SoCalJake Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 RO into cup, take cup to tank, pour cup in tank. Retina floats control the amount added. Quote Link to comment
NanoNewb2011 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 (edited) Why spend the money on an ATO? When a dosing pump is about the same price and does much more? I bought a bubble magus dosing pump, measured how much my tank evaps over a day and now dose that volume over 24 hours. I also gained 2 other channels to dose 2 part. All that for the price of most ATO. Got my bubble magus dosing pump on ebay for $250 new in box As long as your light cyle stays the same and your house temps stay fairly constant your evap wont change. Been doing this for a lil over a month now and my tank stays steady at 1.026. I of course monitor my salinity to make sure im still dosing the right amount of RO but you'd want to do this with an ATO also just to make sure things are working as they should Dont see the advantage of a stand alone ATO in most cases Works for me Edited August 30, 2012 by NanoNewb2011 Quote Link to comment
nano_tank Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Why spend the money on an ATO? When a dosing pump is about the same price and does much more? I bought a bubble magus dosing pump, measured how much my tank evaps over a day and now dose that volume over 24 hours. I also gained 2 other channels to dose 2 part. All that for the price of most ATO. Got my bubble magus dosing pump on ebay for $250 new in box As long as your light cyle stays the same and your house temps stay fairly constant your evap wont change. Been doing this for a lil over a month now and my tank stays steady at 1.026. I of course monitor my salinity to make sure im still dosing the right amount of RO but you'd want to do this with an ATO also just to make sure things are working as they should Dont see the advantage of a stand alone ATO in most cases Works for me Beautiful tank bro! Quote Link to comment
nano_tank Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Like this: Here's a clearer view from an experiment to determine if diffusion from salt to fresh water can occur in this setup (it doesn't): I've got more info. on this setup in my 'tank thread': http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=172031 This one is my favorite and the most creative!! Love the simplicity. Quote Link to comment
NanoNewb2011 Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Beautiful tank bro! Thanks, only 10 weeks old right now. Got alot more stuff to throw into it Quote Link to comment
patback Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Why spend the money on an ATO? When a dosing pump is about the same price and does much more? I bought a bubble magus dosing pump, measured how much my tank evaps over a day and now dose that volume over 24 hours. I also gained 2 other channels to dose 2 part. All that for the price of most ATO. Got my bubble magus dosing pump on ebay for $250 new in box As long as your light cyle stays the same and your house temps stay fairly constant your evap wont change. Been doing this for a lil over a month now and my tank stays steady at 1.026. I of course monitor my salinity to make sure im still dosing the right amount of RO but you'd want to do this with an ATO also just to make sure things are working as they should Dont see the advantage of a stand alone ATO in most cases Works for me an ato is 150-200+bucks cheaper than what you paid for the doser depending on whether of not you go brand name. I'd rather pay less and rely on some float switches have to constantly check and recalibrate the dosed amount of water. Which ato were you looking at that is this expensive if you don't mind me asking. I suppose if you needed a doser and had the available space it would be worth it, but not so in most nano reefers set ups. Quote Link to comment
chrssprngs Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Kent gravity feed for ATO and Kalk. Quote Link to comment
NanoNewb2011 Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) an ato is 150-200+bucks cheaper than what you paid for the doser depending on whether of not you go brand name. I'd rather pay less and rely on some float switches have to constantly check and recalibrate the dosed amount of water. Which ato were you looking at that is this expensive if you don't mind me asking. I suppose if you needed a doser and had the available space it would be worth it, but not so in most nano reefers set ups. I was looking at the SpectraPure Ultra-Precise Auto Top Off On BRS The tunze osmolator is also $200+. What ATO are you getting for 200 bucks cheaper then my $250 bubble magus? Thats an ATO for $50. I see people lecturing people in this hobby that you get what you pay for and see that same reason used for alot of people to spend the money on the "brand name" ATOs. So my point was instead of paying $200 plus for an ATO I thought it better to get a doser. I dont have to constantly be calibrating the doser? I just check my salinity frequently to make sure everything is spot on. I havnt changed my doser settings since i set it up 5 weeks ago and my salinity is stable. I just like to check it frequently because thats how I am. Checking with a refracto takes 10 secs. Better to check then to have livestock die because I didnt catch something that I could have (which I'd do the same if I had an ATO) I guess I should have said if your looking at a high end ATO consider getting a doser instead Edited August 31, 2012 by NanoNewb2011 Quote Link to comment
MeepNand Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I would love to get an ATO, but I use a carlson surge that literally takes out 1/4 of the water and pours it back in. Most ATOs are float switch powered, and those that rely on drips and timers are too unpredictable to trust. So I do a manual top off each day. Most reliable method IMO. Quote Link to comment
