ATO as part of refugium?

[Jekyl]

Going to be custom building a refugium using a 55 gallon tank to be used for my 90 gallon reef tank. Should/can I use part of the refugium for an ATO or would separate be the way to go? Also any suggestions on what has worked best on your personal refugium would be appreciated.

 

[ndrwater]

You can for sure. Just be sure to make the ATO area well sealed off from the rest of the fuge. If it we're me, I would not only have a top to bottom partition, but I would also have some sort of sealable lid if at all possible.
I know salt creap can get just about everywhere, and in my ATO reservoir isnt a place I would want salt to get..
Post up some pix when you get thing rolling. I'm sure you aren't the only one in this type of situation.

 

[Daniel Waters]

Going to be custom building a refugium using a 55 gallon tank to be used for my 90 gallon reef tank. Should/can I use part of the refugium for an ATO or would separate be the way to go? Also any suggestions on what has worked best on your personal refugium would be appreciated.

I personally prefer having a separate container. One benefit of a separate container is this allows you to place the ato container in a more accessible location. I use an old 15 gallon aquarium with a glass top that sits beside my main aquarium. It's very easy to pour water into from my 5 gallon buckets of water I fill up from my RO reservoir. If your stand is open enough, then having a container underneath the stand would be fine also.

The other reason for using a separate container is this will give you more space / volume for your refugium in your 55 gallon tank you are converting.

 

[Jekyl]

That makes sense. Still feeling out where I can cut costs and where I shouldnt. Just starting to buy everything and sticker shock is everywhere I look it seems lol

 

[Daniel Waters]

That makes sense. Still feeling out where I can cut costs and where I shouldnt. Just starting to buy everything and sticker shock is everywhere I look it seems lol

No need to buy a fancy acrylic container for your top off. Go to Petco and buy a cheap 10 to 15 gallon aquarium during their $1 per gallon deal they run. Buy the glass top cover (it will have a plastic or similar end that slides into the glass top). You can cut a small corner from that to run your tubing. This will give a perfectly good auto top off for less than $25 and should look fine next to your stand (or behind it if you have room).