ATO

[guitareefs]

I just read up on ATOs and how they work. I seemed skeptical at first but now feel good about them.

I should be buying an RODI unit soon and now will want to buy an ATO

I see DaveJ mention he has a JBJ ATO. What about the ATOs from autotopoff.com?

What pump should I use for the resevoir?

And how do yall feel about dosing systems? I'm not going with a calcium reactor and will be dosing 2 part. Should I just manually dose?

 

[rdb2060]

@guitareefs wrote:

ATO's are a welcome addition to me. My main tank is going through about 5 gallons every 1.5 days. I have the JBJ ATO as well and have one of the sensors in my sump and the other in the top container. I am using a MJ 600 in mine as that was the first pump I found laying around.

I have heard horror stories of people running their ato right off of the RO/DI. So I hope that was not what you saying you were going to do. If you have a leak somewhere it will keep pumping ro water into your tank throwing off the chemistry balance and making a larger mess.

 

[Ashlar]

The only problem (to me, at least) with units from autotopoff.com is that they use 110v relays, so that means if a switch wire broke, it could pump 110v into the tank. The DIY ATO I made based on the kit from aquahub.com uses a 12v relay and transformer, so it's a bit safer to me.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/product26.html

I use an aqualifter pump in both my ATO setups- they're anti-siphon, so it douesn't matter where the reservoir sits, and it pumps slowly, rather than dumping a lot of fresh water at once.

 

[guitareefs]

Sounds good to me Scott.

Oh and rdb2060, can't see where you thought I might want to run the RODI into my ato container. Definately not going to do that! I've read bad stories already.

I looked up the JBJ and like the idea but can someone explain what the monitor is? Looks like a fancy version of an ATO.

So tell me if I'm right on the setup. I have a 5' long tank and stand. My sump inside is about 4'. So I don't have much play room so I definately can't fit a can in there to house the RO water to ato the sump. So can I just set a container outside of the stand and run the tubing from the back into the sump? I really like asking basic questions to get the concept down

 

[guitareefs]

@Ashlar wrote:

Ummm...Scott? Here's a direct quote from that link above...

I'm ok with just buying one :lol:

 

[rdb2060]

@guitareefs wrote:

From reading this sentence Is where I had got it from and was wanting to make sure that IF you were thinking about it it was not a good choice IMO..

I do not have room under my tank either. I have a couple of recliners on each side of my tank so it kinda of hides my container.

I use a 5 gallon salt bucket for mine that sits outside the stand. I run the return behind the stand to the sump.

I also used the lid and drilled a hole for the return line and electrical cord for the pump on one side. Another hole on the opposite side to refill the bucket and then notched one side of the lid for the hanging bracket for the sensor. This way I can keep the lid on the bucket to keep dust and other misc stuff from getting in the water. I fill it with another power head and hose (pump it in) and when I think it is close I just stick a finger through one of the hoses to make sure I do not over fill it

I hope this helps!

 

[Ashlar]

@guitareefs wrote:

Ummm...Scott? Here's a direct quote from that link above...

I'm ok with just buying one :lol:"]

Lol, it's really not hard, but I'd be happy to have you over to put it together. I swear, it's a 10 minute exercise. I'm sure their lawyers made them put that in there.

 

[guitareefs]

I may just end up getting a JBJ with a Tom Aqualifter. Or just find a diy like you use, Scott.

Question. I don't have GFCI outlets but I have 2 Surge Protector power strips. They plug into non GFCI outlets. Would I be safe plugging an ATO on one of my strips?

 

[sublime250]

One word for you

Tunze

 

[DaveJ]

@guitareefs wrote:

Should be fine.. they are pretty low drain... so there is minimal risk of overload. If you are near the max for the GFCI however, the constant on/off of the ATO system could lead to one popping off. Just make sure you plug them into the same plug/strip so they both power up/down with the same power source.

We could make an argument against having power strips though, just out of principle and using them around water etc

On the 92, I use a 5G jug and just run the RO/DI type tubing from it into the tank.

If you use a small tank, use the 2 sensor setting on the JBJ. It has one in the tank and one in the sump. The one in the tank has to be submerged for it to power on the pump at the same time the one in the sump has to be exposed. Its a two requirement system that helps reduce the risk of overpumping the water.

 

[guitareefs]

@DaveJ wrote:

Ok DaveJ, do tell Seriously, I'd like to know because though I have them screwed up high on the wall next to the tank, I've never liked using power strips. But haven't figured out how else to hook up all my equipment.

There's a power outlet right behind my tank but I left only about 8" of room back there to even get back there and change outlets to GFCI. So I have a Surge Powerstrip going from one outlet behind the tank to the side of the tank on the wall. The other strip is on the other side of the tank, but that strip is connected to an outlet on the wall next to the tank wall.

I've heard of using controllers but I guess like RODI units and ATO's I thought of it as just a hassle I could get by without, but now look, I want to buy an RODI and ATO :lol:

Man, I couldn't get far in this hobby without yall. Thanks

TIA and thanks DaveJ

 

[DaveJ]

@guitareefs wrote:

Ok DaveJ, do tell Seriously, I'd like to know because though I have them screwed up high on the wall next to the tank, I've never liked using power strips. But haven't figured out how else to hook up all my equipment.

There's a power outlet right behind my tank but I left only about 8" of room back there to even get back there and change outlets to GFCI. So I have a Surge Powerstrip going from one outlet behind the tank to the side of the tank on the wall. The other strip is on the other side of the tank, but that strip is connected to an outlet on the wall next to the tank wall.

I've heard of using controllers but I guess like RODI units and ATO's I thought of it as just a hassle I could get by without, but now look, I want to buy an RODI and ATO :lol:

Man, I couldn't get far in this hobby without yall. Thanks

TIA and thanks DaveJ"]

You're welcome.

Well power stripes have been known to burn houses down and fry tanks when used for our application. If it was an industrial heavy-duty or outdoor type, I would feel better about it. A DC8 is nothing more than a power strip, but is designed for our use.