Smart AWC - Auto Water Changer - AutoAqua

[Ryan Rosales]

Indeed a really nice piece of gadget to toy with...
Not really bad to have but, not too good to have.
My point is that, there’s gonna be a really insignificant change in water chemistry with the amount of water change it’s going to perform (AWC function).
Why do I say this?
Well, they most likely designed this for a system that utilizes a sump for one. For it to work as it was designed for, it has to empty one of the chambers in a sump where it can only do so much. We all know for a fact that multi-chambered sumps are designed “fill and drain”, meaning that excess water drained from the main/display tank fills up the fist chamber of the sump, drains to a second chamber to fill it up and so it goes on until water reaches the last chamber where the rerun pump is. A break on the cycle will stop the circulating volume of water from sump chamber to chamber or sump to main/display.
To cut the story short, you’d have to have a sump that is over filled with 20-50% (depends on how much you need the AWC function to displace) more volume than it’s original capacity. Given that you have a much bigger water volume in your sump than what you have in your main/display tank then that’s the time and I would say the only time that a “water change” is going to be a significant one.
Now, if one has to use this AWC function on a non-sump display tank, it’s going to simulate a low-tide phenomena (you know how low-tide smell like when you’re out by the coast, imagine that smell confined in a room) for those tanks that has no more than 10% water level above their rock-scape (only if you’re you’re going to do at least 50% of that 10% at a time, that might work but still not that significant to change the water chemistry on that tank. It might though, but all depends on what dimensions your tank has. Well, tank dimensions for the AWC function to do a significant change in water chemistry would look more like a frag tank to me for sure.
Anyway, why do I say it won’t make any difference on the chemistry on a conventional tank, sump design?
Here’s why...
Take Phosphate (PO4) for example, a reading of .10ppm to be reduced to .05ppm, one has to do a 50% water change.
Now, imagine that 50% of the water volume in your system that you’ll have to change is in your sump, how would that look?
No worries with Ca, Alk and Mg since they’re being dosed, other minor elements however can be too but most likely is provided and replenished by a significant water change.
So, as a personal conclusion: All I need is an ATO, an Automatic Dosing Machine and a good filtration system!

Haven’t done “water change” for two and a half months at present. Well, that’s due to a 2-month long vacation and all that comes with it. Yet, all my corals and all the inhabitants are alive and well! Again, thanks to ATO, ADM and good filtration system[emoji2][emoji106]

 

[deerhunter06]

It doesn’t empty a chamber the change is simultaneous, the water level is never effected in any chamber.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

I know, I meant to say it will lower water levels when it empties a chamber therefore, will eventually stop the circulating water to a point.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

That’s all dependent on how much water volume you wanted to replace (how low you set the sensor).

 

[deerhunter06]

Yes to a point but if it’s only doing 1gpd it’s so brief I’d say the good out weights the bad

 

[Ryan Rosales]

Well that will work.

 

[deerhunter06]

I don’t think it’s designed for large water changes

 

[Ryan Rosales]

I don’t think it’s designed for large water changes

I would think so too, but hey, for a 1gal a day it’ll help prolong a major water change. Specially good when you’re away for a few weeks

 

[deerhunter06]

I would think so too, but hey, for a 1gal a day it’ll help prolong a major water change. Specially good when you’re away for a few weeks

Yes sir, definitely can’t hurt and the ATO is very reliable functions just like a tunze for just about the same price so I figured why not.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

Maybe I should include that on my wishlist [emoji2]
Like you said, won’t hurt to have one running

 

[benjammin03]

I have a sump without baffles so setting the sensors 1 inch apart would be a 5 gallon water change. Are these pumps efficient enough to do this or an even larger water change up to 10 gallons? I'm afraid it could take a long time.

 

[natickwaterbox]

I've been running the Autoaqua AWC system on a 10 gallon IM SPS tank since December to perform 4% daily water changes. Once a week I fill up the 5 gallon reserve salt tank and empty the waste tank. At these water volumes/frequencies, I calculate that I replace ~70% of my total tank volume every month. The system has significantly reduced the workload for my nano tank and my corals look amazing.

I'd say the biggest advantage, other than reduced workload, is that it has allowed me to significantly increase feedings. Over the 4 month period I was unable to detect nitrates above 1ppm (NYOS kit). Recently, I begun experimenting with dosing potassium nitrate (increasing nitrate levels to 5ppm). Then increasing 2.5 ppm 1x per week. My phosphate levels bounce around a bit due to the heavy feedings but typically always below 0.03 ppm. Because this was a recent change it's unclear to me if there is any clear benefit.

