Milkeeway Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 I have a 3 Gal JBJ Pico as some of you know, and I'm having a custom glass lid made because the Evaporation is pretty bad. I don't see it so much in the tank water level but my entire stand is covered in saltwater all around the tank! I just see little bubbles popping and jumpin out of my tank 24/7 so along with a glass lid I'd like to get an auto top off system going! Preferably DIY but if there is a pre built one at an affordable price id definitely consider it. I have a spare 5 gallon (square jug) the really common ones. I would like to use that 1) because I already own it so it won't cost me anything lol and 2) because it fits perfectly in my cabinet Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Make a custom glass lid too! GB! I found the popular DIY ATOs in the stickies on the DIY forum: Wet's Battery powered air top-off...$10. Sun Tea Jar Auto Top-Off Air Powered Auto Topoff Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 I actually got my glass lid done today for $8.00!!! I'm gonna check those out now Let me know which one you're gonna attempt Link to comment
ulver982 Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I used one from aquahub.com on my 2.5 gallon when I had it. It was cheap and worked great. I only used it with 1 float switch even though you can use it with 2 because I didn't have a sump. Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I actually got my glass lid done today for $8.00!!! I'm gonna check those out now Let me know which one you're gonna attempt wow, where? GB DUDE! Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I used one from aquahub.com on my 2.5 gallon when I had it. It was cheap and worked great. I only used it with 1 float switch even though you can use it with 2 because I didn't have a sump. I forgot about this option. Thanks. Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 wow, where? GB DUDE! I got it done at a local glass shop called Dandoy. Basically I took a piece of cardboard traced my tank and took it in, I had these very square cuts to fit around my skimmer intake and outlet, and he told me because of the angles it was gonna be like $60! So i suggested we just do this shape "D" basically just the bow front with a flat cut off and he was like yeah that'll be $7.50 plus tax haha and he did it while I waited about 5 minutes. I used one from aquahub.com on my 2.5 gallon when I had it. It was cheap and worked great. I only used it with 1 float switch even though you can use it with 2 because I didn't have a sump. I checked out their website, basically it's $40 for the float but you still need to buy a pump and tubing right?? I get confused! Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I got it done at a local glass shop called Dandoy. Basically I took a piece of cardboard traced my tank and took it in, I had these very square cuts to fit around my skimmer intake and outlet, and he told me because of the angles it was gonna be like $60! So i suggested we just do this shape "D" basically just the bow front with a flat cut off and he was like yeah that'll be $7.50 plus tax haha and he did it while I waited about 5 minutes. I checked out their website, basically it's $40 for the float but you still need to buy a pump and tubing right?? I get confused! Yeah it come switch all the components, except a pump and tubing I think. Looks like it might be kinda huge in our 3gals though... Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 I know this is kind of pricey but have you seen the JBJ Auto Top off? http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod-ato.html Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I know this is kind of pricey but have you seen the JBJ Auto Top off? http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod-ato.html I have...it is kinda pricey though...not sure what all it comes with either. I know you gotta buy your own container/pump. Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 I have...it is kinda pricey though...not sure what all it comes with either. I know you gotta buy your own container/pump. Container I have pump I do not! But I really like some of the safety features built in! The last thing I want is to come home to see that my crab somehow managed to get stuck on my float and it's been pumping 5 gallons of RO water onto my floor for the past hour! I know it's unlikely I just think for me personally it might be worth the investment! Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Container I have pump I do not! But I really like some of the safety features built in! The last thing I want is to come home to see that my crab somehow managed to get stuck on my float and it's been pumping 5 gallons of RO water onto my floor for the past hour! I know it's unlikely I just think for me personally it might be worth the investment! A guard on the switch will accomplish the same thing. You should go even more upscale... http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&...=-infoxunter036 Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 What product am I looking for? Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 What product am I looking for? Bad link. I fixed it! Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 No worries I ended up finding it my dumbness was looking for ATO when water level is right in front of me! Wow that thing is amazing! Seriously infrared to detect water level?!?!?1 That's just sick haha I'm totally getting that! Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 No worries I ended up finding it my dumbness was looking for ATO when water level is right in front of me! Wow that thing is amazing! Seriously infrared to detect water level?!?!?1 That's just sick haha I'm totally getting that! It would be ideal...they are as reliable as you can get...but you certainly have to pay for it... Link to comment
gritchie4 Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 how about you call tunze and get them to send you a free one to unbox and then you send it to me and ill test it for say the next few years or so Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 8, 2011 Author Share Posted April 8, 2011 I just watched a video about it (Makes me nervous cause there's some really professional sounding/looking reviewers out there!) One thing I like is although its $200 it comes with everything which I think all I have to do is drop it in my water jug and it's good to go which I like! Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 I just watched a video about it (Makes me nervous cause there's some really professional sounding/looking reviewers out there!) One thing I like is although its $200 it comes with everything which I think all I have to do is drop it in my water jug and it's good to go which I like! But it's still $200. Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 9, 2011 Author Share Posted April 9, 2011 I know!! But I'm such a sucker for the best of the best! I decided I'm going to buy a universal remote, harvest the IR sensor and build my own Tunze! Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 I wonder if the "Autotopoff Nano" would work... autotopoff.com has an optical sensor you could use...anyone have any experience with these? Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 I looked at it but it's $140 for that kind of money I'd rather go Tunze I thinn Link to comment
AustinV90 Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Lets face it the Tunze will last forever, and the JBJ is still fairly expensive. You can find a Tunze for under 200 if you look around Link to comment
Milkeeway Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 It's just a good product! I'll have to save up but that's about it Link to comment
Drift Monkey Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 I looked at it but it's $140 for that kind of money I'd rather go Tunze I thinn $125 for just the optical sensor. All you'd really need IMO...dual switches really take up a bunch of room in small tanks. Lets face it the Tunze will last forever, and the JBJ is still fairly expensive. You can find a Tunze for under 200 if you look around The Tunze is sweet, I almost snatched up a used one the other day. The JBJ works fine though, and can be found for quite cheap used actually...I might end up going this route. I just can't justify spending ~$200 at this time... Link to comment
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