Suggestions for an ATO

After doing research I went with the tunze. I think it's the best, I have a jbj, works fine in my nano, my 2nd one sucked and put 89g on my floor.

 

That was quick decision. I have the avast marine with the peristaltic pump and has been trouble free.Pumps to my tank from my basement over 25 feet without any troubles at all.

 

I just recently purchased a spectrapure one that works on the same type of principal. Haven't got around to hooking it up. Heard good review so I thought I would try it.

 

Over a year. Trouble free. Set it and forget it.

 

I spent even more than that on the tunze as I got the outlet adaptor and use the avast diaphragm pump. That avast pump rocks! i spent extra on the tunze because I like the optical sensor and not a float. After having 90g on the floor I went big. I think avast is good stuff though.

 

You are right, avast uses a pressure sensor for the main level, float for the high shutoff. Tunze has optical sensor for the main, also float for high shut off. I think they are both good. The tunze just has more feedback and I know a few people with them so I went with that. I think the optical sensor is more robust, pressure sensor can get plugged easier, trade off is cost.

 

Like I said I spent even more to get the switch outlet to run the avast pump. I also put another float valve even higher up from auto topoff dot com to shut that outlet off if both sensors fail!

 

autotopoff.com

 

Even if the pressure tube gets plugged the top off will not work because it reads pressure drops to turn on. If it is plugged there will be no drop in pressure for it to turn on.

 

Unless it somehow gets plugged when the ATO is turned on, like something crawling in, but the high water float should turn it off. If plugged when low and it doesn't turn on it's not as bad, but could still burn up a pump. Like I said it's a fine ato, I just think the tunze is a little better, but that comes with more cost.

 

Keep in mind a pressure sensor is still a mechanical sensor, it is a piston in a tube and the pressure sensor monitors the rise and fall of the piston. It's better than most mechanical devices since it is sealed, but at the heart it is still one.

 

If you go with the Tunze be sure to jiggle around the shutoff float every couple weeks because I've found that mineral buildup from spray can cause it to stick down. I have the 3155 version and really like it. I got it at about a 50% discount last black friday off of Bulk Reef Supply.

 

Honestly, I think it is hard to beat a good old float valve myself.

 

I am not saying float values can't work great for years, but in my personal experience I have had 2 float valves fail from JBJ (both at the same time and that flooded my room) and 1 autotopoff.com fail too. Just putting it out there.