The main flaw that I can see with this unit relates to power outages. If there is a power outage the system starts with the ATO off in the default mode. If I am traveling and the power goes out the only way to turn the ATO back on is to interact with the unit's touch screen. If there is a way to set the ATO to default in the "On" setting I would appreciate knowing about it (anyone know?).

I have purchased another Autoaqua AWC system for an IM-20 gallon to perform 2% daily changes. So, despite the glaring disadvantage, I still think it is an amazingly simple solution. It would be amazing if the unit could fully interact with my Neptune Apex.

 

[blackway168]

I've been running the Autoaqua AWC system on a 10 gallon IM SPS tank since December to perform 4% daily water changes. Once a week I fill up the 5 gallon reserve salt tank and empty the waste tank. At these water volumes/frequencies, I calculate that I replace ~70% of my total tank volume every month. The system has significantly reduced the workload for my nano tank and my corals look amazing.

I'd say the biggest advantage, other than reduced workload, is that it has allowed me to significantly increase feedings. Over the 4 month period I was unable to detect nitrates above 1ppm (NYOS kit). Recently, I begun experimenting with dosing potassium nitrate (increasing nitrate levels to 5ppm). Then increasing 2.5 ppm 1x per week. My phosphate levels bounce around a bit due to the heavy feedings but typically always below 0.03 ppm. Because this was a recent change it's unclear to me if there is any clear benefit.

The main flaw that I can see with this unit relates to power outages. If there is a power outage the system starts with the ATO off in the default mode. If I am traveling and the power goes out the only way to turn the ATO back on is to interact with the unit's touch screen. If there is a way to set the ATO to default in the "On" setting I would appreciate knowing about it (anyone know?).

I have purchased another Autoaqua AWC system for an IM-20 gallon to perform 2% daily changes. So, despite the glaring disadvantage, I still think it is an amazingly simple solution. It would be amazing if the unit could fully interact with my Neptune Apex.

You don't need to worry about the power outages and it will keep the original step to progress even it's on the water change step.
The ATO will turn off for 15 mins to prevent the lower level topping off and come back to turn on ATO automatically after power outage.
You can turn your power off to test this feature and you will understand it.

 

[blackway168]

Does anyone know if the system can be used with bigger pumps that what comes with it? I am trying to automate water changes for a 72-gal tank, but the pumps included with this system seem so small!

The pump is small but powerful. If it is still not enough for you, you can buy the smart AC switch to connect with more powerful AC pump.

 

[gobble]

I had high hopes for this, but the crappy little pumps that come with the unit will only pump water up 35 inches. I did a test and that's the limit, the specs are false.

Will be trying over the next few days to connect the Tunze ATO pump and see the controller is capable of powering a decent pump. Both are 12V so fingers crossed.

 

[blackway168]

I had high hopes for this, but the crappy little pumps that come with the unit will only pump water up 35 inches. I did a test and that's the limit, the specs are false.

Will be trying over the next few days to connect the Tunze ATO pump and see the controller is capable of powering a decent pump. Both are 12V so fingers crossed.

Why not try the Smart AC switch that you can use AC pump up to 1100W (110V/10A)?

 

[Forsaken77]

What is a decent set of pumps to replace the stock ones with? I read a review where a guy bought $12 pumps off Amazon for increased head height and they worked great. Just wondering what pumps to use and how they would connect to the unit.

I would like this for larger changes, but to work fast.

 

[gobble]

What is a decent set of pumps to replace the stock ones with? I read a review where a guy bought $12 pumps off Amazon for increased head height and they worked great. Just wondering what pumps to use and how they would connect to the unit.

I would like this for larger changes, but to work fast.

I'd like to know that too. The pumps in the box are very inadequate unless someone is going to put buckets next to their tank which would look terrible. I'm pumping water up from my mixing station in the basement which ends up being about a 6' head given that the tanks downstairs are raised off the floor. I'd guess that's a typical setup for people that want to do auto water changes.

The AC thing is also an option, but by the time you buy those AC switches and extra pumps you're doubling the price of what this thing costs.

The wiring is also inadequate. Who's going to have their fresh water, saltwater, and drain within 6 feet of their tank???I know they sell extenders, but this would work better if they wired it similar to the Tunze ATO where it's easy to add extra lengths of wire.

I'd call this product a great idea with bad execution.

 

[Confuse]

This is my AWC setup on my Fusion 20. The IM ATO reseveur doesn't quite tackle the evaporation problem, but it is easy to refill. In retrospect, I could have just used two of the blue water containers, but I found it after the fact. It was difficult finding a 5 gallon container to fit in that small space.

 

[gobble]

I can report that the AWC controller WILL power the little Tunze ATO pump and that will raise water a good 10 feet. I think that's my answer.