Thoughts on these 2 ATO systems-->

JBJ JBJ A.T.O. - Automatic Top Off System Water Level Controller

Tsunami Tsunami Auto-Top Off Aquarium Water Level Controller - eBay (item 290269650141 end time Aug-18-09 06:12:10 PDT)

or other suggestion? Preferably something inexpensive (besides DIY). After messing with the lighting, building (still) this sump/fuge I've had enough of DIY for a lil bit! ;D

 

i just bought a 15 dollar float valve and a 5 gallon gravety fed bucket, works great!

 

The JBJ is a decent unit from what I've heard. Lots of people like them. I would never run an ATO without a backup float valve/sensor. I've read about too many floods, tank crashes etc from stuck float valves or sensors.

 

explain your float valve

 

Man, I have heard all about the horror stories of float valves failing, but find it very odd that I can't come up with a single thread about it. Everyone says it can happen, and they wont do it because they heard bad things could come from it . . . but why can't I find a single thread on any forum about a float valve failing and causing a disaster in someones tank?

For the record, I have a float valve installed in my sump hooked directly to my RO/Di unit. I went this direction as I want my tank as automated as possible, and I know of a few people locally that have had success doing it this way for years.

~Will.

 

+1 on above... i guess the horror stories are more of "what could happen".

 

I'm sure either could fail.
I have the JBJ and it does a great job. I have a top off tank in the garage with a hose through the wall to my sump. It has been working great since I got it earlier this year.

 

For my needs, I found the perfect solution. It's a $12 float valve connected to my RO/DI. This requires your RO/DI system have an ASOV (which most have). The kicker, or insurance; call it what you will--is a $39 NC (normally closed) solenoid valve.



You can get the solenoid valve here for $39.


I recommend setting the valve to run for an hour, twice a day; 12 hours apart. This way you get the best of both worlds: the consistency of salinity brought upon by an ATO system, combined with nearly perfect fail safe security against flooding. This means, for catastrophe to occur, you must have failure of your float valve, AND your solenoid valve. You probably have a better chance of winning the lottery two weeks in a row.

So now, even if the float valve fails (not likely), your RO/DI is only going to run for an hour. For most, this means about 4 gallons--NOT enough to flood your house. You have 12 hours to monitor the system. Say you leave for work, and the float valve stem snaps a second after you leave. Your auto top off system will only fill the tank for an hour, then will shut down. When you get home 10 hours later, you have ample time to inspect things and catch the problem before catastrophe.

IMO, it's the perfect balance between relatively low cost and very high security. Between the float valve and the solenoid switch, it's less than $55. That's hard to beat.

 

what a great fail safe, I might have to pick up one of those sometime soon.

~Will.

 

Autotopoff.com has some pretty reliable ATOs as well. Ive heard nothing but good things about them and plan on getting one of their units for my upgrade.