ATO ideas

Here's the one I made for my tank, total cost was about $50-60 to build from all new parts. Less if you have stuff on hand.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/diy-solenoid-ato-auto-top-off-64316.html

It's triple redundant, and works great so far, about 10 months sinec i installed it.

 

mine is just like map95003s, very simple and was about 20 bux...

 

I run an aqualifter pump which pumps fresh RO water (with Alk powder added) from a 5 Gal bucket 24/7. This pump feeds into two small airline valves that allow me to set the rate of drip to match that of evaporation... takes me about a day to watch it and set it, and once set can go unchecked for several days. I generally keep an eye on it and make sure it's dripping water as well as make sure the bucket is full. When it's not, I'll add water to the bucket (with alk powder). This has been a fairly safe and reliable method for me and a way to dose alk. I measure and dose calcium separately.

 

i have the simplest form.
1 resevoir, 1 pump, and a float valve.

water goes down, float valve turns on pump, pump sends water to sump. the end

 

Here's my very simple DIY ATO, no pump involved. I've been using it for over a year now and it works great. I haven't cleaned my sump in a while so the pics are not the best but you get the idea.

Here's a pic of my acrylic RODI water reserve for my ATO, it sits on the side of my sump and higher than the sump so it gravit feeds the sump.


Here's the float valve in the sump, I connected it to some pvc fittings.