No sump ATO

[Lou City Reefing]

Hello!

I am starting a a simple 20 gallon long reef tank (dimension are 30x12x12) and I would like to have an ATO. I have looked at quite a few ATO systems, but with no sump I'm wondering if I could add one? If I add the sensor to the tank will surface agitation mess with the sensor causing it to always stop and start?

I appreciate any and all information!

 

[blaxsun]

Yes, but as you point out surface agitation can be an issue. If you haven't yet purchased the tank I might suggest looking at one with a lid (EVO) to cut down on evaporation or an AIO with sump at the rear.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

Yes, but as you point out surface agitation can be an issue. If you haven't yet purchased the tank I might suggest looking at one with a lid (EVO) to cut down on evaporation or an AIO with sump at the rear.

I already have the tank. I may just make a lid for it.

 

[Red_Beard]

You can make a wave guard for the sensor out of a plastic cup/tube that would cut the waves out of the readings. I did one a few years back on a 30 with no sump. Works just fine.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

You can make a wave guard for the sensor out of a plastic cup/tube that would cut the waves out of the readings. I did one a few years back on a 30 with no sump. Works just fine.

I never even though of that! Just leave the bottom open but "protect" the surrounding area of the sensor?

 

[RickLRMS]

Hello!

I am starting a a simple 20 gallon long reef tank (dimension are 30x12x12) and I would like to have an ATO. I have looked at quite a few ATO systems, but with no sump I'm wondering if I could add one? If I add the sensor to the tank will surface agitation mess with the sensor causing it to always stop and start?

I appreciate any and all information!

I'm running a 20L as a fish QT and the ReefBreeder's EXO has worked fine for me for two months+ (see photos). There's a small powerhead a cross from the sensor plus an HOB filter, so there is some surface water agitation. I have to reset the occasional error with a power cycle, but I've never even cleaned the lens. I do tend to forget to turn it off on water changes until I hear it running. I've no connection to ReefBreeder's, just using their stuff. Ignore the clutter and the crude, homemade stand; it's in my shop.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

I'm running a 20L as a fish QT and the ReefBreeder's EXO has worked fine for me for two months+ (see photos). There's a small powerhead a cross from the sensor plus an HOB filter, so there is some surface water agitation. I have to reset the occasional error with a power cycle, but I've never even cleaned the lens. I do tend to forget to turn it off on water changes until I hear it running. I've no connection to ReefBreeder's, just using their stuff. Ignore the clutter and the crude, homemade stand; it's in my shop.

I really do appreciate the information and the pictures! The ReefBreeder's EXO was actually one of the many I was looking at. I'm glad to know it works even with some surface agitation.

 

[Reef.]

So no back chambers either?

The surface movement is not normally in waves so not that extreme, there will also be a part of the surface that hardly moves, so you maybe ok with an ATO.

Some ATO’s come with wave protection, I know Reefloat from the UK does, it works by only triggering a fill if the sensor is not in contact with water for more than 3 seconds I think it is.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

So no back chambers either?

The surface movement is not normally in waves so not that extreme, there will also be a part of the surface that hardly moves, so you maybe ok with an ATO.

Some ATO’s come with wave protection, I know Reefloat from the UK does, it works by only triggering a fill if the sensor is not in contact with water for more than 3 seconds I think it is.

No, I do not have any back chambers. It's a standard 20 gallon long from. Yeah - I believe I'm over exaggerating, in my head, how extreme the surface agitation will be.

 

[afrokobe]

You should be fine without a sump. I am running a tunze ato on a sumpless 25g cube. I have no issues with my ATO. My salinity has been stable. The surface agitation isn't nearly enough to trigger the switch.

For sumpless tanks, one thing I would be on a lookout for is surface skimming. Make sure you have some method of skimming the surface so it doesn't get nasty. I had to add a small surface skimmer to my setup.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

You should be fine without a sump. I am running a tunze ato on a sumpless 25g cube. I have no issues with my ATO. My salinity has been stable. The surface agitation isn't nearly enough to trigger the switch.

For sumpless tanks, one thing I would be on a lookout for is surface skimming. Make sure you have some method of skimming the surface so it doesn't get nasty. I had to add a small surface skimmer to my setup.

The Tidal 55 has a "surface skimmer" I know it is not an actual surface skimmer but it will suffice for now until I feel the need to get one. I've looked at the Tunze ATO 3152 as a potential system.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have a tank with no sump and a tunze nano ATO, one of my corners is still enough for the sensor, never had an issue.

 

[afrokobe]

The Tidal 55 has a "surface skimmer" I know it is not an actual surface skimmer but it will suffice for now until I feel the need to get one. I've looked at the Tunze ATO 3152 as a potential system.

You're golden then that should be enough to pull any scum off the surface.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

I have a tank with no sump and a tunze nano ATO, one of my corners is still enough for the sensor, never had an issue.

The Tunze Nano has an optical and mechanical switch though, correct?

 

[homer1475]

You can even put the tunze sensor behind a HOB filter where there is no movement. I've done that in the past on a sumpless tank.

 

[Reef.]

The Tunze Nano has an optical and mechanical switch though, correct?

no just a float switch, the full size one has both.

 

[Lou City Reefing]

You can even put the tunze sensor behind a HOB filter where there is no movement. I've done that in the past on a sumpless tank.

I haven't thought of that before. Would you use the optical sensor?

 

[homer1475]

Depending on the HOB, and the rim of the tank, you can sneak the optical behind the lip of the output, or behind the intake tube.

 

[Red_Beard]

I never even though of that! Just leave the bottom open but "protect" the surrounding area of the sensor?

Yep, just like that. Kinda like one of the frozen food defrosters but without the divider and it doesnt need to be more than 2 inches long.

 

[leon.1980]

You can make a wave guard for the sensor out of a plastic cup/tube that would cut the waves out of the readings. I did one a few years back on a 30 with no sump. Works just fine.

Are you saying something like taking a 4in pvc pipe piece cutting it in half and then gluing it to side of the tank half in and half out of the water. Then the sensor would get mounted in there?