ATO Reservoir separate from sump Location

[dowsetts101]

I’m in the process of building my first tank and am planning for an ATO.

The thing I am trying to get my head around is the placement of the reservoir. From reading here it looks like most people have a ATO reservoir in their sump or close to. And manually keep that reservoir topped up with RODI as required.

I’m building a SW mixing station about 15 metres away from my tank, which will have a 100 Litre RODI tank.

I’m trying to work out if I can get an ATO system which can use my main RODI tank from this distance, or whether I’ll also have to setup a smaller ATO reservoir right next to the tank.

I figure that due to the distance the pump will need to be larger but are there any other issues/considerations...or am I missing something?

 

[Luno]

1 - If your pumping directly across like on a horizontal and level the build up pressure like head pressure of pumping up is not such a massive concern.

2) On my last setup I had a series of float switches. Obviously the ato it self than the drum I used to store which was a small rain water tank. And when that got to 25% a float switch would kick in and turn the rodi on to make more. Always an option for you. But I had a tap that was solely used for the rodi.

3) if your gonna run pipe for the ato, consider either multiple pipes to pump rodi and water change water. Or have one pipe and multiple gate valves to operate your rodi and water change water.

 

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[pluikens]

I have my ATO controller turn on a BRS 50mL/min doser pump that pulls water though 1/4" RO tubing from my freshwater tank one floor below. Just put a quick connect bulkhead near the top of the RO tank so I can leave a line in it. Pump is a little loud under my tank in the living room so I'm moving the pump to the basement today so it's pushing water. I'll be running power same as the RO tubing so the pump is still plugged into the ATO controller. This was one of the nicer updated I made to the tank since before that I was taking a pitcher of water from the basement and pouring it directly into the sump every evening.

 

[mfinn]

My ato container is only about 15' from my sump and I use a 3/8" id hose with a maxi-jet 1200 as a pump. The total up hill rise is only about 2-1/2 feet. I feel I could go a much long distance if I had to and still use this pump. For a 15 meter run, maybe a mag 5 ?
I use a JBJ ATO for my control box and the stock cord length between the box and the float sensor was another issue. So I used a piece of 2 wire cord that's normally used with doorbells to extend the distance between them.

 

[pluikens]

My ato container is only about 15' from my sump and I use a 3/8" id hose with a maxi-jet 1200 as a pump. The total up hill rise is only about 2-1/2 feet. I feel I could go a much long distance if I had to and still use this pump. For a 15 meter run, maybe a mag 5 ?
I use a JBJ ATO for my control box and the stock cord length between the box and the float sensor was another issue. So I used a piece of 2 wire cord that's normally used with doorbells to extend the distance between them.

I like that ingenuity! I use the same JBJ and could have done that to relocate the controller and pump in the basement but didn't think of it. Rather than regret that, I'll consider it a feature that I can view the controller and pump status from under the tank by the sump.

 

[Keen4]

I just placed my ato in a closet about 2 feet away from my tank and ran the chord and the ato tubing along the floor boards. The climb up into the sump is about 2ft- 2.5 ft as mentioned before. So far no issues.