Thinking about picking up a Tunze 3155 Osmolator Universal (Auto Top Off). Any input?

sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Hi all,
What do you guys think about the Tunze?? I have only heard good things about this unit. Is there any bad reviews out there that you know of? Is there anything I need to know about this ATO? Is there a different option (that may be more cost effective)?
I am slowly trying to get things automated on my 125g RR tank with 67g sump. I would also like to get a reef keeping monitor but I think that an ATO would be the next purchase to make life easier. I find that I need to top off about 2-2.5g/day and my return section in my sump is on the small side. If I miss just one day the pump starts to suck some air. Luckly I have only had that happen once.
Any thoughts are appreciated!!
TY
Ryan.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/388959/thinking-about-picking-up-a-tunze-3155-osmolator-universal-auto-top-off-any-input#post_3433743
Hi all,
What do you guys think about the Tunze?? I have only heard good things about this unit. Is there any bad reviews out there that you know of? Is there anything I need to know about this ATO? Is there a different option (that may be more cost effective)?
I am slowly trying to get things automated on my 125g RR tank with 67g sump. I would also like to get a reef keeping monitor but I think that an ATO would be the next purchase to make life easier. I find that I need to top off about 2-2.5g/day and my return section in my sump is on the small side. If I miss just one day the pump starts to suck some air. Luckly I have only had that happen once.
Any thoughts are appreciated!!
TY
Ryan.
Hi,
I love anything Tunze...I just think they are the best I guess.
For $99.00 I got a JBJ ATO and it works flawless. I don't know what Tunze is asking for theirs, most times the big names get the big bucks too....but the JBJ works great.
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Thanks Flower,
I will check into the JBJ ATO. For the $99.00 does it come with everything you need (aside from a RO water storage container)? Meaning a pump and all the good stuff?
The Tunze unit is double the JBJ in price. I would rather get something good but $200 is a lot to spend.
Quote:
Hi,
I love anything Tunze...I just think they are the best I guess.
For $99.00 I got a JBJ ATO and it works flawless. I don't know what Tunze is asking for theirs, most times the big names get the big bucks too....but the JBJ works great.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweatervest13 http:///t/388959/thinking-about-picking-up-a-tunze-3155-osmolator-universal-auto-top-off-any-input#post_3433748
Thanks Flower,
I will check into the JBJ ATO. For the $99.00 does it come with everything you need (aside from a RO water storage container)? Meaning a pump and all the good stuff?
The Tunze unit is double the JBJ in price. I would rather get something good but $200 is a lot to spend.
Hi,
It comes with two sensors, it has instructions to use it several ways...I don't remember now what they were. You do need a pump with either the JBJ or the Tunze. JBJ you also need a hose that fits the pump. I used a cheap ***** pump $20.00 and a plastic hose I paid $1.00 for at the hardware store. I got a tall plastic garbage can and never had a problem.
I used one sensor in the tank and one in the holding container, as soon as the water line drops the pump comes on and refills the tank to the right level. The second sensor was kept in my holding container and if it was too low the pump would not come on, preventing the pump from running dry damaging it.
The Tunze brand uses an electric eye to determin if you need the pump to run....so it's more high tech. The JBJ uses a float switch.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Yes optical sensor, but nothing is 100% fool proof as well, just the optical is a little more accurate IMO....
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I wouldn't spend the extra $ for the Tunze. Not for such a simple thing, especially when the JBJ version is half the price and most users like them.
If you're at all handy, ATO's are fairly easy to make yourself. My husband made ours and it ran us about $30-$40. He's a freak and likes creating new projects. If it were me, I would have just purchased the JBJ, but our LFS was out of them at the time, so rather than wait a week, hubby made one, lol
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/388959/thinking-about-picking-up-a-tunze-3155-osmolator-universal-auto-top-off-any-input#post_3434207
I wouldn't spend the extra $ for the Tunze. Not for such a simple thing, especially when the JBJ version is half the price and most users like them.
If you're at all handy, ATO's are fairly easy to make yourself. My husband made ours and it ran us about $30-$40. He's a freak and likes creating new projects. If it were me, I would have just purchased the JBJ, but our LFS was out of them at the time, so rather than wait a week, hubby made one, lol
So to keep our tanks running smoothly what we really need is a handy husband....wow, this hobby really is a money pit.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/388959/thinking-about-picking-up-a-tunze-3155-osmolator-universal-auto-top-off-any-input#post_3434207
I wouldn't spend the extra $ for the Tunze. Not for such a simple thing, especially when the JBJ version is half the price and most users like them.
If you're at all handy, ATO's are fairly easy to make yourself. My husband made ours and it ran us about $30-$40. He's a freak and likes creating new projects. If it were me, I would have just purchased the JBJ, but our LFS was out of them at the time, so rather than wait a week, hubby made one, lol
Agree on the money aspect of things, but off the shelf an optical sensor is highly more accurate than anything out there......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I've used the Tunze, but for my new setup I'm seriously considering the Spectrapure Litemeter to handle top off and automatic water changes......
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
That's what my husband made about 2 months ago. Ours does ATO and automatic water changes. He got the idea from the guy on RC using the osmalator, but then we went a different route.
The automatic daily water change has been a really nice addition to our tank
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
That's what I'm after the daily water change to minimize drastic changes......I feel though with the Litemeter I can precisely measure and have more precise control over the time period allotted for the function......Actually torn between the ReefFiller and the Litemeter.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
We have an exact amount of time that it's on scheduled through our controller at the push of a button. Timed to take out 2G and replace 2G, and turn the ATO off while the water change is occurring. Using the same brand and size pumps for new water and waste water helped to keep the amounts even. It works really well. I keep telling him to do a write up, as did the guy on RC. We had looked into the pre-made units, but with a baby on the way and just moving to a new home, it wasn't money we really had to play with.
 
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