ATO fill system for my large tank

Miami Reef · Jun 5, 2022

260 gallon display. I only have room for a 20 gallon ATO. I manually fill it every 4-5 days from my RODI. I have to set a timer on my phone for 1 hour to remind me to close it.

I don’t know. I feel like I’m not being so efficient with such a small ATO. I’d ideally want to have a larger brute can, or maybe a way for the system to automatically fill itself. The RODI system is right next to it on the right behind the left wall

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Jun 5, 2022

Definitely put a lid / cover on the 20 gallon so you don't lose any fresh water to evaporation. I have a 90 and go through about 5 gallons a week (in Houston, so similar humidity/AC use). Using a taller, narrower container can also be helpful -- less surface area for evap.
I keep 5 gallon jugs of RODI stored to fill my ATO... I refill them every time I make RODI for water changes.

Uncle99 · Jun 5, 2022

You could at least double that size giving you 8-10 days RODI water. I’m 250G and fill a week. I keep it to these number of days to mitigate any effects of a malfunction of ATO.

Same with dosers, just a weeks worth.

Everything gets filled Sunday.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Jun 5, 2022

Uncle99 said:
You could at least double that size giving you 8-10 days RODI water. I’m 250G and fill a week. I keep it to these number of days to mitigate any effects of a malfunction of ATO.

Same with dosers, just a weeks worth.

Everything gets filled Sunday.

How much top off water do you use in a week?

Uncle99 · Jun 6, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
How much top off water do you use in a week?

20 gallons in 7 days.
No lids.

blaxsun · Jun 6, 2022

I added an external IM Hydrofill 15-gallon that tops up the internal 7-gallon on my 200-gallon system. This gives me roughly a week of RO topup.

lost66 · Jun 6, 2022

I have 240g DT and 20g RODI tank. I use the same ATO. I refill my rodi tank each 7-10 days. My setup is fully enclosed so stand and canopy.

Your setup looks new so it may not be an issue yet but I just noticed something and I think you really should do something with that. It screams for a disaster.

Miami Reef · Jun 6, 2022

lost66 said:
I have 240g DT and 20g RODI tank. I use the same ATO. I refill my rodi tank each 7-10 days. My setup is fully enclosed so stand and canopy.

Your setup looks new so it may not be an issue yet but I just noticed something and I think you really should do something with that. It screams for a disaster.

Thank you. I noticed that but I didn’t really think anything of it.

I will have that fixed. That doesn’t look safe long term to me.

lost66 · Jun 6, 2022

Miami Reef said:
That doesn’t look safe long term to me.

In a long term the stress from that place may break the seal. I read horror stories about that. That other gap on the side shouldn't be a problem though.

ZombieEngineer · Jun 6, 2022

Can you run a tube from your tank to where your RODI reservoir is located?

ReefCheef · Jun 6, 2022

Miami Reef said:
260 gallon display. I only have room for a 20 gallon ATO. I manually fill it every 4-5 days from my RODI. I have to set a timer on my phone for 1 hour to remind me to close it.

I don’t know. I feel like I’m not being so efficient with such a small ATO. I’d ideally want to have a larger brute can, or maybe a way for the system to automatically fill itself. The RODI system is right next to it on the right behind the left wall

I had a similar problem. 20 gallons is a rough size for a topoff container on anything larger than about a 120g tank.

I ended up putting in a mixing station under my RODI in the adjacent room. I went oversized with two 200 gallon vats - one for saltwater mixing and one that is set to auto fill with RODI. 65 gallons from tractor supply would work great for you (my tank is 450g). Get a good ATO pump (i use the spectrapure and it works miraculously well A+). I can go on vacations for a month with that much water made up and some auto feeders.

Miami Reef · Jun 6, 2022

lost66 said:
In a long term the stress from that place may break the seal. I read horror stories about that. That other gap on the side shouldn't be a problem though.

Do you recommend draining the tank? What type of work is involved to make this good? The opposite side of the tank has the same issue

JGT · Jun 6, 2022

Add a clip on float valve to the ATO reservoir so when it reaches a certain height it stops the RODI from producing water.

rmorris_14 · Jun 6, 2022

Miami Reef said:
Do you recommend draining the tank? What type of work is involved to make this good? The opposite side of the tank has the same issue

Can't you just lift one side of the tank up with one hand and slide the mat to where it needs to be with the other hand?
::insert muscle flex emoji here::

lost66 · Jun 7, 2022

Miami Reef said:
Do you recommend draining the tank? What type of work is involved to make this good? The opposite side of the tank has the same issue

Draining the tank won't help you much. That glass itself is like 600lb? My 240g glass tank is ~550lb.

Miami Reef · Jun 7, 2022

lost66 said:
Draining the tank won't help you much. That glass itself is like 600lb? My 240g glass tank is ~550lb.

This is the other side. And the back corner glass is extending about an inch from the styrofoam.

I called the company who built and installed the tank and they said they will talk to their team to see what they can do.