ATO using apex.

[apstreck]

I'm new to reefing, and my basic tank requirements are met as far as lighting, skimming, filtration, water movement, etc. So I was looking now at ATO units since I'm already sick of topping off twice a day. I'm also looking at an Apex unit, and was thinking about how to turn the unit into an ATO.

Here's my idea: Instead of measuring water level, add on a conductivity/salinity probe. Whenever the salinity raises above X, a small pump kicks on in a reservoir of RODI water. Kicks back off when salinity is correct. This may not be a new idea, but will it work? Anyone do it this way?

[apstreck]

I'm already seeing the flaw here... Salinity won't be instantly balanced within the water column with the addition of the FW. So how do you Apex users manage top offs?

[wheelman76]

You buy a breakout box for the apex for $40 or make your own for less than half of that , and then you just need to buy a float switch, and a small pump like an aqua lifter. When the water level drops the float switch activates the aqua lifter and pulls water from a reservoir until the float switch comes back up and closes the switch.

[Indymann99]

+1 on above

[ca1ore]

I have the salinity probe on my tank and it is completely ill suited to trigger an ATO. It is quite useful, and I do have my ATO setup to turn off in event there is a dramatic decline in salinity, but it reacts quite slowly to salinity changes and can drift a bit. Far better to use a pair of redundant float switches.

[slief]

I have the salinity probe on my tank and it is completely ill suited to trigger an ATO. It is quite useful, and I do have my ATO setup to turn off in event there is a dramatic decline in salinity, but it reacts quite slowly to salinity changes and can drift a bit. Far better to use a pair of redundant float switches.

+1

You don't want to use the conductivity probe to control an ATO. Use it as a failsafe but don't over think the ATO.. The Apex works great for ATO but keep it simple using a proven method. Breakout box and float switches work wonderfully. If you want redundancy, use multiple float switches and your Condx probe for a failsafe. Been doing it this way for years now and it works like charm and it keeps the sump level absolutely perfect and stable all the time!

[slief]

Oops. Duplicate.