What do you use for an ATO Pump?

[philg3]

My Tom's Aqualifter has been struggling lately. I took it apart and cleaned it, but it still struggles to get more than a drip up 2 feet of head. Lately it's been failing completely and I have to smack it a couple of times to get it started.

I'm using a Innovative Marine Titanium Hydrofill ATO Controller and it works pretty flawlessly, and it can power pretty much any pump on the market.

I was looking at a peristaltic pump so i can start dosing Kalk, but a standalone can cost $120-150. I could buy a Jebao 4 head doser for that much. The Neptune PMUP-T is cool, but i wasn't sure about using it with Kalk since it draws water from the bottom of the container.

So my quesitons is - What pump do you guys use for your auto top off? Any recommendations? Should i just buy a new Aqualifter for $20?

Also, has anyone used one of these?
https://www.amazon.ca/Adjustable-Dosing-Aquarium-Suction-Version/dp/B00S0HQJSC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505934578&sr=8-2&keywords=Dosing+Pump

It's tempting but the reviews are terrible.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-Phil

[Default]

I use cole parmer peristaltic pumps. You can find used ones for cheap I got mine from vancouver coastal health they used them as artificial hearts. Because I dose kalk in my top up water my ATO pumps would only last about 6 months to 1 year. The pumps come up as goverment surplus too check this site https://www.gcsurplus.ca/mn-eng.cfm?snc=wfsav

[Potatohead]

Avast diaphragm

[Gp Scott]

For a Ato I purchased a Tunze water level control I have since replaced the pump with a bilge pump for a boat there the same thing and way cheaper at princess auto

[Myka]

Tunze Osmolator 3155 for like 15 years. Most of my clients have them too. I've never killed a pump on the 3155. The nano version kills pumps.

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[Megalodon]

I also use an Aqualifter that has been struggling as of late. It's just slow. So far it hasn't been an issue.

[Gp Scott]

If I might add too I found kalwiser dosing with Ato was hard on my pump and I no longer dose that way

[gregzz4]

Tunze Osmolator 3155 for like 15 years. Most of my clients have them too. I've never killed a pump on the 3155.
Running 1 each of these on my DT and QT. Never had a hiccup in 6-1/2 years except my DT pump finally packed it in this summer. It was still running but making a helluva racket.

My vote is you bite the bullet and get 1 of these - you won't regret it.

To answer part of your question, sure you can use a peri pump, but better run a 50ml/min unit.
I'm sure running a 1.1ml unit will either cause issues with your controller, or burn out the pump before it's time is due.
Each time my DT unit runs, it pumps 250ml ... same as my QT unit for that matter. And that's in less than 15 seconds (or so).

[Tyfighter]

I use some cheap Rio pump that has run dry for days more than once and still works fine.

[Tom R]

For 15 years I have used nothing more than a $15.00 Kent Float Valve and Gravity.
I raised a 45 gal storage tank 2 feet off the floor and have my Sump with the float valve on the floor with 1/4 feed between them. Setting the float valve will determine and maintain the level of water in the sump. This gives me 3 or 4 weeks without refilling the storage tank.

[mike31154]

For 15 years I have used nothing more than a $15.00 Kent Float Valve and Gravity.
I raised a 45 gal storage tank 2 feet off the floor and have my Sump with the float valve on the floor with 1/4 feed between them. Setting the float valve will determine and maintain the level of water in the sump. This gives me 3 or 4 weeks without refilling the storage tank.

There you go, gravity is your friend. I use a slight variation on the theme since I don't have a sump & it's not feasible to have a top off container above my display. I use an air pump on a timer to pressurize a 6 gallon glass wine carboy with a rubber stopper in the top. This pushes water through a line to a mechanical furnace humidifier float valve attached to the rim of the display. Good for about 7 days of top off. Has been pretty robust for years, not 15 years, but close to 10. I think I renewed the float valve once. $10 or so at the hardware store.

[kyl]

I have two if the Tunze 3155's. Two years, zero issues at all.

[WarDog]

I use some cheap Rio pump that has run dry for days more than once and still works fine.

Same.

[whatcaneyedo]

I got a good 5 years out of the Tunze system before the sensors started acting up. I had purchased it used so it was probably at least 8 years old when I finally sold it. I should have kept the pump... because I've been burning through small Maxi Jets at a rate of one every 2 years since then. I think what I have on there now is a little Hydor because thats all our local retailers carry. But at least with it I can buy replacement impellers if/when they break apart.