JBJ Auto Top-Off

[EllieSuz]

I found a JBJ Auto Top-Off for $88.00 online. That looks like a really good price, but does it work? Who is using one and how did you set it up? I have room in my stand for a 5 gallon bucket and lid. Will that suffice? Do you have to buy a pump too and if so, what pump would you recommend? Thanks everybody.

[Jeff]

You can order one right from JBJ for $72.99 -> http://www.jbjnanocubes.com/contents/en-us/d754_jbj-ato.html
I think that they are the best and have had one on every one of my tanks since they started making them. You do need a pump and I use a Maxijet in my top-off containers.

[stanlalee]

they've always worked great for me. from people who complain they usually report after a year or so their's just stopped working but worked fine up to that point. I have never had one more than a year but I mine have never failed on me so far (one I sold working and one I currently use).

If it ever fails though I'll be going with the tunze. Its twice the price but it doesn't use float sensors which are bound to fail or get stuck sooner or later.

[tkeracer619]

www.autotopoff.com

option #3 (dual in sump float switch) $50

As reliable as anything you can buy.

[Indymann99]

JBJ working great for me

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Sump12132009.jpg

Float sensor in return section

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/PumpONOFF.jpg

ATO reservoir with ATO pump... some really small pump ($15)..

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/SumpATO.jpg

[EllieSuz]

Indyman99, your photos were a huge help. Thank you so much. One question; My sump has a "lip" around the top about an inch wide. Will I be able to modify the bracket for the top off to fit?

[Peter Eichler]

I had two fail within six months, the third one has been going strong for almost a couple years. If it fails I will not be buying another one with all the failures I've heard of in addition to the ones I experienced.

[notclear]

Or get one from nanotuners at $69.95. I bought one from them about 2 years ago and is still working great! I have been cleaning the float switches every week.

http://www.nanotuners.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=auto+topoff&osCsid=gla0kr9tmu5mp15vjmirskkft3&search.x=11&search.y=10

[Indymann99]

My sump is acrylic and also has a lip. The bracket is designed to fit with or without a lip.

:)

[zsqure]

The JBJ unit works just fine. Many reefers have them, I use a float valve attached to my r/o unit and have been using it for 3 years without any trouble.

[EllieSuz]

Thank you all for the great responses. One more question; what size pump should I put in the reservoir? I'm going to use a 5 gallon bucket inside the stand so there won't be any head loss to speak of.

[rostato]

Don't buy one. Almost every single time I go on vacation it decides it doesnt want to work, and I almost burn up a return pump. They have their moments where they work great, and then all of the sudden they don't work.

[Keith P]

My JBJ ATO has been working fine for the last 3 years. My top-off pumps seem to fail on me :mad2:

[mfinn]

I've been using one for 4 years now and haven't seen a problem.
I use a maxi-jet 1200, but my top-off is 10' from the sump.
For something close, a maxi-jet 400 should work.

[pimpman75]

Im looking to buy one. too

[endojoew]

I want to use one for my 24G nanotank. Can someone show a good way to plumb from a maxi 1200 to the tank. Mine is on the swirl stand.