Manual Water Top Off

[Brayreef]

Whenever I add distiiled water from a gallon jug into my tank the water becomes oily. I'm honestly not sure if that would even be the correct term but thats all i got lol. Is it normal? Or should the distilled water i add into the tank be clear? After a couple seconds the water goes back to normal. Im wondering if that is a sign of ammonia in the tank.

[StevieT]

You are seeing fresh water mix with salt water.

 

Or your distiller isn't wet enough. But I'm going with different density of fresh mixing with salt.

[Pinner Reef]

It's the salinity difference, or possibly temperature. Perfectly natural. Wait I have a perfect example.

 

 

That's a "saltwater stream" under fresh water.

A better one... He's above the salt water line

[mattyfelts]

Am i the only one who flipped out at those pics.

[Benny314]

That is an amazing photo of the diver.

This is why an ato is a good idea, instead of one big sudden input of fresh water, water is added as it evaporates preventing salinity swings. My new system is loosing 2 litres overnight currently (open topped 3x2x2) and I am adding it all at once in the morning when I get home from work or when I get up, then topping up small amounts during the day when I'm in. You have to be careful not to shock your fish and corals.
Thinking I might set up a 2 litre bottle just dripping over night as a stop gap solution until I get my controller finished that will handle the ato.

[Brayreef]

Oh it all makes sense now lol. Im was considering setting up a gravity fed ato but ive heard mixed things about it.

[moores38]

Awesome photos!

[Benny314]

That was my plan but finding space for a decent sized reservoir and being easily able to fill it isn't easy when it needs to be higher than the sump and I ended up just partitioning off the end of my sump so I can run a little 12v pump in it as I am building an arduino controller that will make it a little easier to monitor etc.

A float valve has got to be more reliable than a float switch, as long as the float is big enough to counter the weight of water pressing on the valve it's all but idiot proof. Like your toilet cistern, as soon as the water level drops a little the valve will allow water in to replace it.

[Brayreef]

I might just suck it up and get a hydor smart level or nano tunze osmolator

[Benny314]

The hydor does look interesting as it doesn't have a float switch to fail. The AutoAqua Smart ATO looks good too.

[LongDoggy]

Tunes nano ATO has been amazing. Highly recommend.

I to use to experience the water swirleys when dumping in my distilled top off water. Felt like it was so harsh, the ATO does a simple little squirt like every hour or so and keeps my water line spot on!