Lets talk ATO systems...

I want to get an ATO system but am a bit overwhelmed at my choices. Money is not really an issue, but I love bang for the buck. Can someone please recommend a good setup for me?

 

BlueLine Tsunami AT-1 with a small pump to actually move the water, and something to hold the water in. What size tank/sump?

 

It is a 65g tank with a 15g sump. I am having to add about a gallon a day.

 

I was looking at the jbj...is there a reason you prefer the blueline?

 

My vote is for tunze they're pricey but they work great.I was concidering the jbj untill I started reading up on their heaters and I came to find out their are tons of horror stories with both the heaters and ato.

 

I have the JBJ ATO and it works flawlessly. I have dealt with JBJ customer service on separate issues, and I give them an A+. For $75, the JBJ is great. I use a Toms Aqualifter pump with it. I also have my ATO plugged into my RKL controller for timer on/off, and have a RKL float switch to kill power to the ATO if it raises my water level too much (i.e. one of the units fails). I setup a lot of fail-safes just in-case. I have heard only good things about the Tunze, but for me, it was just too pricey...however if you add all the things up for my ATO, it might hit the same price point. I bought all of that over time.

 

JBJ here. Had it for 4 month. Works great.

I had a snail park himself inside float sensor preventing it from floating up. So the controller thought it was low. Would have flooded my tank, but controller has automatic shut off after 2min of pump running so it did not. I specifically dialed in the flow rate low with a ball valve in my refill hose so it would take a long time to top off 1g

 

i have the jbj and its been working great. its backed up with a apex as a shut off if it fails. i have heard tunzes are a good unit. they do come with the pump so really you have to factor that into its higher price. only bad thing i read about the tunze is the photo eye having a problem with micro bubbles in a sump. but if your sump is divided in sections, i cant see that as a problem, just dont put it in the area where the return water hits.
i probably would have bought the tunze if i had researched ato's a bit more when i was buying. they have a great reputation for not failing in the on position. has to do with the photo eye.

 

I don't think it matters too much if:
A: you have two float switches, one to turn the feed on when the water is low and off when at level. And a second emergency switch to turn the feed off if the first switch gets stuck on.

B: A slow pump, peristaltic or aqualift etc.. so when both switches fail, or something else happens, such as a restriction in your overflow etc... it dosn't overfill your tank too fast and dilute your salinity.

 

been using this one for almost 2 years and not a single problem so far.

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Works with any pump you want to use, just mount the float switch at the desired level, plug it in and go.