What are your favorite auto water change systems?

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

What are your favorite AWC systems? I've used the AutoAqua and really liked it, but since I'm going to be running 2 tanks, I'll need to get another one. The AutoAqua ones are out of stock, so I'm looking into alternatives.

blaxsun · May 6, 2022

I've used the Tunze and feel it's really solid. Currently using the Neptune ATK with the FMM for my ATO.

ReefRondo · May 6, 2022

Apex with a DOS. I have this system on 3 of my systems and it was an absolute game changer for me as I work 7 days a week 364 days a year. Love it.

undermind · May 6, 2022

This is an area where we absolutely need more options. It's a thing a lot of people do, but you wouldn't know it based on the product offerings of all the major manufacturers. Almost everyone doing them are hacking dosing pumps – which is totally reasonable, but I think more turnkey products would be appreciated.

blaxsun said:
I've used the Tunze and feel it's really solid. Currently using the Neptune ATK with the FMM for my ATO.

Seems like you're thinking ATO instead of AWC?

I'm casually looking for one too. I may go for the Kamoer: https://www.coralvue.com/-1987/kamoer-x2sr-water-change-system

I have an AWC system installed, and it's the old AutoAqua AWC + ATO unit. The head units on those were faulty and they never worked it out, at least on the model I had, which seems to be discontinued. I had 4 in a row fail. I still use it but only for push button water changes while I'm there to keep an eye on it. And no ATO usage.

blaxsun · May 6, 2022

undermind said:
Seems like you're thinking ATO instead of AWC?

Doh, yeah - sorry. There's one in the UK (an actual AWC!) that I like but shipping alone is almost the cost of the unit itself, so... I forget the name but it's the one where it circulates all the water for several hours and you end up with a net water change of slightly less than you started with.

undermind · May 6, 2022

blaxsun said:
Doh, yeah - sorry. There's one in the UK (an actual AWC!) that I like but shipping alone is almost the cost of the unit itself, so... I forget the name but it's the one where it circulates all the water for several hours and you end up with a net water change of slightly less than you started with.

When you said you're using the Tunze one I definitely perked up

blaxsun · May 6, 2022

undermind said:
When you said you're using the Tunze one I definitely perked up

Sorry to give you false hope there... Well, a new Osmolator is supposedly going to drop soon. You never know...

undermind · May 6, 2022

blaxsun said:
Sorry to give you false hope there... Well, a new Osmolator is supposedly going to drop soon. You never know...

I'm going to send some magical energies to them

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

undermind said:
I have an AWC system installed, and it's the old AutoAqua AWC + ATO unit. The head units on those were faulty and they never worked it out, at least on the model I had, which seems to be discontinued. I had 4 in a row fail. I still use it but only for push button water changes while I'm there to keep an eye on it. And no ATO usage.

That's so wild. I have that one, and it's not given me trouble except for the pumps wearing out (they're super cheap, so I'm switching over to the controlled outlet and using better pumps now). I would've gotten another one of those, but I can't find them in stock anywhere.

Obsessed with fish · May 6, 2022

My favorite water change system is my hands and a bucket.

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

Obsessed with fish said:
My favorite water change system is my hands and a bucket.

Haha! That's my least favorite.

FishOkay · May 6, 2022

I have the original autoaqua awc and I like it, but to be fair I don't really do water changes unless I need to so it's more being used manually as and when. Use the ato on it though.

Scott Ulrich · May 6, 2022

Daniel@R2R said:
Haha! That's my least favorite.

A bucket? I'm not a savage. I at least use a python and then refill with a pump

I've been kind of curious to set up an AWC, but I have a lightly stocked 125 so I only do about a change once a month...

dwest · May 6, 2022

Spectrapure system here.

Obsessed with fish · May 6, 2022

The reason I use a bucket is because my biggest tank is 1 gallon.

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

dwest said:
Spectrapure system here.

Spectrapure has an AWC? I haven't heard of that one.

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

Obsessed with fish said:
The reason I use a bucket is because my biggest tank is 1 gallon.

Ah! That makes sense

dwest · May 6, 2022

Daniel@R2R said:
Spectrapure has an AWC? I haven't heard of that one.

There are lots of videos and threads on how to do it. I use liter meter 3 pumps which now are the “old” versions. I’ve been using liter meter 3’s for many years and been using them for AWC for over 3 years. Expensive but reliable.

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

dwest said:
There are lots of videos and threads on how to do it. I use liter meter 3 pumps which now are the “old” versions. I’ve been using liter meter 3’s for many years and been using them for AWC for over 3 years. Expensive but reliable.

Ha! Believe it or not (and I'm ashamed to admit it), I didn't realize that Spectrapure makes the Litermeter.

Auquanut · May 6, 2022

I'm using the GHL Maxi as a stand-alone AWC system. I'm changing water 12 times daily (every 2 hours) for about 1.5% daily. It pulls from the overflow section of the sump and fills to the return section simultaneously, so it doesn't affect the ATO at all. The wastewater goes directly into a floor drain. It's been working really good for a couple of years now. I've read that the Maxi has been discontinued, but the Apex DOS heads fit the Maxi, so as long as the unit itself doesn't fail, I should be able to keep it going.

Been really happy with it so far.

Disclaimer: It's pretty loud. I have the unit in the shop behind the tank, so it's not an issue for me.