sprite Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Hard to make myself spend the money for an ato no more than what it is, when I can do it basically for free. So i printed my own holder and cap to tidy it up a bit. Last pic the bottle is just sitting propped up in the return chamber and it’s been working awesome so I am keeping it but with the stand I made 3 Quote Link to comment
farkwar Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 Nice job I need to get mine built and up and working. Creality 10 that is Quote Link to comment
Jakesaw Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 I've seen this setup a few times and to me it makes total sense for a Freshwater setup. With a Saltwater aquarium where salinity range is a consideration, I always figured that when the salinity will dilute via osmosis with the water in the bottle mixing at surface contact. So defacto your reservoir water bottle and tank will lower mix to a lower salinity when you put on new bottle, and as tank water evaporates salinity will normalize to your mixed saltwater and repeat the cycle on refill Perhaps the small water amount isn't enough water to be problematic to your system, Have you been testing your salinity before and after filling bottle on tank. I'd be curious how much numbers change. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 I'd be interested to see that, too. My thinking is, saltwater is heavier than freshwater, and that's a pretty small nozzle. Rain puddles actually form on top of the ocean, and stay there for a bit before absorbing- sea snakes drink them. I think those two factors might help counteract the mixing, and I don't think you'd end up with the whole bottle as salty as the tank. Not in any reasonable amount of time, at least. But I'm curious if there's any effect at all. Quote Link to comment
farkwar Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 5 hours ago, Tired said: and I don't think you'd end up with the whole bottle as salty as the tank That's not really the problem If the hypothesis is true The freshwater is diffusing into the salt water Lowering the specific gravity. At least until the remainder of the ATO reservoir empties(then it will be equalized at starting SG) Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I'm inclined to think that what would happen in practice is a layer of salty water in the bottle, right around the cap, and the rest of it unaffected. Which would mean the tank would be largely unaffected. For the tank to have a notable change, the bottle would have to have a notable change. And I think the narrow entrance, density of saltwater, and the fact that water is periodically going out of the bottle (and pushing any saltwater in the nozzle out) would make it difficult for much of the bottle to be affected. 1 Quote Link to comment
Jakesaw Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 My Apology for missing the cap with modification on the ATO bottle. I saw pic and went to prior example I had in my head with a wide open cap in tank water. However, I'm still curious of the result on water bottle and tank. If the owner of tank had a refractometer, it'd be easy to test the SG of water bottle after a day or so in the tank for confirmation. Does Osmosis balance dissolved salt in water bottle and the tank or not. Inquiring minds want to know. Quote Link to comment
Tired Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Yeah, I'd love to see, too. Hey, @sprite! Can you do some testing and see what's going on? Quote Link to comment
sprite Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 Salinity isn’t changing 1 Quote Link to comment
sprite Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 I’ve been running this for 3 weeks is working great 1 Quote Link to comment
jefferythewind Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 I'd like to know technically how it works, can really figure it out just from the pictures. 1 Quote Link to comment
farkwar Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 It works like a barometer Or a pet drinking bottle. Or a 5 gallon drinking dispenser By a vacuum in the container which holds the liquid inside the container There are two tubes coming out of the ATO reservoir On short, one long When tank water evaporates, it lowers the water level in the tank. This exposes the short tube to air, a few bubbles of air escape into the bottle. The water this displaces, flows out the longer tube into the tank. Raising the tank water level, closing off the short tube to air. Ok, double checked the OPs pics. His tubes are almost the same length. The commercial version I have seen has two notably different lengths of tubing 2 Quote Link to comment
jefferythewind Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 i like this system, and the bottle is over the water so worst that can happen it it spills into the tank water. im designing a sump and thinking about automating the ATO, love the power-free options. Quote Link to comment
jefferythewind Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 I wonder is @sprite has any desire to share his files for 3d printing?! Quote Link to comment
