Considering ATO

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Myka

I won't use anything other than a Tunze Osmolator. Never had any issues with them. I have two that are 3 or 4 years old.



Agreed. 100%



If there is a malfunction the difference is a wet floor vs a potential crash from sudden salinity drop. I know of at least 2 or 3 tanks that have had complete crashes this way. Redundancy is insurance, laziness is risk.

Malfunction is highly unlikely if even posible. The solenoids fail in off position and even if one fails the second one will prevent failure. Max on time is set with profilux or timer so even if float fails sump will only fill slightly over float. Profilux also has alarm for this case.

How would such a system fail? More likely one would forget to fill reservoir, pump runs dry and fails, tank crash.

Don't mistake laziness with convenience or progress for that matter.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by fishytime

two words......Tun Ze.........never plumb a never ending source of fresh water directly to your tank.......dont be lazy and use a reservoir

Huh?

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by wingedfish

DIY
Couple of eBay floats in series with an aqua lifter.

I feed my rodi water directly to my sump, but through two floats (similar to yours). One is mounted slightly higher, and if the lower one malfunctions for some reason (not sure how, as they are pretty simple mechanical devices), the other will catch it. Cheap, and foolproof, IMO.

[tim the toolman]

Pressure sensitive activated and have enough extra room in my sump to hold my entire reservoir.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

(not sure how, as they are pretty simple mechanical devices).

salt creep, snails?

[kien]

auto top off from an 8gallon reservoir with an autotopoff.com float switch (with emergency cutoff float switch to prevent over filling). Two and a half years with this gadget now and no issues.

The only thing I would change on this system if I could would be a larger reservoir, but I don't have the space for it sadly.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by fishytime

salt creep, snails?

No snails in my sump. Salt creep doesn't have a chance to form, as the water varies enough (with water changes, skimmer cleaning, other fiddling around) and washes it off. Besides, I have the higher back-up one that would kick in.

The 2nd higher float gets exercised regularly too, when I vary the water level, with other stuff I am doing in the sump. Lowering the skimmer water level (to clean it) happens at least once a week, which then raises the sump water level.

And once in a while, I test them, by just pulling the float down with my finger.

When water flows in through the float valve, I can hear it quite clearly (like a fizzing) so easy to keep an eye on it.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Huh?

Originally Posted by fishytime

never plumb a never ending source of fresh water directly to your tank

a couple peeps have suggested plumbing you ro directly to the sump....

Originally Posted by fishytime

.......dont be lazy and use a reservoir

and Steve said that to have to fill a reservoir defeats the purpose of having an ATO......cappice?

[jtbadco]

JBJ ATO system....comes with 2 sensors for low and high water...no over-fill

[es355lucille]

This is the one that I purchased. It took Doug from RC a couple of times to convince me.....and I am a die-hard believer now!!! I will not be without one ever again!!.........and I cannot believe why I was without one so long!

One of the most understated, hardest working piece of mechanical gizmo that you can have.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...D=tz-osmolator