm going to go with the tunze osmilator. I wanted to know if there is anything else.out there that is as reliable and cheaper?
Need Suggestions for ATO
- Thread starter jbeanz24
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Bad Company
Well-Known Member
I have this:
Top-it-Off Kit Premium
Works great, need 1/2" tubing, your favorite cheap small pump, and a container. Includes two float swiches for redundancy. They also have excellent service!
Cost me about $70 for my whole system! GL!
Top-it-Off Kit Premium
Works great, need 1/2" tubing, your favorite cheap small pump, and a container. Includes two float swiches for redundancy. They also have excellent service!
Cost me about $70 for my whole system! GL!
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vlangel
Seahorse whisperer
I bought and use this as well and I too am very satisfied.
Any kit with multiple floats wired in series like the ones mentioned above are very reliable. Especially if you can make the second float just above the water line so that snails cannot come into play. Floats are cheap, having three or more is not unheard of. A kit that uses a relay is better than wiring directly though the ATO switch. Kits mentioned by vlangel and Bad Company above have that relay.
GHill762
Valuable Member
I also use autotopoff.com, then put the float switch on a timer, and use an aqualifter as a pump (3.5 gph IIRC). 15 minutes on twice a day, each 15 minute run can only pump like .875 gallons, the risk of flood is nearly zero in the even of a float switch failure.. cheap, safe, effective.
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Bad Company
Well-Known Member
Like TheClark mentioned, most float switches aren't rated for 120V AC. So using a 24V powered a relay is the better way to go. The timer idea isn't bad, I found a Rio 60 for $20 at the LFS and it would pump 15 gal in 15 minutes, so I'm glad I have a second float in series!
Spectrapure UPLC-II.
It is more reliable than the Tunze, has more safety features and is much more adjustable. You don't see any complaints about it failing like you do the Tunze lately, has the quality of them changed?
Auto-Top-Off System - UPLC-II Liquid Level Controller
http://spectrapure.com/manuals/UPLC-II-PF-REV-A.pdf
Mine has been in operation for over 6 trouble free years now and still like new. Pulls from 35 feet away in my garage with the unit in my stand next to my sump.
It is more reliable than the Tunze, has more safety features and is much more adjustable. You don't see any complaints about it failing like you do the Tunze lately, has the quality of them changed?
Auto-Top-Off System - UPLC-II Liquid Level Controller
http://spectrapure.com/manuals/UPLC-II-PF-REV-A.pdf
Mine has been in operation for over 6 trouble free years now and still like new. Pulls from 35 feet away in my garage with the unit in my stand next to my sump.
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Other nice things about the UPLC-II is it uses the same bulletproof metal 3 roller peristaltic pump as their LiterMeter and being able to adjust the fill rate in 10% steps from 0 to 100 and the level sensitivity between 1/10" and 4" with the push of a button is as simple as it gets.
Tunze may have been the best at one time but no more. Read all the complaints on all the reef forums. Seems like quality has gone downhill. Again, read the owners manual on the UPLC--II and see the features for yorself. It has a history and a track record.
-Logzor
2500 Club Member
Agreed, the UPLC-II, I've been running my continuously for 6 years now. This unit doesn't have siphoning issue like the Tunze does, the motor also won't burn out like the Tunze does (even with the auto-shut off, it runs for awhile). I run both and the UPLC rocks, I can PULL water 60+ feet away with it. Great for having remote ATO reservoir.
