Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - What do you use for an ATO Pump?

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- - What do you use for an ATO Pump? (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=124335)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom R (Post 1018584)

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.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyfighter (Post 1018582)

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

Same.

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.