Auto Top off Container???

Snelly40 · 04-17-2007, 12:01 PM

hey guys, well i installed my auto top off last night, wow these are really needed on a bigger tank huh!!!!

anyway, all i need is to slide in a container and pour in some RO water, my question is regaurding safety. I know you guys have mentioned certain containers to stay away from. Is rubbermade ok, or is there something in specific i should look for or stay away from???

i was thinking any of these...
18 Gallon Tote Blue Streak

14 Gallon Roughneck Tote

these kind of things ok?

Snelly40 · 04-17-2007, 12:31 PM

not sure if i have space for those however, what if i used a trash bin, new of course, so i can utilize the height of the stand?

Frankie · 04-17-2007, 03:12 PM

I think any inert plastic container is ok for fresh water top off. Rubbermaid is fine.

Snelly40 · 04-17-2007, 03:29 PM

ok, just making sure, i know there can be things to look for when storing salt water or mixing salt water, so i just wanted to make sure nothing would harm my toip off water.
thanks

Woodstock · 04-17-2007, 03:58 PM

Food grade plastic is always best. You may get po4 leaching from the smaller trash cans. Keep an eye on any new algae issues....

Snelly40 · 04-17-2007, 05:20 PM

is there food grade plastic that is big enough for auto top off, i'd love if it could hold a couple of gallons at least. i have an area in the stand that is about 15x10 and as high as the stand, tanks

what about something like a cooler, or large tupperware?

Woodstock · 04-17-2007, 05:32 PM

I've used all sorts of plastic containers for ATO with no issues. But I've not used ro/di water; I've mixed kalk water in them. The calcium in the kalk will bind with po4 and settle out of precipitation. Thus, I have never had any algae issues. Pure ro/Di water can absorb nasties pretty quickly. Just like soaking new carbon in ro/di; the ro/di will remove a lot of the po4 from it....

Snelly40 · 04-17-2007, 05:57 PM

iif i mix in my calcium and alk in the conatiner, is that better, less chance of any absorbtion?

Phyxius · 04-17-2007, 08:59 PM

I used 5 gallon buckets for my Tunze ATO systems with no problems. I then made a side cabinet to house a bunch of equipment and needed a custom size like you mentioned. I had this made to fit in the spot I needed and it holds 11 gals of RO/DI water and is 8 1/2" x 17" x 18"H. Made with acrylic so no worries about anything leaching into the tank. Granted it costs more but will last awhile
Look for anything food grade and you should be fine and something durable. Nothing worse than a container of RO/DI water splitting/cracking and dumping all out. I know some things made by sterilte are really brittle and crack prone.

Frankie · 04-17-2007, 10:55 PM

Nice box Mike!

Phyxius · 04-17-2007, 11:06 PM

FFrankie,
Thanks. I sent the measurements and idea of what I needed off to a guy in Ohio that someone suggested and was a little aprehensive when he told me the cost (really cheap) but gave the go ahead. I was more than impressed when I got it a few weeks later and the hinged lid was a plus plus the holes for ATO lines I mentioned to him. It was made to fit in my cabinet here:

Snelly40,
Sorry to side track your post some.......

Woodstock · 04-18-2007, 10:09 AM

Nice Mike!!

boozeman · 04-18-2007, 11:03 AM

that sure is sweet

Snelly40 · 04-24-2007, 09:28 AM

WOW!, thats nice...
no u didnt sidetrack at all, right in line with what i need.
for the mean time i am using a water jug from my lfs that holds 5 gallons, i used to use it to trasnport RO/DI from the LFS, so i just cut part of the top off it so i could add the pump .

could i ask how much that box cost you? and where u got it?

BigAl07 · 04-24-2007, 09:35 AM

I'm with Snelly on this one! If you don't want to post out in the "open" maybe you could PM us that guys information! Would be a GREAT resource to have for future projects.

Allen

04-17-2007, 12:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Auto Top off Container??? hey guys, well i installed my auto top off last night, wow these are really needed on a bigger tank huh!!!! anyway, all i need is to slide in a container and pour in some RO water, my question is regaurding safety. I know you guys have mentioned certain containers to stay away from. Is rubbermade ok, or is there something in specific i should look for or stay away from??? i was thinking any of these... 18 Gallon Tote Blue Streak 14 Gallon Roughneck Tote these kind of things ok? __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

04-17-2007, 12:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? not sure if i have space for those however, what if i used a trash bin, new of course, so i can utilize the height of the stand? __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

04-17-2007, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? ok, just making sure, i know there can be things to look for when storing salt water or mixing salt water, so i just wanted to make sure nothing would harm my toip off water. thanks __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

04-17-2007, 03:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto Top off Container??? Food grade plastic is always best. You may get po4 leaching from the smaller trash cans. Keep an eye on any new algae issues.... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

04-17-2007, 05:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? is there food grade plastic that is big enough for auto top off, i'd love if it could hold a couple of gallons at least. i have an area in the stand that is about 15x10 and as high as the stand, tanks what about something like a cooler, or large tupperware? __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

04-17-2007, 05:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto Top off Container??? I've used all sorts of plastic containers for ATO with no issues. But I've not used ro/di water; I've mixed kalk water in them. The calcium in the kalk will bind with po4 and settle out of precipitation. Thus, I have never had any algae issues. Pure ro/Di water can absorb nasties pretty quickly. Just like soaking new carbon in ro/di; the ro/di will remove a lot of the po4 from it.... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

04-17-2007, 05:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? iif i mix in my calcium and alk in the conatiner, is that better, less chance of any absorbtion? __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

04-17-2007, 08:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Phyxius Ricordea Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 186 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? I used 5 gallon buckets for my Tunze ATO systems with no problems. I then made a side cabinet to house a bunch of equipment and needed a custom size like you mentioned. I had this made to fit in the spot I needed and it holds 11 gals of RO/DI water and is 8 1/2" x 17" x 18"H. Made with acrylic so no worries about anything leaching into the tank. Granted it costs more but will last awhile Look for anything food grade and you should be fine and something durable. Nothing worse than a container of RO/DI water splitting/cracking and dumping all out. I know some things made by sterilte are really brittle and crack prone. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------- 210g upgrade finally done. SPS, LPS and room to grow.

04-17-2007, 11:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
Phyxius Ricordea Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 186 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? FFrankie, Thanks. I sent the measurements and idea of what I needed off to a guy in Ohio that someone suggested and was a little aprehensive when he told me the cost (really cheap) but gave the go ahead. I was more than impressed when I got it a few weeks later and the hinged lid was a plus plus the holes for ATO lines I mentioned to him. It was made to fit in my cabinet here: Snelly40, Sorry to side track your post some....... __________________ ---------------------------------------------------- 210g upgrade finally done. SPS, LPS and room to grow.

04-18-2007, 10:09 AM	#12 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto Top off Container??? Nice Mike!! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

04-18-2007, 11:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto Top off Container??? that sure is sweet __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

04-24-2007, 09:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
Snelly40 Manta Ray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,098 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto Top off Container??? WOW!, thats nice... no u didnt sidetrack at all, right in line with what i need. for the mean time i am using a water jug from my lfs that holds 5 gallons, i used to use it to trasnport RO/DI from the LFS, so i just cut part of the top off it so i could add the pump . could i ask how much that box cost you? and where u got it? __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

04-24-2007, 09:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,549 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto Top off Container??? I'm with Snelly on this one! If you don't want to post out in the "open" maybe you could PM us that guys information! Would be a GREAT resource to have for future projects. Allen __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

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