automatic topoff system
- Thread starter goldrush
- Start date
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
That's a lot of head height. Why don't you have your sump in the basement?? Could you perhaps put the reservoir under the stand with the sump? Side cabinet?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldrush http:///t/395839/automatic-topoff-system#post_3525145
I Make My Water In The Basement And Store It In A 35Gal. Container. No Room To Keep It Upstairs. Sump And Refugium Are Under Display tank.
Hi,
Just a note of caution...safety first and all.
Don't attach your ATO to anything but a holding tank, and holding only as much (SHOULD it malfunction) freshwater it can dump in, and still be safe...for me that was 20g for my 90g. A slim container stood next to my tank, and I put egg-crate over the top to allow the air to circulate, then I topped the entire thing with a small tablecloth so it wouldn't look bad (the tank is in my living room)...it just looked like a small table, I had to tell visitors to not put anything on that table...it was just an illusion, but it worked.
You must not attach an ATO to your main RO holding tank that refills on it's own...it becomes an endless supply of freshwater, and it would take maybe 1 night while you are sleeping, to kill everything in the tank including the rock. One little snail on a sensor can do so much damage, and there is a host of other possible reasons for a sensor to malfunction besides.
Originally Posted by goldrush http:///t/395839/automatic-topoff-system#post_3525145
I Make My Water In The Basement And Store It In A 35Gal. Container. No Room To Keep It Upstairs. Sump And Refugium Are Under Display tank.
Hi,
Just a note of caution...safety first and all.
Don't attach your ATO to anything but a holding tank, and holding only as much (SHOULD it malfunction) freshwater it can dump in, and still be safe...for me that was 20g for my 90g. A slim container stood next to my tank, and I put egg-crate over the top to allow the air to circulate, then I topped the entire thing with a small tablecloth so it wouldn't look bad (the tank is in my living room)...it just looked like a small table, I had to tell visitors to not put anything on that table...it was just an illusion, but it worked.
You must not attach an ATO to your main RO holding tank that refills on it's own...it becomes an endless supply of freshwater, and it would take maybe 1 night while you are sleeping, to kill everything in the tank including the rock. One little snail on a sensor can do so much damage, and there is a host of other possible reasons for a sensor to malfunction besides.
goldrush
Member
Thanks for all the ideas. Putting the sump in the basement presents another problem-pumping all the way back up to display tank. I'm trying to find an inexpensive external pump with a 8-10' head. I will also not connect it to anything more than a 5 gallon pail even though the ATO I'm considering has 2 sensors. One for the sump and one for the source, along with guards so a snail cannot disturb the mechanism. I'll keep you posted.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldrush http:///t/395839/automatic-topoff-system#post_3525413
Thanks for all the ideas. Putting the sump in the basement presents another problem-pumping all the way back up to display tank. I'm trying to find an inexpensive external pump with a 8-10' head. I will also not connect it to anything more than a 5 gallon pail even though the ATO I'm considering has 2 sensors. One for the sump and one for the source, along with guards so a snail cannot disturb the mechanism. I'll keep you posted.
5g??? I would just manually top off the water. I have a JBJ ATO sitting in the garage, because it was such a hassle to bother with the holding tank. All I ended up doing was filling the holding tank = manual top off.
When I had a reef, I wanted everything very stable, so I got the ATO. Now with seahorses (FOWLR) I just top off the tank, and put the ATO away. With a 5g holding bucket, you just made more work for yourself, to go down the stairs and fill your bucket back up....The ATO is supposed to save you work, and make your system more automatic and needing less human care, you defeat that purpose if you make more work for yourself.
Originally Posted by goldrush http:///t/395839/automatic-topoff-system#post_3525413
Thanks for all the ideas. Putting the sump in the basement presents another problem-pumping all the way back up to display tank. I'm trying to find an inexpensive external pump with a 8-10' head. I will also not connect it to anything more than a 5 gallon pail even though the ATO I'm considering has 2 sensors. One for the sump and one for the source, along with guards so a snail cannot disturb the mechanism. I'll keep you posted.
5g??? I would just manually top off the water. I have a JBJ ATO sitting in the garage, because it was such a hassle to bother with the holding tank. All I ended up doing was filling the holding tank = manual top off.
When I had a reef, I wanted everything very stable, so I got the ATO. Now with seahorses (FOWLR) I just top off the tank, and put the ATO away. With a 5g holding bucket, you just made more work for yourself, to go down the stairs and fill your bucket back up....The ATO is supposed to save you work, and make your system more automatic and needing less human care, you defeat that purpose if you make more work for yourself.
goldrush
Member
Good thought. I use about a gallon a day. My idea was to keep the 5 gal. next to my 30 gallon in the basement. Pump from the 5 in case of a mishap. I'm trying to avoid bringing up a gallon of water every day. That way I could just keep the 5 filled from the 30 which is right next to it. A pump with a 10' head would keep me from having to haul ANY water upstairs.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by goldrush http:///t/395839/automatic-topoff-system#post_3525515
Good thought. I use about a gallon a day. My idea was to keep the 5 gal. next to my 30 gallon in the basement. Pump from the 5 in case of a mishap. I'm trying to avoid bringing up a gallon of water every day. That way I could just keep the 5 filled from the 30 which is right next to it. A pump with a 10' head would keep me from having to haul ANY water upstairs.
OOOO...I understand now. My RO is in a 3g holding tank under my kitchen sink. The open spot made for soap was converted with a little faucet, it just refills as it's used... It is a little hard when I want water for water changes because of the 3g limit, but I have a 37g plastic garbage can (marked FISH ONLY) in a kitchen corner. I fill it a little at a time until I have the amount of new water I want.
I just get out my gallon jug, and go top off my tanks. I also fill the 3g jug for my drinking water dispenser, and get what I ant to cook with or fill the coffee maker from that same handy little RO tap. I can't imagine going all the way to the basement for water....maybe you could move your RO unit to a more acceptable spot in the upstairs.
Originally Posted by goldrush http:///t/395839/automatic-topoff-system#post_3525515
Good thought. I use about a gallon a day. My idea was to keep the 5 gal. next to my 30 gallon in the basement. Pump from the 5 in case of a mishap. I'm trying to avoid bringing up a gallon of water every day. That way I could just keep the 5 filled from the 30 which is right next to it. A pump with a 10' head would keep me from having to haul ANY water upstairs.
OOOO...I understand now. My RO is in a 3g holding tank under my kitchen sink. The open spot made for soap was converted with a little faucet, it just refills as it's used... It is a little hard when I want water for water changes because of the 3g limit, but I have a 37g plastic garbage can (marked FISH ONLY) in a kitchen corner. I fill it a little at a time until I have the amount of new water I want.
I just get out my gallon jug, and go top off my tanks. I also fill the 3g jug for my drinking water dispenser, and get what I ant to cook with or fill the coffee maker from that same handy little RO tap. I can't imagine going all the way to the basement for water....maybe you could move your RO unit to a more acceptable spot in the upstairs.