Auto Top off Container???

[BigAl07]

Hey Snelly.. I have a question for you and anyone else who is using ATO.... is the amount of H2O added each day a small enough amount to where there isn't a temperature difference when it's added to the tank? Or is the ATO also heated to tank temp 24/7? The reason I ask is that I top off with pre-bottled RO water and it's at room temp. So I sit it on top of my lid until it's very near room temp and slowly add it each day into either my HOB Fuge (10g at home) or the back chambers of my 12g cube. Just wondering how the slight temp difference is accounted for with the Big Hitters in the reef world.

Allen

[bluespotjawfish]

You might also check out pet stores. There are several shapes and sizes of containers that hold food/water for dogs, cats, etc. I found Petsmart to have the best variety.

[Phyxius]

Sorry for the delay in reply. Like I said it costs more but it was under 100.00 shipped to my house. All the others I contacted charged a min of 175.00 to even start it as a custom order and then it was plus shipping. Great people to deal with at the place I bought it.
The guy I dealt with name was Paul from here
First Class Aquatics LLC - Custom Acrylic Aquariums, Vivariums and other reef related equipment.

[BigAl07]

Thanks for the information Phyxius. Wonder if I should contact them and ask them to sponsor RS as well! Looks to me like it would be an "investment". What ARE the guidelines for requesting this? Maybe THAT belongs in another thread!!

Allen

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by BigAl07

Hey Snelly.. I have a question for you and anyone else who is using ATO.... is the amount of H2O added each day a small enough amount to where there isn't a temperature difference when it's added to the tank? Or is the ATO also heated to tank temp 24/7? The reason I ask is that I top off with pre-bottled RO water and it's at room temp. So I sit it on top of my lid until it's very near room temp and slowly add it each day into either my HOB Fuge (10g at home) or the back chambers of my 12g cube. Just wondering how the slight temp difference is accounted for with the Big Hitters in the reef world.

Allen

Allen there are a couple of factors that come into mind that may help answer this question. First, how big is the volumn of water that the top off is being added to. In my 90 gallon w/ a 15 gallon fuge I don't worry about a big, if any, fluctuation in temperature, so I don't heat my top off. By the time my water level in my fuge drops below the sensor and with the surface area of my sump it might amount to less than 1/2 gallon. These small additions of top off water are not enough to change the temperature of the overall water volumn. One must take into consideration the volumn and surface area of the sump and the total volumn of water in the system. The smaller the system the more apt the temperature is going to fluctuate.

The time of year and ambient temperature of the room should also be considered. My top off tank sits on a cold slate floor and in the winter the water can be much cooler than the tank water. In summer there may not be such a difference in the tank and top off water temperatures.

[Snelly40]

the ATO adds small enough amounts where i do not have it heated, it doesnt even change my overall temp by a tenth of a degree in my 90 gallon. I'd say in total my container holds 5 gallons and it takes about 4 days before i add more to it, but keeps me from getting those annoyng bubbles if it gets to low, and i add my calcium additive into the top off water so that gets added slowly and effectively as well!!!

[BigAl07]

Well with my tanks I am dealing with only a few ounces a day and I keep the top off water in close proximity to both of my tanks. Room temp which is usually 70 or so. I haven't noticed any change in temp from just a daily top-off but I was curious as to how everyone else was handling that. You know what they say about "Curiosity" and that dang cat

thanks for the input!!

[KimPossible]

Good info in this thread!

[Snelly40]

for anyone who is thinking about an ATO, i highly recomend it, for a cheaper mod, it is very effective, great for adding calcium suppliments and it is a great relief for any of us who have come home and had some evaporation and their are air bubbles everywhere !!!!

[Dentoid]

Hey Snelly are you adding kalkwasser to your top off or calcium chloride? What dosage?

[Woodstock]

**Moved to Equipment section and stickied**

[Snelly40]

thanks Woody

i actually do not use kalk, i use seachem premium calcium and seachem alkalinity.
tehy are both dry, i use similarly to a two doser and add them at different times, but i like the effect from both and the keep a very constant ph, calcium, alk and other minerals

[BigAl07]

Ok I have to admit I have jumped in way over My headp in this conversation.

How do I know when to dose? What to dose? I don't dose anything! I just add fresh RO H2O to keep a constant water level. Am I just missing the boat or is that in the "advanced" area of Reefing?

Allen

[Snelly40]

ur ok, it took me some reading too, all top off water shuold be fresh (RO/DI) b/c the salt in ur system does not evaporate with the water, and if u add saltwater back in on a regular basis then u get the Dead Sea on your hands and salinity skyrockets

[BigAl07]

Yeah I totally understand that aspect of it. But I am wondering about dosing for this and that (Which are things I am not even CHECKING for).

Per the LFS when I started with my FrogSpawn and BrainCoral they suggested I test my calcium and dose as needed. As of yet have NOT needed any since my readings stay constantly in the 420 - 460 range thus far.

I just don't want to dose just to be dosing but I also don't want my tank(s) to suffer due to my ignorance. I guess I mean if it's not broke no need to fix it.

Allen