Brian1313 Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 So I am looking to DIY a 2ish gallon size ato reservoir for my 20 gallon tank. I want something that i can hide under the tank in the stand as I have a toddler and dont need her playing in the water ha! I found this garbage can that is the perfect size. I want something tall and skinny as there is not a lot of room under my stand. I think if i drill a hole in the lid and feed the tube through it it should be just fine. I have the IM Hydrofill ATO https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JYTMNJM/ref=twister_B07JZS5J1M?_encoding=UTF8&th=1 Thoughts? Quote Link to comment
Christopher Marks Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 That should work out just fine! Pretty much any container will do, as long as it can hold water. Quote Link to comment
WhatsReef Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 I mean anything will work really. Something glass is kind of nice so you can see the water level. I'm using a 5 gallon wide-mouth brewing container thing. 1 Quote Link to comment
vegasgundog Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 You could use any clear plastic storage container with a snap on lid. 1 Quote Link to comment
banasophia Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 You may want something white or clear so you can see if it starts getting funky inside over time... also may want food grade if it’s plastic so it doesn’t leach anything. I’m not using an ATO at this time, but I was using one of these below. I use the extras for my saltwater/distilled. Not sure if they are available individually though. Quote Link to comment
wetsocks Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 I use a narrow semi-clear Rubbermaid container, I think it is used for cereal etc. The top fits snug to keep kalkwasser fresh. Holes are drilled into the top for the ATO wire and tubing. Quote Link to comment
Brian1313 Posted February 20, 2019 Author Share Posted February 20, 2019 Thanks everyone gonna research some of these ideas Quote Link to comment
05XRunner Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 I have been using this for some time https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007M0NOZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I think it holds like 3.5g or so Quote Link to comment
Superdave Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 I used something simliar to this for mine: https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Plastic-Slimline-Container-2-5-Gallon/dp/B007AORIGI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1550632709&sr=8-3&keywords=water+container+for+refrigerator+with+spout Yes, it has the spigot, but you could also seal it if you were worried about it. What I liked is the lid opening was wide and could drop in a small fountain pump. I went the powerhead/pump route as opposed to air pressure method. Quote Link to comment
xthunt Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Ive been using a cereal container I picked up at Walmart. Holds right at 2 gal. One end of the lid I drilled for the line, and the other end flips up to fill it. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Large-Cereal-Dispenser/16206980 1 Quote Link to comment
RemoGaggi Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 I don't have an ATO yet, but when I do, I'm planning on using one of these clear restaurant food containers. They are cheap, food safe, come in all different sizes, and have snap on lids. You can pick these up at any restaurant supply store locally. I currently use one as a salt container for my instant ocean salt. They look like these: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/3087/food-storage-containers.html?filter=color:clear Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 check Uline...they might have some high volume clear containers or buckets you can use. as a small DIY project, get a food grade 5 gallon bucket and cut a strip out of it and then seal it with a piece of clear acrylic. Quote Link to comment
choconut74 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Never understood why plug and play reservoirs sell for hundreds when you can get something like a garbage can or custom make a glass box for a fraction of the price. Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 1 minute ago, choconut74 said: Never understood why plug and play reservoirs sell for hundreds when you can get something like a garbage can or custom make a glass box for a fraction of the price. because it's specialized...and if it's custom, as mentioned previously, it doesn't have the volume which is needed for better pricing tiers. Quote Link to comment
jservedio Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 On 2/20/2019 at 10:09 AM, Friendly said: as a small DIY project, get a food grade 5 gallon bucket and cut a strip out of it and then seal it with a piece of clear acrylic. I never understood why you need a clear container for your ATO. I've been using an orange homer bucket for like 7 or 8 years and used an old spackle bucket before that. If you shine a flashlight at the side of it or just turn an overhead light on, you can see very clearly where the water level is. Or, you can just do like I do and wait until the pump is sucking in air (peristaltic pump - no harm in sucking air), which makes a lot of noise, and then fill it back up. 1 Quote Link to comment
Superdave Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 I will add I spray painted my clear/blueish container black on nearly all sides, save for a vertical section/sliver on one end. This allowed me to easily see water level and, if need be, shine flashlight to illuminate the interior. Mostly I did this though as I was getting some green algae developing in the container, which was coming from both the Kessil and window a few feet away. 1 Quote Link to comment
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