JamesHL88 Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I.top.off.like.po.folk.i.pours.it.wis.my.hanes. stfu so bored Quote Link to comment
patback Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I was looking at the SpectraPure Ultra-Precise Auto Top OffOn BRS The tunze osmolator is also $200+. What ATO are you getting for 200 bucks cheaper then my $250 bubble magus? Thats an ATO for $50. I see people lecturing people in this hobby that you get what you pay for and see that same reason used for alot of people to spend the money on the "brand name" ATOs. So my point was instead of paying $200 plus for an ATO I thought it better to get a doser. I dont have to constantly be calibrating the doser? I just check my salinity frequently to make sure everything is spot on. I havnt changed my doser settings since i set it up 5 weeks ago and my salinity is stable. I just like to check it frequently because thats how I am. Checking with a refracto takes 10 secs. Better to check then to have livestock die because I didnt catch something that I could have (which I'd do the same if I had an ATO) I guess I should have said if your looking at a high end ATO consider getting a doser instead 100 bucks http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auto-top-off...to-top-off.html 100 bucks http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auto-top-off...controller.html Easy DIY for under 40 http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auto-top-off...it-premium.html What I meant by checking daily is that a Doser will not discriminate against evaporation or over flowing. It is set to what you tell it to, so if today is 90* and a dry heat, when a rainy storm passes over and cools everything down and brings humidity, there will be a HUGE difference in evaporated water. Sometimes I find myself putting over half a gallon of water into my 10 gallon a day, and other times 1 gallon lasts me almost all week. I also top off like a poor person, distilled jug into the ac70 to let it mix about before hitting the corals. Quote Link to comment
JamesHL88 Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 A diy gravity vacuum style ato made out of a glass jar is the easiest, most reliable (with no moving parts), and cheapest (around $20) style of ato out there. Thats what im gonna go with once get up.off.my.po.folk.ass.........so bored Quote Link to comment
dormreefer Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Avast ATO currently a 1 gallon reservoir, I will probably get a 2 gallon one soon! Quote Link to comment
baldbean Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 (edited) 50 mL/min BRS dosing pump controlled by an apex jr and salinity probe. Edited September 17, 2012 by baldbean Quote Link to comment
I<3SPS Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Top off by hand Quote Link to comment
Deleted User 3 Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 I forget to top off... i have about a good 1.5 inches to top off right now. Usually I just mix water w/ salt in a bucket and pour as much as will fit back in if the salt is right, otherwise I just top off with a jug of distilled. Quote Link to comment
MikeTR Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 Ran 75 ft of tubing through the attic and using a UPLC to pull it over from the garage. Going to measure the amount of time it takes to top off 2 gallons and then program my apex to turn it on for that lenght of time. That combined with the pressure tube and float switch and float valve, i should have enough fail safes. There will be an unlimited supply of RO/DI.. well at least 40 gallons worth, enough to cause a flood. Quote Link to comment
slickwill613 Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I forget to top off... i have about a good 1.5 inches to top off right now. Usually I just mix water w/ salt in a bucket and pour as much as will fit back in if the salt is right, otherwise I just top off with a jug of distilled. Wait, you top off with salt water? Is your salinity through the roof? Quote Link to comment
YankeePete Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Wait, you top off with salt water? Is your salinity through the roof? +1 Quote Link to comment
Fragger Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 http://www.marinedepot.com/JBJ_Automatic_T...IDPETPU-vi.html I use an auto top off I got from marinedepot. its on sale now for $79. I got if for $99 months ago. and use toms aquatics pump works great $20 http://www.marinedepot.com/Tom_Aquatics_Aq...-FIOFOA-vi.html i cant imagine how I had to put 7 cups everyday. Soo much easier now. Quote Link to comment
wizardslovak Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 just get float switch http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Water-Horizon...ds=float+switch pump http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Lifter-3-5g...rds=aqua+lifter tubing http://www.amazon.com/Elite-Silicone-Airli...keywords=tubing container for fresh water .. got one 2gall from 99 c store .. its easily made and u can find lots of StepbSteps or DIY online if you dont know how to connect them .. Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 (edited) Randomly by hand after testing salinity Edited November 30, 2012 by Tamberav Quote Link to comment
Youngrvt Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 I don't top off, kinda new to this. At least new to doing it right I guess. I do weekly water changes at 2 gallons on a 12g nc. I haven't noticed much evaporation. I don't add any water in-between. Quote Link to comment
Purplemonkey Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Tunze osmolator Quote Link to comment
d0lph1n Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Reef Angel Single Sensor Quote Link to comment
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