Sound Off Tunze or Apex ATO

nyc reefer · Apr 16, 2019

I’ve been utilizing a Tunze dual sensor ATO for the last 8 years but have been looking into the Apex ATO. I like all the safety redundancy features to prevent overfilling and running the fill up pump dry, float valve and fusion software control.
What are you using and what are your thoughts on this? Should I make the switch?

Thanks

AdamNC · Apr 16, 2019

Look at XPAqua Duetto. Been using one for about 3 months now and quit impressed. They have duel or quad sensors, overfill protection and dry reservoir alert. They even come with their own pump which it tiny but amazingly robust.

Epic Aquaculture · Apr 16, 2019

Spectrapure

11cmortarman · Apr 20, 2019

Tunze 3155. Im really happy with it. Four years of use and not a single problem.

glb · Apr 20, 2019

Tunze nano. Love it.

SuncrestReef · Apr 20, 2019

I’ve been using the Neptune ATK for over a year and really happy with it. I like that I can integrate its programming and control in conjunction with other Apex modules, for example during maintenance. I also extended my ATK so the pump is in my garage mixing station area 30 feet from my tank in the house.

The only problem I’ve had was a seized pump, but Neptune replaced it under warranty.

Holy_makerel · Apr 20, 2019

I have a tunze on my 60 cube that has worked flawlessly for a year. I'm setting up a 120 with full Apex and will be running the ATK on it. I haven't set it up yet but I really like the built in triple redundancy

Darryl · Apr 20, 2019

TUNZE!

lolmatt · Apr 20, 2019

If you have an apex, how about the pressure based ato sensor from avast marine? They have a non apex version as well. Love mine.

lapin · Apr 20, 2019

I use a Tunze. The Neptune magnet fell off the back of the sump and I left it there.

nyc reefer · Apr 20, 2019

So I believe I will be sticky to my Tunze, if it ain’t broke why mess with it. I’ve always relied on my Tunze and only once did I have a problem which turned out to be a dead pump an easy cheap replacement . Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences, I appreciate it.

amoore311 · Apr 20, 2019

The APEX ato is garbage lol. Check the group on facebook, nothing but complaints. I say that as someone who has been a Neptune Customer since the original Neptune Aquacontroller.

My Tunze ATO is going on 7-8 years without ever having a single issue. Still on the original pump too and I'm dosing kalk in my ATO.

Tunze optical sensors are in a completely other league when compared to the crappy Neptune ones.

Tastee · Apr 21, 2019

I’ve been running the Neptune ATK for over a year now with no issues. In my case I run this once daily to fill my stock RSR 250 8L gravity fed ATO. I like this as the gravity fed ATO keeps the sump topped up continuously to maintain stable salinity. Running the PMUP once a day should also extend it’s life and avoid some of the issues others have reported.

The FMM that comes with the ATK has 4 ports and only 2 are used by the ATK. I use the others for an optical sensor in my sump for low level and an external leak detector. This mitigates the risk of running the gravity fed ATO as it relies on the float valve which can gum up with algae or other detritus. I find I only need to clean mine every 6 weeks or so.

homer1475 · Apr 21, 2019

Recently upgraded from the tunze nano to the 3155. When I was considering upgrading I looked at the ATK. All the negative comments on various websites steered me clear of the ATK even though I have every other available neptune module out there.

Water Dog · Apr 21, 2019

The ATK uses very cheap optical sensors that are quite prone to getting fouled without regular cleaning. I only use my FMM for leak detection. As mentioned above, the Tunze 3155’s German made optical sensor is in a different class in terms of quality. I ran mine for 5+ years trouble free. The only other ATO system that I’d put in the same league reliability wise as the Tunze 3155 is the Spectrapure ULPC-ATO.

Keepswiming · Apr 21, 2019

Stick with your Tunze. I am also an apex fan but need to resist the temptation of switching, especially because of the poor reviews. I run Tunze ATOs on all of my tanks. I recent had one that was not used and it wasn’t working. Despite it sitting around in my fish equipment bin for a couple of years, Tunze told me to send it back and they will fix it. Apparently some water crawled down the cord somehow when I tested it in a bucket and burnt the board. Roger fixed it and sent it back for FREE! I will forever run their ATO.

Lowell Lemon · Apr 21, 2019

Keepswiming said:
Stick with your Tunze. I am also an apex fan but need to resist the temptation of switching, especially because of the poor reviews. I run Tunze ATOs on all of my tanks. I recent had one that was not used and it wasn’t working. Despite it sitting around in my fish equipment bin for a couple of years, Tunze told me to send it back and they will fix it. Apparently some water crawled down the cord somehow when I tested it in a bucket and burnt the board. Roger fixed it and sent it back for FREE! I will forever run their ATO.

Roger is one of the reasons for Tunze's success! They also make a great product!

nyc reefer · Apr 22, 2019

Sounds like awesome customer service!!

Doctorgori · Apr 22, 2019

Just for statistics......I own 2ea Neptune ATO’s ... I’ve had issues with one of them continually ... I’ll see if they usually nice service at Neptune solves it and postback