farkwar Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 15 minutes ago, jefferythewind said: I wonder is @sprite has any desire to share his files for 3d printing?! Dunno But you can buy it for $12 on Amazon $14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TFLF9N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_xAN1FbHRDCJAF 1 Quote Link to comment
lambogriffin Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Anyone still thinking of doing this.. I used this design for over 1 yr, 0 issues, and no potential for disaster. The top off water never statically contacts the saltwater, so there is no chance of mixing in between top off events, even tho the concern there is really minimal.. these things are sensitive and constantly toping off (ie. flushing out any mixed water) especially if your return pump chamber has a small footprint, which increases the rate of water level change due to evaporation. At any rate, similar idea, and could be better with the 3d printed mount. The air seal/water height tube is larger diameter and goes to the top of the reservoir to ensure air bubbles don't push water into reservoir, and the reservoir drain tube is normal airline tube. The airline tube sits over the water, not in it.. when the water level drops enough it breaks the seal on the larger tube and water from the reservoir drains into the tank. As soon as the enough drains to to cover the airlock it continues draining for a couple seconds and begins to vacuum up the larger tube until there is equilibrium. Materials used were.. dollar store turkey baster tube, airline tube, pet store reptile spray bottle, super glue. I think if someone made a solid 3d print of this it would win over the people who are skeptical of the mixing lol. 5 Quote Link to comment
SaltyGallon Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 On 12/13/2020 at 8:15 PM, farkwar said: Dunno But you can buy it for $12 on Amazon $14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TFLF9N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_xAN1FbHRDCJAF This lol. Used one on a nano and it was ace - super simple but super reliable. Quote Link to comment
Diego Allen Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 On 12/6/2020 at 9:42 PM, sprite said: Updated This is my hobby and I love doing various experiments with my aquarium. I am currently studying at the university and doing an internship at school. I need to write a lot of academic papers, which is helped by the company https://edubirdie.com/top-writers where I found a lot of top writers who can write both essays and an individual lesson plan. I like this system. Quote Link to comment
JachPot Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Welp, I stumbled upon this thread. I have CAD experience and a 3 printer. I guess I'll get to work on making a version of this. 1 Quote Link to comment
MartianArmada Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Nice print! I don't have a 3d printer myself but I have a good few friends with them. I have enough hobbies as is! Anyway, I am actually in the process of drafting up a design of my own for a gravity-fed ATO for my Recife 24 AIO. It's threaded to accept a large mouth mason jar, and has holes the right size to be threaded for a nylon 1/2npt fitting. From there, I'll add on some hose to the fittings and cut to length: The slots on the bottom are sized to allow it to sit level on the back of the tank and the divider between the tank/return section. Hopefully I'll get this printed here soon and give her a go! 1 Quote Link to comment
JachPot Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 1 hour ago, MartianArmada said: Nice print! I don't have a 3d printer myself but I have a good few friends with them. I have enough hobbies as is! Anyway, I am actually in the process of drafting up a design of my own for a gravity-fed ATO for my Recife 24 AIO. It's threaded to accept a large mouth mason jar, and has holes the right size to be threaded for a nylon 1/2npt fitting. From there, I'll add on some hose to the fittings and cut to length: The slots on the bottom are sized to allow it to sit level on the back of the tank and the divider between the tank/return section. Hopefully I'll get this printed here soon and give her a go! Let us know how that goes, I'd probably just print that version instead of making my own. Quote Link to comment
MartianArmada Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 14 minutes ago, JachPot said: Let us know how that goes, I'd probably just print that version instead of making my own. If it works I'd be glad to share! Quote Link to comment
jefferythewind Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 i just had an idea to just hold the tubes with one of those standard holders and run them to the outside of the stand where I will mount a water container to refill. Quote Link to comment
Knap_123 Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 On 12/13/2020 at 2:15 PM, farkwar said: Dunno But you can buy it for $12 on Amazon $14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083TFLF9N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_xAN1FbHRDCJAF I ordered one for my 3.5 so can’t wait to try it! Wish I had the know how and equipment to make my own like op. That’s really cool bro Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.