Advantages of an ATO?

[Tigerman]

I've got a 5 gallon tank and thinking about getting an ATO. What's the advantage? Is there any difference then me just added fresh water daily by hand? I just don't know if it is worth the money or extra piece of equipment in my tank.

 

[CodyRVA]

Keeps your salinity more stable, less of a swing compared to manual top offs. If you have to leave for an extended period of time, you don't have to worry about manually topping off, just keep your reservoir filled.

 

[PatW]

An ATO has advantages over hand adding RODI. Sometimes we forget. Also we generally add only once per day. And we might be a little inconsistent in what level we fill to. A good ATO can add several times per day and is more consistent than a human operator. An ATO will maintain salinity at a more constant level. Oceans have very consistent parameters. Marine organisms do better when parameters are kept constant.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

If you just have fish, meh. If you have corals, omgherd yes!!

 

[reefwiser]

On such a small tank the salinity can change really fast due to evaporation. Big tanks change very slowly and that is their advantage.
So ATO's are especially important on small aquariums. Water stability is a great factor of success in a saltwater aquarium

 

[DamianOZ]

On such a small tank the salinity can change really fast due to evaporation. Big tanks change very slowly and that is their advantage.

not true, all else equal, the evaporation will be equal percentage of the volumes

 

[ash9965]

lets not forget the Lazy Factor one less thing to worry about my entire Top off system cost me less than 20 bucks floater valve set up off ebay and 2 5 gallon water Jugs with some tubing attached works great only have to fill once a week. Also comes in handy when going out of town on vacation.

 

[Bunnee911]

And, you can dose kalkwasser from there.

 

[Oceansize]

Why add fresh water to your tank daily when you can add it to your reservoir only twice a month? With more consistency and stability of your salinity too. This is also how I dose magnesium.

 

[Tigerman]

lets not forget the Lazy Factor one less thing to worry about my entire Top off system cost me less than 20 bucks floater valve set up off ebay and 2 5 gallon water Jugs with some tubing attached works great only have to fill once a week. Also comes in handy when going out of town on vacation.

Can you elaborate on this ebay system? I don't feel like spending 100 bucks on one and it's not much of a hassle for me to do it daily manually. I have a top on mine so the evaporation is minimum.

 

[smh254]

I've got a 5 gallon tank and thinking about getting an ATO. What's the advantage? Is there any difference then me just added fresh water daily by hand? I just don't know if it is worth the money or extra piece of equipment in my tank.

I was thinking the same thing whether or not I to get an ATO. This is the best nonessential items I have on my tank. I am so glad I picked one up it just makes everything easier.

 

[Oceansize]

Can you elaborate on this ebay system? I don't feel like spending 100 bucks on one and it's not much of a hassle for me to do it daily manually. I have a top on mine so the evaporation is minimum.

There has to be a pump of some sort involved, can't do it with just two buckets and a float valve. Unless I'm missing something; it's hard to understand Ash' post without more punctuation.

 

[smh254]

Can you elaborate on this ebay system? I don't feel like spending 100 bucks on one and it's not much of a hassle for me to do it daily manually. I have a top on mine so the evaporation is minimum.

If you want to get a super cheap you could always put a container of RO DI water above your tank in just do a slow drip

 

[den75]

There has to be a pump of some sort involved, can't do it with just two buckets and a float valve. Unless I'm missing something; it's hard to understand Ash' post without more punctuation.

My guess would be the reservoir is above the sump or tank and gravity fed once the float valve opens.

 

[den75]

If you want to get a super cheap you could always put a container of RO DI water above your tank in just do a slow drip

No way you would ever match your evaporation rate with the drip. Especially when that rate can fluctuate.

 

[donnievaz]

not true, all else equal, the evaporation will be equal percentage of the volumes

That's not entirely true. It's going to be dependent on the ratio of surface area to volume.

 

[reefwiser]

not true, all else equal, the evaporation will be equal percentage of the volumes

http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/reefing-edge-week-2
http://saltwateraquariumhobby.com/s...byists-should-avoid-starting-a-nano-aquarium/
The evaporation rate in an aquarium changes sometimes daily and your goal is always to have a stable water chemistry. Small changes can and will be a big deal in a small tank as you are not playing with a lot of water here. I know having kept reef's for 35 years now I have a lot easier time with my big reef tanks than my small ones. You are on the knife's edge with a small tank as things can go bad real fast.

 

[Lynn52]

This is what I use on both my tanks. It is cheap and easy. It is a gravity system.

http://www.amazon.com/Eshopps-AEO19...461361254&sr=1-1&keywords=eshopps+float+valve

 

[DamianOZ]

http://www.coralmagazine-us.com/content/reefing-edge-week-2
http://saltwateraquariumhobby.com/s...byists-should-avoid-starting-a-nano-aquarium/
The evaporation rate in an aquarium changes sometimes daily and your goal is always to have a stable water chemistry. Small changes can and will be a big deal in a small tank as you are not playing with a lot of water here. I know having kept reef's for 35 years now I have a lot easier time with my big reef tanks than my small ones. You are on the knife's edge with a small tank as things can go bad real fast.

Go get your self two different volume containers, where the W:H:L. ratios are equal. Fill both with sea water, leave then outside for a week, measure the salinity, then come back and tell me I'm wrong

 

[reefwiser]

Don't have too. [emoji3]