I want to get a ato for my 10g. What would be a good type to get? Does the jbj come with everything but the pump and tubing? Or should i do it my self if so whats a good way to do it? If i were to bvuy oen i would want to spend 100 or less.

I would buy the best ato you can find, like tunze or elos.

So the diy aren't as good as a jbj. So with some tubing and a pump the jbj will work.

ive been using a autotopoff.com unit for over a year with no problems.

I can't say I agree with this. As much as I believe in buying quality, spending hundreds on an ato isn't worth it to me. I have used an autotopoff.com unit for years with great sucess.

The keys to me is that it has a snail guard. I had my jbj stay on from a snail and flood my tank.

My autotopoff.com unit with tubing and the pump ran like $60

I've never heard of any problems with the top end ato like tunze and elos. I've read too many horror stories with the cheaper ato's and that you should invest in the high end ones. I know the elos runs for 20 sec max so you never have to worry about over flowing which is a nice feature.



The key is to never buy a jbj ato. Those things are so unreliable.

A bad ato is something that can ruin a tank which is why so many people recommend spending more on a ato.

So whats a good pump to go like 5 feet. Well whats a good ato then?

I have a ATO from www.autotopoff.com and I got my tubing from Home Depot and a Maxi jet 1200 no problems at all.

mj1200 will work just fine. ive got a 900 pushing about 9 feet. it pushes up 6 feet oevr 3 feet.

if you can swing it a gravity fed ato is the best. you just need a conveinent place to put the container. i diy one and was accurate to a mm for less than $10

Just wanted to say I have a JBJ ATO for over a year now and I have not had any problems with it.

I've used the jbj for over two years. It's important to periodically clean the float switches because they can jam with salt and calcium buildup. Be sure to use the two-float configuration - one in the tank and one in the top-off bucket.


--bubbles

The best thing to do is to get your water supply within 3ft of your tank top. This way you can use an aqualifter. It would take a long time for my aqualifter to add my full two gallon jug of freshwater.

Unreliable, ehh?? Do you have PERSONAL experience with this?? I've had one myself for a year and a half now, and it works PERFECTLY! Never had a sensor failure nor an incident where it didn't work as it should. Basically your statement above is FALSE and of no basis since it sounds like you've never owned one in the first place. Better think before inserting foot into mouth next time.

That said, I also have an Aqua-Hub semi-DIY ATO and it works just as well as my JBJ unit I have, but costs LESS THAN HALF the price which is great! Both ATO's I have hooked up to a timer to prevent failures and they come on every 6 hours for 5 minutes at a time. NOT enough time to empty my 8g water reservoir into the tank accidentally.

The point here is that the best and most expensive is NOT necessary. And keep in mind, the Tunze uses electronic optical sensors which are JUST AS likely to fail as mechanical float switches.

Alright i am doing a diy one. My dad is going to make it.

Yep, friends jbj sensors went out twice and kept flooding his tank. JBJ does not make quality ato's, just ask around man. You have a cheap ato, no shame in it but it's the truth.

You're dead wrong about the tunze. Show proof that they are just as likely to break down. If you think you can compare jbj with tunze and elos, then you are full of yourself.

I think I prefer the use of an air pump to pressurize the top off container but my topoff is in a 2L bottle right next to the tank so it doesn't take a whole lot to move.

Electronics are electronics and WILL fail equally. You won't see much talk about failures because people are embarresed to admit the supposed "best" failed on them. Just some food for thought bro! If you think for a second that a Tunze unit has never failed, then YOU are the one that's full of themselves.

Let me ask you, if my JBJ operates PERFECTLY for the time I've had it, what's the point in spending twice as much for the SAME result?? A $100 pump? No thanks!! BTW, lest you forget that the beloved Tunze uses a FLOAT SWITCH for the backup sensor?? Not smart since according to you, that should fail FIRST anyways. Then when the opticals fail, bye bye floor and carpet!

My dual float switch ATO from autotopoff.com was money well spent!!! I love it!!!
I use an Aqualifter as well.

I'm looking into making a system with a timer that turns on a pump, forcing water into the tank, but I'm not sure if I need just a Toms Air Pump or an Aqualifter? (or are they the same?)

Anyone help me?

I agree with under the sea. I have a swing arm style one from kent marine. Works great and there is no pump involved. I just drilled a hole in my sump, attached the float valve, and plumbed it to my container. As long as the container is higher than your swing arm float, it will work great!

I love my Tsunami AT1... my LFS runs 15 of them, never once have they failed (knock on wood)!

Another bonus is that it's a lot cheaper than the competiton at under $75. JMO

I use JBJ ATO for $69 and aqua lifter for $13. Also, go to JBJ web site for FQA.

http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod-ato-faqs.html


JBJ makes good ATO for a reasoanble pricesand it fittes perfectly with mine JBJ 28G nano stand.