reefgeek84 Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 http://www.dtpetsupplies.com/~dtpetsup/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1306 Someone's thoughts on this would be nice...or maybe someone has seen this in action... Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izzypop Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 aqua medic so it's pretty good. I used the Tunze one on my original tank and had 0 problems with it. Check out the osmolator from Tunze I think it's better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2reef-n Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 My auto top off cost me $15.00, it's not fancy but it works as well as the high priced ones. For $105.00 you can buy alot of frags....=) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 I thought I saw one of those at Upscales, but I could be totally wrong. Seem to be a decent unit though. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 thats alot of $$ for an ATO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 Holy crap does it give my fish massages?? it should for that price. I'm with nu2reef, i spent about 15 bucks on my ATO and its been running strong for 3 years zero problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted December 27, 2006 Author Share Posted December 27, 2006 My auto top off cost me $15.00, it's not fancy but it works as well as the high priced ones. For $105.00 you can buy alot of frags....=) Yes that extra money would get you alot of frags...but I have limited space in my stand, and I want to keep everything contained in my stand. I think this would allow me to have a 2 gallon "bucket" placed anywhere in my stand and top off my sump, with out having to have my RO/DI unit hooked up to it...I live in an apartment (I know you know this dave ) so I can not cut holes in walls or anything and I want to keep the RO/DI unit out of the kitchen...so I think this would be a good alternative to this... Maybe I am wrong and there is something else out there...that would fit my needs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powdertang05 Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 go to www.top-off.com i bought there ato systems they are fantastic 30 bucks is well worth it and zero problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkto Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 You can't overlook the convenience and safety of a peristaltic pump in this kind of setup... I spent $275 on my LMIII and so far it's the best money I've spent on the tank... My needs were different also as I'm drawing water from a 55 gallon drum 10 feet below the tank but I can't imagine life without it now. Well worth the money in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted December 27, 2006 Author Share Posted December 27, 2006 go to www.top-off.com i bought there ato systems they are fantastic 30 bucks is well worth it and zero problems. How are you delivering your water to the tank or sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siskiou Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 get an aqualifter pump for 10 bucks! Or any small powerhead. Attach some hosing and plug it into the cord that the switch/es are connected to. I run my ATO that way and have had no problems. Am using a double switch in case the bottom one gets stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powdertang05 Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 i use a water drum with a maxi jet. i have very little evap so i have a 7 gal drum from walmart lasts me like 2 1/2 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted December 27, 2006 Share Posted December 27, 2006 Yah keep it simple. Pump in a 2gal bucket, floatswitch in the sump and your done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2reef-n Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 That's what I'm using. A five gallon bucket with a powerhead hooked to a hose to the sump. Simple and cheap. You could apply the same thing to a two gallon container. This hobby is expensive, it's nice to find a low cost item every now and then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisW Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 I have this top off system running on my 125g tank. It works really good. Keeps the water level in the sump dead on. The only think I dont really care for about it is that it sometimes makes a noise when it turns on. Not sure why but from what I read and what AM said, it's normal. It works well and looks decent also. R-3, your are correct, I saw one there this past weekend. Didnt look at the price. Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted December 28, 2006 Author Share Posted December 28, 2006 I have this top off system running on my 125g tank. It works really good. Keeps the water level in the sump dead on. The only think I dont really care for about it is that it sometimes makes a noise when it turns on. Not sure why but from what I read and what AM said, it's normal. It works well and looks decent also. R-3, your are correct, I saw one there this past weekend. Didnt look at the price. Dennis So would you spend an extra 80-90 bucks to get this or a DIY system instead and save the money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisW Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 Well, I would personally spend the extra 80-90 bucks because, Im not into DIY projects. Im not very good at them and dont really have the time. But, if I was good at DIY projects and could make something that looks good and not "jerry rigged", I might try it. My old tank was a pre-made, $15 float switch and a small maxijet in a 5gal container of water (which I mixed kalkwasser powder into). It worked pretty good until the float switch got stuck and dumped about 3gal of saturated kalk water into my tank. What a mess!!! On my current tank, I use the aquamedic setup and it draws water from a 5gal container, thru a PM kalk reactor and then into the sump. It runs slower than a maxijet so it would take a little longer to dump 3gal of water into the sump. Not that it couldnt do it....it would just take longer. Dennis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronjunior Posted December 28, 2006 Share Posted December 28, 2006 I'm waiting to finish my sump before doing ATO, but when I do, I'll have very limited space and plan on either stealing my new 7 gallon camping water jug or buying a new one since round buckets waste space that I don't have. I bought one at Bi Mart, the "Jumbo Tainer" one for $8.99 on sale. It's only 7 1/2" wide, but they make a 6 1/2" 6 gallon one too. (mine has a 2 3/4" mouth but could be cut to fit a PH) Looks like you can buy directly from the mfg. site as well if no BiMart nearby....Can't remember who else sells this brand, Gi Joes I believe? http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/catalogue/Water_Containers_&_Accessories.html http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/11.html the Bimart one. http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/188.html 7G with 4" hole, but 11.2" wide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted December 28, 2006 Author Share Posted December 28, 2006 I'm waiting to finish my sump before doing ATO, but when I do, I'll have very limited space and plan on either stealing my new 7 gallon camping water jug or buying a new one since round buckets waste space that I don't have. I bought one at Bi Mart, the "Jumbo Tainer" one for $8.99 on sale. It's only 7 1/2" wide, but they make a 6 1/2" 6 gallon one too. (mine has a 2 3/4" mouth but could be cut to fit a PH) Looks like you can buy directly from the mfg. site as well if no BiMart nearby....Can't remember who else sells this brand, Gi Joes I believe? http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/catalogue/Water_Containers_&_Accessories.html http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/11.html the Bimart one. http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/188.html 7G with 4" hole, but 11.2" wide. Those are a great idea... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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