Auto Top Off System

[chiefifd]

What is the simplest auto top off system for use your sump?

[dstipple]

Autotopoff.com I've had their product on my tank for 8 months and have been very impressed with it. It's $50 then you have to buy a $10 pump from Walmart and your good to go. Better than spending $300 on one of those fancy systems imo

[chiefifd]

Thanks, I'm glad I asked. I'll give it a look.

[AZBigJohn]

+1 on autotopoff.com.

I have had mine for almost two years in my sump, connected to an old powerhead pump stuck in a five gallon bucket. Just keep the bucket full of RODI water. Many people hook a second one into the top-off supply to keep it full from their RODI source.

[saltysailor2329]

I use a JBJ ATO. Cost $69 from BRS.com. I had an old MJ400 laying around to use as the pump. Works great for a couple years now.

[James77]

Another for the autotopoff. I especially like the thick bracket. lacking in the aquahub model. I have had mine running 4 or 5 years? with no problems at all, and minimal maintenance

[SpartaReef]

I made my own sort of... Used a booster pump to pump rodi water up from res in basement up to float valve in sump. Pictures in my profile.

[AFord]

Been using a tunze osmolator or several years, never a single hiccup. Wipe the sensor eye clean every few weeks, double check the float valve once a month.

It may cost $200.00 but the peace of mind that it is very reliable makes that a non-issue for me.

[mlburchjr]

+1 for the tunze I haven't used anything else but I haven't had any problems with it at all

[bnumair]

the best fail safe system i have seen and i personally use is genesis renew storm rvoc system. it will cost u pretty ($900). for i also vote for autotopoff. its a good system and cheap and i did use it for yrs.

[crossi92]

I've been using the same JBJ ATO for 5 years now, never had any issues. I use an AquaLifter Pump with it.

[tatuaje08]

I use jbj on my 2 salts and 1 fresh.

[chiefifd]

I appreciate the responses, I'm looking at the autotopoff, it seems like its very customizable to your needs.

[jhill]

+1 for autotopoff. No issues so far and very easy to use.

[SpartaReef]

I put a float valve in my sump and ran a line down to a pump that has its own back pressure asov. This is fed from my rodi reservoir. It works great and I have a shutoff valve in between the float and pump for doing water changes.

[chiefifd]

Hi SpartaReef, I checked out your photos. Very nice system. The float pump looks like the same float switch that I have on my airwaterice RO/DI system. Do you have a closer photo of your pump and shutoffs. Thanks for your help...
I'm a distant neighbor in the U.P. of Michigan....

[SpartaReef]

The float valve is from air water and ice, so is my rodi and the pump for the top off setup I'm using. The reservoir I got at a farm supply store. The pictures were from close up so I'm not sure what you mean...

[flametailblenny]

I just use an old salt bucket, 1/4" bulkhead in the bucket, and a float screwed to a piece of egg crate in my sump. Its gravity fed, but I always have a brute trash can of ro/di water and just fill my bucket when needed. Whole top off cost me around $6

[chiefifd]

I guess thats what I was getting at SpartaReef, the float switch simply activates a gravity feed top off system. I wasn't understanding how the float switch was powering a pump, now I see.....it simply was gravity feed. Not much simpler than that.

[flametailblenny]

Its extremely simple. You just have to fill your bucket when it needs it, but no parts to go out or replace and very cheap.

[chiefifd]

Wondering why more people aren't using this gravity system. I've never had a problem using the float switch that controls my RO/DI system, other than salt creep on the float mechanism.
So many nice people here sharing their experiences, hope everyone is having a nice Mothers day.

[chiefifd]

I mean "salt creep in the sump area" not on my RO/DI unit collection tub.

[SpartaReef]

I use a pump because my sump is upstairs and my reservoir and rodi are in basement. Not gravity fed here...

[chiefifd]

Most people wouldn't want to have a bucket of water sitting above the display tank in their living room I'm sure.
I'd like to have my sump in the adjoining room where it would be easier to deal with a bucket of top off water.

