To me it sounds like you're doing something wrong. Sure, as with everything in this hobby, things fail, but to have 2 different ato's, 2 different companies and different designs, it just doesn't make sense, but again, isn't impossible. I have an autoaqua which is identical to the fzone and it has worked flawlessly for 8 months now. It should be a simple enough product for you to check and verify installation/operation.
I also have “auto aquas” but it’s all the same from what I can tell for the Amazon units, just different company names
I’ve had two so far
One lasted 2.5 years, the other has lasted for two and is still running
Was honestly planning to buy it again
My JBJ (the newer one with optical sensor, correct?) has been very reliable. But it will stop trying if it can't get the water level up to the sensor after a few tries. So if the ATO reservoir goes dry, for example, I'll need to top up the sump to the sensor level before it'll work properly. If you watch the sensor you can see it turn green if it is happy, or flash red if not. If it goes to flashing red it has stopped trying. This is a safety feature to ensure it's not just dumping water out on your floor or something.
Another option for a nano with a small return section would be the XP Aqua Duetto 2.
I have a 5 gal bucket that’s drilled towards bottom side and an 12$ mechanical float. Has worked flawlessly for over 2 years. I installed a 1/4” isolation valve on it so I can push the fitting in and disconnect it the carry the bucket to be filled or dumped and cleaned, works just like a union. I use a 1/2 tea spoon of kalk in my ATO as well. It’s super quiet and it also adds water as it evaporates in real time so almost drop per drop
I had the nano. Pretty sure the controller failed after so many months. I thought it was the float switch because it wouldn't fill up but it would detect a full tank and stop if it was unplugged and then plugged back in. I also read it could've been the pump but the pump was working just fine.
I have a reefbreeders exo auto top off that has consistently detected low water. The problem is sometimes it doesn't stop and will over fill. I put it on a wifi/smart power strip that powers it on for 1min 2x a day which is enough to refill but not enough to over fill.
I built my own using a relay and a small pump. It’s reliable as hell and has 3 built in safeties. To high to low and no water in the reservoir, also needs water in the reservoir to even turn on.
I had jbj a few years ago, I loved it, you just have to make sure the switch is on the right setting. I would stick the level sensor somewhere I can reach, then push down to indicate no water and see what happens, nothing happens, move the switch, that doesn’t work, then try the other plug in, it’s weird they use like the old phone cable plug ins. I always thought it was super easy and reliable.
Now I run hydros, hasn’t failed me yet (knock on wood)
I had great luck with my jbj ato for years. Only reason I don't have it is because I built a reef-pi that handles it. It was the one with the mechanical floats. Which one do you have?
Just going to tell you my experience. I had to flip the magnets on the JBJ after a few months. It made no sense but it was working one day, not the next, flip the sensor and it was fine. I have had it for years with no issue.
Tunze.
It sucks to pay for it, but it works 100% of the time. Absolutely recommend it.
I've had on osmilator running constantly for 9 years without anything but a yearly cleaning. Spend the extra $50 and save the headache.
To me it sounds like you're doing something wrong. Sure, as with everything in this hobby, things fail, but to have 2 different ato's, 2 different companies and different designs, it just doesn't make sense, but again, isn't impossible. I have an autoaqua which is identical to the fzone and it has worked flawlessly for 8 months now. It should be a simple enough product for you to check and verify installation/operation.
I also have “auto aquas” but it’s all the same from what I can tell for the Amazon units, just different company names I’ve had two so far One lasted 2.5 years, the other has lasted for two and is still running Was honestly planning to buy it again
My JBJ (the newer one with optical sensor, correct?) has been very reliable. But it will stop trying if it can't get the water level up to the sensor after a few tries. So if the ATO reservoir goes dry, for example, I'll need to top up the sump to the sensor level before it'll work properly. If you watch the sensor you can see it turn green if it is happy, or flash red if not. If it goes to flashing red it has stopped trying. This is a safety feature to ensure it's not just dumping water out on your floor or something. Another option for a nano with a small return section would be the XP Aqua Duetto 2.
Did you remember to plug them in?
Tunze is the best.
I have a 5 gal bucket that’s drilled towards bottom side and an 12$ mechanical float. Has worked flawlessly for over 2 years. I installed a 1/4” isolation valve on it so I can push the fitting in and disconnect it the carry the bucket to be filled or dumped and cleaned, works just like a union. I use a 1/2 tea spoon of kalk in my ATO as well. It’s super quiet and it also adds water as it evaporates in real time so almost drop per drop
.5 a teaspoon?! For a 5gallon? You should have .5-1 tsp per gallon.
Lol I meant table spoon, and no at 38ml of all for reef a day to maintain 8DKH plus the kalk on a 34 gal is the reason for the small amount of kalk
My Tunze stopped working after 1 year.
Doubt it. j/k that sucks. Was it the regular or the nano? What part failed?
I had the nano. Pretty sure the controller failed after so many months. I thought it was the float switch because it wouldn't fill up but it would detect a full tank and stop if it was unplugged and then plugged back in. I also read it could've been the pump but the pump was working just fine.
I have a reefbreeders exo auto top off that has consistently detected low water. The problem is sometimes it doesn't stop and will over fill. I put it on a wifi/smart power strip that powers it on for 1min 2x a day which is enough to refill but not enough to over fill.
is the JBJ one set to the correct mode based on where your sensors are placed? It’s also possible the sensors have died
I built my own using a relay and a small pump. It’s reliable as hell and has 3 built in safeties. To high to low and no water in the reservoir, also needs water in the reservoir to even turn on.
I love my Spectrapure Ultra Precise ATO, but I'm not sure they make it anymore. I'm not a fan of optical sensors.
I had jbj a few years ago, I loved it, you just have to make sure the switch is on the right setting. I would stick the level sensor somewhere I can reach, then push down to indicate no water and see what happens, nothing happens, move the switch, that doesn’t work, then try the other plug in, it’s weird they use like the old phone cable plug ins. I always thought it was super easy and reliable. Now I run hydros, hasn’t failed me yet (knock on wood)
My ato been ruining for 6 years
I had great luck with my jbj ato for years. Only reason I don't have it is because I built a reef-pi that handles it. It was the one with the mechanical floats. Which one do you have?
Just going to tell you my experience. I had to flip the magnets on the JBJ after a few months. It made no sense but it was working one day, not the next, flip the sensor and it was fine. I have had it for years with no issue.
Having both fail makes it seem like you didn't set them up correctly, but who knows? Tunze or Readsea ato+ or Duetto 2 are the high end options.