water top-ups

I use a 5 gallon polandspring water bottle, from the office coller, free, a rubber stopper $2.50, 2 3/8' airlines(1 for air in and 1 for water out) this gravity feed, when the water level in my sump drops below the air intake water is released until it comes up to the air intake and the water stops, cheap effective and low maintence no electrcity so if the power goes out and I am away no problems, I mix my additive in the bottle and they are constintently being added

 

Instead of the Tunze ATO you might consider a tank controller with a float switch. A reef keeper lite plus a SL1 module would be about the cost of the Tunze and a float switch would be another $20. It would cost a little more but you can do a lot more with it (monitor ph/temp, turn on off lights, run fans, etc).

Just another option to consider

 

i dont want to jack the thread but im on the same topic here, i want to build an ATO but like DIY or something cheap, im a DYI pro so w.e there is to make i can make it lol maybe because im a mechanic and raised with a do it all dad lol Tunze ? how much do those run ?

 

Best suggestion.