[flametailblenny]

If you have the room under your stand, just build a "step" for the bucket. My sump and all equipment are in the garage, so it wasnt an issue for me as far as location

[blackbeltmom]

Not to hijack the thread, but I was thinking about switching to the Tunze. I have a friend that had one and had nothing but problems with it. All of the electrical items that he had in his stand including his Apex were interfering with the Tunze causing the ATO to either not come on when it should or shut off as it should. The only thing Tunze could tell him to do was plug it in to a separate outlet.
I have a Red Sea Max 250 and I am concerned about the JBJ because I am getting ready to go vacation and I added some clean up crew that has some tiny snails in it. I cleaned some off of these snails off my skimmer Friday. I am concerned about them climbing on the water level sensor and keeping it from raising or lowering. It was suggested that I move my second sensor up into the back of my tank as a back up(right now it is with my pump in my water container).
I am not sure what to do....

[FLSteve]

Not to hijack the thread, but I was thinking about switching to the Tunze. I have a friend that had one and had nothing but problems with it. All of the electrical items that he had in his stand including his Apex were interfering with the Tunze causing the ATO to either not come on when it should or shut off as it should. The only thing Tunze could tell him to do was plug it in to a separate outlet.
I have a Red Sea Max 250 and I am concerned about the JBJ because I am getting ready to go vacation and I added some clean up crew that has some tiny snails in it. I cleaned some off of these snails off my skimmer Friday. I am concerned about them climbing on the water level sensor and keeping it from raising or lowering. It was suggested that I move my second sensor up into the back of my tank as a back up(right now it is with my pump in my water container).
I am not sure what to do....

I have the JBJ and made a screen that covers the sensor by cutting a fish net and securing with a rubber band.

chiefifd, This ex Yooper wonders if its still snowing up there :) Raised near Houghton.

[blackbeltmom]

I have the JBJ and made a screen that covers the sensor by cutting a fish net and securing with a rubber band.

chiefifd, This ex Yooper wonders if its still snowing up there :) Raised near Houghton.

Could I see a picture?

That is actually a great idea.

[FLSteve]

It is a great idea and I found it somewhere here :) Wish I could remember who it was to give credit.

[SpartaReef]

Yeah I have no room for that.... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7575&pictureid=51267http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7575&pictureid=51229http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7575&pictureid=51265http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7575&pictureid=52431http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7575&pictureid=52457http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7575&pictureid=52458

[blackbeltmom]

It is a great idea and I found it somewhere here :) Wish I could remember who it was to give credit.

That's great.

What size net did you use?

[FLSteve]

That's great.

What size net did you use?

I bought the larger one from Walmart and cut it as close to its metal frame as possible. The smaller one may work.

[OnTheReef]

I really like the Tsunami AT-1. It's inexpensive, has no moving parts and is very versatile since it controls a 120V plug.Tsunami AT-1 (http://www.aquacave.com/Tsunami-AT-1-Auto-Top-Off-System-ATO-P214.aspx)

[chiefifd]

I'll be putting my sump behind a wall where my main tank will be. I'm pretty sure I'll be going with a gravity system.

[ozworld]

The easiest method is getting 1 or 2 float switches ($5 ea), a Aqualifter and a 5 gallon drinking water jug. Simple DIY project that has been working for me for 3 months without a glitch.

[SpartaReef]

I'll be putting my sump behind a wall where my main tank will be. I'm pretty sure I'll be going with a gravity system.

If you can do it great!

What i like about my system is that I don't have to refill it.

[chiefifd]

I will use a gravity system of some type to keep things a bit cheaper and hopefully simpler. My only down fall I can see with how I can set my top-off is I won't be able to connect it to an endless supply of water, such as a RO/DI unit storage tank. Having a RO/DI storage tank connected to your sump would make things much more automated for sure.
Thanks.

[scuzy]

Well here is one I made using float switches and aqua lifter and my apex to control it.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/05/14/y3upa5ab.jpg

[chiefifd]

I'll take a look at it, I've gotten so many good ideas in the last few weeks for my system.
Thanks for your help...

[chunk78]

Controller (which has a million other uses) and a 20 dollar toms water lifter

[metasinapsis]

thanks, this thread made up my mind . I will get the ATO and a 30 dls pump.

[matiLanza]

you could always DIY its pretty simple if you have some handy skills and it cost just about 10 bucks if you have the pump or tom lift pump