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

[Irenicus]

Has anyone used this product or received any feedback regarding it?

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

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ler.asp?CartId=

[AnemicOak]

I'd be interested in feedback on it too.


I'm about set to buy this for topoff/kalk, but wouldn't mind knowing more about the JBJ unit...
http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/pr...nautilis2.html

[the_colonel]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I'd be interested in feedback on it too.


I'm about set to buy this for topoff/kalk, but wouldn't mind knowing more about the JBJ unit...
http://www.innovativeaquatics.com/pr...nautilis2.html

Brian,

You can usually find those on Ebay for less.

[AnemicOak]

Thanks JP, I'll look there if I decide for sure to get one.

[the_colonel]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Thanks JP, I'll look there if I decide for sure to get one.

I was looking before I decided to go with gravity feed and a Kent float valve. Seach for "Dosing Pump", "Med Pump", etc.... They may not be associated with aquariums.

[David Grigor]

IMO: Still isn't full proof. You would need to still go through the worst case scenarios, particularly what if the sensor fails in the on position ( which does occur and not just meaning a forign object like in the description ). Easiest is to make sure the topoff is a small enough container that if worst case it dumped the whole thing it wouldn't have a major impact. With also dosing Kalk you have to insure that if it where to stick on that it would add too much Kalk to fast.

With minor modifications to the overall system ( $20 ) this could become a pretty reliable. The additions I would make is on the output from the pump to reduce it down to 1/4" tubing at the end of it add the float valve. Being 1/4" also helps that a sudden rush of lots of top off at one time would be limited particularly with Kalk. If it did stick on, at some point the float valve would create enough head pressure it would stop the flow. Worst case in this scenario is it may burn out the pump if left unnoticed for days. However, I will say if using say a MJ they can be pretty tough cookies and have had them left on dry for long period of time and still keeps on ticking.

Another alternate is to still reduce it to 1/4" tubing to slow the sudden input but instead of float valve, use an electronic time where you can set up small 1 minute increments so you can fine too just how much max it could dump in a given day in a worst case scenerio.

Trust me there have been enough catatrotrophies using float switches just within our club over the last few years( for those that haven't been here that long ) to name two Scott Jenson lost entire tank because float switch failed on and overdosed his 75g with Kalk. Bill Brummuci overflowed the sump that destroyed a $300 pump. Luckily for Bill his water volumne is so large it didn't have a greate impact. All can be avoided by coming up with redundancy plans for all the different scenarios. You could go years without failure but it just takes once to loose thousands of $$ not to mention loss of animals lives.

[FastFish720]

So far I am quite satisfied with my Liter Meter III. They are a lot more expensive, but definately check them out.

[AnemicOak]

I was going to get the Litermeter III, but it seems like overkill for top off/kalk. Not sure what it would do that the other dosing pump wouldn't for that purpose? No doubt that the Litermeter III is top quality stuff.

[redwinger]

Originally Posted by FastFish720

So far I am quite satisfied with my Liter Meter III. They are a lot more expensive, but definately check them out.

I am very pleased with it also, well worth the investment for the piece of mind.

[AnemicOak]

I'm definately doing a dosing pump (Litermeter, other dosing pump). I think it would give you the maximum amount of time if something went wrong & stuck on.


Barry, if you decided on the JBJ unit I found someplace that has it cheaper ($85).

[Irenicus]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I'm definately doing a dosing pump (Litermeter, other dosing pump). I think it would give you the maximum amount of time if something went wrong & stuck on.


Barry, if you decided on the JBJ unit I found someplace that has it cheaper ($85).

Thanks Brian, I'll keep that in mind.

[FastFish720]

Oak- With the LM you have a different type of switch that controls the level in your sump. You can also control multiple pumps with it. It is also very precise.

[David Grigor]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I was going to get the Litermeter III, but it seems like overkill for top off/kalk.

Kalk is one of those mainstays now in my systems.....and IMO: There is no such thing as being overkill when it comes to Kalk. Kalk can be one of your best friends and yet your worst enemy if it were to overdose. While I'm not saying the LitermeterIII is the only way to go. It is sure a good investment for piece of mind when it comes to using Kalk. I like to use the additional $39 addon topoff switch that uses pressure ( no moving parts ) as a redundancy in case you either have it set too high and overtime increases the water level or if something were to go haywire with the unit ( although I have never heard reports of this ). Long term not for sure how well the reconditioned medical dosing devices are but most have a limit of just 1.8 gallons a day. For larger systems ( which was important the time when I bought it - now it's just on a 58g ) it just isn't enough. LitermeterIII can handle 99liters+ ( or more can't remember the max but it's way out there.)

[AnemicOak]

By overkill I meant paying for extra features I won't be using anyway. The Nautilis II dosing pump does up to 5 gallons a day and has a float switch option. Isn't that the same as the Litermeter setup? It just seems like they're the same thing. Granted the Litermeter has more advanced features, but they don't come into play for the simple top off/kalk aspect. Isn't the Litermeter just the same kind of pump repackaged for aquarium use?

I'm really wanting to make the right call on this. I have no problem forking out for the Litermeter III if there is a reason too. I just don't want to drop $300+ when I could go $190. If they're the same thing. Guess I don't understand enough about them at this point.


Thanks