Apex Lite & ATO what do I need?

Hey all, I'm planning on buying an Apex Lite for various reasons, and I'm trying to grasp what all I'll need to buy to make it do what I want.

The confusing part for me is the ATO. From what I understand I need to buy or make a breakout box in order for a float switch to work with the controller.

Will I be over-spending on parts I don't need if I buy this DA Float Switch kit?

Or can I just buy an i-float switch and Mold-a-holder from from Aqua Hub and be set for 10 bucks less?

I already have a few AquaLifter pumps, airline tubing and a bucket. Anything else I'm forgetting?

 

You don't need the DA kit, just a float switch. Take a look at autotopoff.com if you want to do it that way. Really though, i think your better off doing the ATO independent of the controller. Controllers have a software link to the ATO, not a direct hardware link. The hardware link is always going to be less prone to failure, but just my .02. If you do use the APEX you'd need a breakout box, although, I'm not as familiar with the lite version and whether or not it can do it. I seem to remember that the lite couldn't, but I may be wrong...

 

My understanding is that the only differences between the Apex and the Lite are that the Lite doesn't have ORP or variable speed capability.

So you should be able to buy a breakout box (~$40) and one or more float switches (I use the Madision 8000 - ~$12) and do everything a manufactured ATO can do.

I say "one or more" because you need at least one for the sump to detect when water goes down so it fills and you may want one in the fresh water make up tank to make sure you've got water to fill with. You may also want a high water cut off in case the first float switch gets stuck. It all depends on how much fail-safe you want built into the system.

You can also use the one in the fresh water tank to trigger an alarm when it gets low so you get notified.

 

My return pump loses a lot of head pressure, I cant really go with the normal method since the water level fluctuates in the return chamber (or too lazy to figure out). I call it semi-ATO, I use a cheap powerhead from Petco as a pump from the RODI reservoir to the sump 4~5 seconds every hour. It's working fine for at least 6 months

 

Hey! Funny thing, I am building an ATO system with my Apex on Wed.

I purchased:
4x Float Switches
1x Apex Breakout Box
2x Float Switch Holders
1x Pico Pump

I got my stuff from Autotopoff.com & MarineDepot.

 

Avast marine ATO kit = solved.

 

The upside to the Apex is you can add water sensors, this can become helpful in case of a water leak.

 

^ I forgot about it +1!!

 

you know, I was thinking of doing something like that since my evaporation is pretty much the same every day. Do you have some type of fail safe incase the pump doesn't turn off and keeps filling with fresh water?

thank you! I wanted to make sure BC sometimes I forget one part then have to pay shipping twice lol!

Thanks, that seems perfect! My only problem is I feel salty spending 80 bucks to be able to ATO as I'm paying 400 for a controller that's supposed to be the bees knees Haha

 

NP,

Always draw out your plans before you click "Purchase"