Tell me about your ATO Reservoir

[JCM]

Mine is a Home Depot bucket. ;-)

I see I'm not the only classy member here

 

[Subliminal]

I see I'm not the only classy member here

Stay classy, San Diego!

 

[fishyjoes]

I use a 2.5 gallon "beverage dispenser" container that sits above my sump, controlled by a float valve.
This is enough top off water to last me about 3 weeks. My tank is 20 gallons with a ten gallon sump, both kept covered as much as possible to limit evaporation.

 

[woodyarmadillo]

I use a 2.5 gallon "beverage dispenser" container that sits above my sump, controlled by a float valve.
This is enough top off water to last me about 3 weeks. My tank is 20 gallons with a ten gallon sump, both kept covered as much as possible to limit evaporation.

That cover is definitely helping then. I have an IM 14 gallon with a mesh screen lid and a 2.5 gallon ATO. I go through just about 2.5 gallons in a week.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So both times this happened to me, it was when I turned the return pump off, so the water level was up in the rear chamber and the line was sitting in the water. 99% of the time this never happens but for some reason my pump did this but haven’t really heard about others having this issue. If you keep the ATO water line higher than where your water level is when the return pump is off, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Luckily, this only happened to me while I was working on the tank so I caught it pretty quickly. Having an ATO is a must long term in my opinion. I would do some research and buy a good quality one so you can feel confident that it won’t fail.

Siphon breaks are also simple to put into place.

 

[Bigair]

I just built up one with auto refilling system, 2 water level sensors plus 2 timer reliases, the box is only 2 g, since it will be refilled when water reaches lower sensor, I don not care much of the size. actually the smaller, the fewer bacteria accumulated in the reservoir.

previously I pumped water directly from my RO machine, DI dies quite fast due to tds creep. now I’ve fixed this problem by bypass 3 minutes RO water and then direct it to DI bottle, all is controled by 2 reliases.


I also considered several thing go wrong, when water reach lower sensor, the ATO pumper will be cut off. a overflow hole on the top of the box, and a mually button to run ro water befer DI.

a whole day work but now satisfied.

 

[mjw011689]

This happened to me twice. Just keep your ato water line above your tanks water line.

Late to the party, but that’s why a lot of ato kits come with a siphon break that you install in line. Basically just a plastic piece that has a hole pointing back down into your reservoir, so when the pump stops, it breaks the siphon.

 

[woodyarmadillo]

Late to the party, but that’s why a lot of ato kits come with a siphon break that you install in line. Basically just a plastic piece that has a hole pointing back down into your reservoir, so when the pump stops, it breaks the siphon.

Hmmm. Thanks I’ll look into this. It was a Tunze nano and the instructions were kind of exhausting to read so I just figured it out. I may have missed that. Thanks again.

 

[mjw011689]

The Neptune at

I have this in the 15 and 5 gallon size, absolutely love them and can’t find anything bad to say!

anyone seen a slightly smaller version of this? 5 is too small, but the 15 is pushing the absolute limit of space I’ve got. The 15 would fit, but it would be all the way to the door and wouldn’t leave much room on the side

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Hmmm. Thanks I’ll look into this. It was a Tunze nano and the instructions were kind of exhausting to read so I just figured it out. I may have missed that. Thanks again.

Just punch a small hole in the tubing.

 

[merkmerk73]

Following

In particular because I need one that is blacked out to stop algae growth

Although - does algae grow in RO/Di water that has no nutrients..?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Following

In particular because I need one that is blacked out to stop algae growth

Although - does algae grow in RO/Di water that has no nutrients..?

Unless your container is airtight, stuff will get into the water. And yes, algae can grow.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Hello Friends of Reef2Reef! I would like to hear about your ATO reservoir. What do you like? What do you dislike? What would be "ideal"? What do you look for in a reservoir and what type of reservoir would make your life easier? Help us help you the user with a product that will suit your needs!

Please make something in 10g and larger! I have 5 of your 2k ml dosing containers they are great! and I would love to have the same design in an ato resivor. black with 3 clear sides with easy to read measurements on the front with a wide lid for easy refill from a 5 gallon bucket pour. Also a small lid in the top twords the back with a small notch cut out for ato pump to drop in and hoses and wire to sneak out. Having a small lid and opening to drop the pump in would be great for pump replacement. I always have water trapped under my container it would be great to have a small air gap under the ato resivor so the water doesn't just sit under there. A few size options in the same volumes would be awesome also, maybe some sizes fit better for people. I'd love up to 20 gallons for larger tanks and less fill ups. icing on the cake would be something to hold pumps steady or the tubes or wires in place sometimes when I refill it knocks my pump over and I have to reach in and lay it back flat, idk I'm just rambling ideas out hopefully you get something going I would be very interested in your products!

 

[woodyarmadillo]

Just punch a small hole in the tubing.

In the tubing inside of the reservoir? Or in the tubing in the back of my tank?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

In the tubing inside of the reservoir? Or in the tubing in the back of my tank?

Top of the curve

 

[Derrick0580]

The Neptune at

anyone seen a slightly smaller version of this? 5 is too small, but the 15 is pushing the absolute limit of space I’ve got. The 15 would fit, but it would be all the way to the door and wouldn’t leave much room on the side

Pretty sure 5 and 15 is all they come in

 

[aSaltyKlown]

This was on my old 20g, a pretzel container.


I use a dog food container for my 40, it holds 7g.

 

[Simplicity Aquatics]

Thank you all for your feedback. I look forward to releasing something in the future that hits as many of these thoughts and desires as possible, except perhaps $300 for $10 worth of acrylic