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08/14/2018, 05:41 PM | #1 |
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ATO for a big lift? help!
I need a new ATO pump for water top offs (55g reef). I'm looking for something around 50ml/min. I have used the BRS 50ml/min peristaltic pump but now I am on my 4th one and they are made like crap. The gears strip.
My main issue is that I need to pump up from the basement to my tank, and I have to push up about 15'. I read there is the Stenner and Cole palmer, but I dont want to pay $300-1000 for an ato pump. Is there something else in the $50-200 range that is quality and will pull up about 11' and push up another 4' to my tank? I have the pump at my tank on the first floor because that is where I control the outlet (reefkeeper). Thoughts? |
08/14/2018, 08:22 PM | #2 |
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Try the Spectrapure pump thats what i use. Its about $130.
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08/14/2018, 08:51 PM | #3 |
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I haven't been in the market for a cole parmer pump in a while, IME but the ones that were super expensive are the brushless ones that operate at variable speeds. The brushed versions (which are louder) or the constant speed versions (perfectly fine for ATO) are much cheaper.
I just poked around on ebay and I saw a couple of completed listing for fixed RPM pumps, with heads, for around $150 shipped. |
08/14/2018, 09:30 PM | #4 |
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I use the advast marine ato.its good for up to 130 ft .i pump mine from my basement where my trash is up to my main tank on second floor
Easy to install and works great...best thing is i can store 32 gallons of top off water and its not in the wifes way
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have you been touched by a angel? My life was for ever changed when my daughter was born my wife and I have come to a new understanding! I don`t ask and she doesn`t have to say no anymore Current Tank Info: 300 gallon main tank,70 Gallon sump,70 gallon remote sump, reef octopus 300- 12 inch skimmer, skimz Biopellet reactor |
08/14/2018, 09:49 PM | #5 |
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A spectrapure ATO pump would work just fine or if you want something a bit more industrial grade, a Stenner peristaltic pump is a great choice too. The Spectrapure is much more quiet thant the stenner but the Stenners are beasts that can pump water around the block and back.
I’ve used this Spectrapure pump on a number of installs and is my first choice for smaller systems. You can use this with it’s included pressure switch or ditch the switch and controller it via your aquarium controller and standard float switches. http://spectrapure.com/DOSING-TOP-OF...-Top-Off-Sytem This is the Stenner I use on my system. They have cheaper ones as well. This is rated at 85gpd which is more than most need for a peristaltic ATO pump. https://www.poolweb.com/stenner-adju...iABEgJ2WPD_BwE Something like this in the Stenner line would be well suited as well. https://www.poolweb.com/stenner-fixe...ch-120v-family Either the Spectrapure or the Stenner will outlast by a long shot any cheap peristaltic pump from Avast, BRS etc and do so with much less frequent tubing changes and maintenance. You can’t kill the Stenner meaning it will outlast your tank and the Spectrapure pumps are proven to last several years or more so I’d spend the money and buy the Spectrapure or find a Stenner.
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 |
08/16/2018, 08:55 AM | #6 |
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Wow thanks for the replies guys. This is super helpful. I saw a couple stenner on ebay, but they are still pretty expensive $200+, and the history and what they pumped is unknown. Looks like a lot of them are used for pools, which means they pumped chemicals, which means I'd need to buy new tubes too $20-30.
The avast seems too slow to me at 25ml/min. I cant seem to find a rate for the spectrapure, but I think its 200, which seems optimistic. The pump will be in my main living space too, so noise is a concern. I guess I will give the spectrapure a try. It looks like the $140 LM3-RPM is actually the best choice for me since I dont need the control: http://spectrapure.com/Basic-LiterMe...r_name=LM3-MPM |
08/21/2018, 04:15 PM | #7 |
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got the spectrapure, and although it pumps fast, strong, the water hammer affect post pump is obnoxious. How have you guys dealt with the flapping around 1/4" tube.
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08/21/2018, 08:25 PM | #8 | |
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Quote:
That said, the LM3 ATO pump is a GREAT choice! They are built to last. You do need to clean the rollers every few months and should change the tubing every handful of months but the pumps will last many years and have a great warranty. As I said above, I have used them on many installs and swear by those pumps. For a larger system where noise isn’t an issue, the Stenners are a great choice and are built like tanks but that comes at a cost in terms or price and noise.
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 08/21/2018 at 08:35 PM. |
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08/21/2018, 08:33 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 |
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08/22/2018, 03:04 PM | #10 |
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Thanks for the info., Great stuff guys. I changed the setup out today from a rodi 1/4" tube to a 3/8" tygon flexible tubing and the hammer effect is gone. I think the fact that it goes to a larger diameter, and the tube itself is flexible is what cured the issue. It was really obnoxious before!
As for failure modes, I bought the pump version with the pressure switch, but I also have a backup float kill switch that is above the water line on my reefkeeper. I guess the only way I'm leaking is at the pump head itself if the tubing breaks. Do you really need to replace these every few months? Is there a cheap source for the tubing? The only thing that sort of irks me is how spectrapure relys on fitting the output of the tube to a rodi line with no sort of mechanical secure (ie barbed adapter etc). |
08/22/2018, 03:36 PM | #11 |
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A simple cable tie will suffice if you feel it necessary.
However there is no pressure in that line so no worries, mine has been the same way for 5 years. Tubing lasts a lot longer than a few months. Yearly for me & it still looks good.
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250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps. |
08/22/2018, 04:50 PM | #12 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
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Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 |
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08/23/2018, 12:45 AM | #13 |
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I know you already picked up a pump but I use Masterflex standard drives and standard heads for these. They have set speeds and use tubing specific heads. Great little pumps for ATO. Reliable as all get out.
Also have a LM3. Great pump.
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Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. |
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