ATO Storage container question

doodguy · Apr 28, 2019

Hello everyone,

I have a 350 gallon reef tank. Right now I have an ugly brute storage container I keep filled with RODI water, and an auto aqua ATO pumps the water to my sump as needed.

I want to get some nice vertical water storage containers put in my garage, and still have the ATO pump from there to sump, but I can't think of how to do this. Extending a water line wouldn't be hard through the attic down the wall, but biggest concern is how to run the power cord trigger from the auto aqua. Any thoughts/insight how you guys are running storage water automatically from a fish tank room or garage or whatever to tank?

Dr. Reef · Apr 28, 2019

Are you using AWC auto aqua system?
If so their stock pump will not run that much far out to feed your tank/sump.
You will need to invest into 2 or 3 items to make this work.
1. Better pump than can push the distance and height etc.
2. Smart AC outlet (brs sells them)
3. Maybe an extension cable from AWC to the smart AC outlet.

AWC itself can only provide 12v 0.5amp which wont drive any pump given the head pressure. So AC outlet will help cover that.
My only concern is the extension cable. They dont make one. I haven't seen the actual AWC setup I think its a simple power supply Jack that maybe anyone with some electrical knowledge maybe able to create an extension wire.

doodguy · Apr 28, 2019

Dr. Reef said:
Are you using AWC auto aqua system?
If so their stock pump will not run that much far out to feed your tank/sump.
You will need to invest into 2 or 3 items to make this work.
1. Better pump than can push the distance and height etc.
2. Smart AC outlet (brs sells them)
3. Maybe an extension cable from AWC to the smart AC outlet.

AWC itself can only provide 12v 0.5amp which wont drive any pump given the head pressure. So AC outlet will help cover that.
My only concern is the extension cable. They dont make one. I haven't seen the actual AWC setup I think its a simple power supply Jack that maybe anyone with some electrical knowledge maybe able to create an extension wire.

Are you referring to this extension wire? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MDBPTLG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Smart AC Outlet sounds interesting! I have a pump that will easily push the distance. I'm heading over to look now. Thanks!!!

Crashjack · Apr 28, 2019

Have you thought about a smaller reservoir under or near the tank and then pumping water to that? That would give you a better failsafe and you could use any pump with enough head pressure to get water to the tank. To my 140 gal, I circumvent a large storage container altogether by having my RO unit in my laundry room, running RO up the wall and into the attic, and then down the wall of my tank room. There, it splits to my RO reservoir, salt mixing tank, and an open line that gives me access to RO any time. The drop in the tank room is lower than the RO unit in the laundry room, and no pump is needed for the run. I also use a ball valve to fill my RO reservoir as a failsafe (e.g. the amount of RO pumped into my sump is limited by the amount of RO in the reservoir).

Obviously there are many ways to skin this cat, but depending on where you live, the garage could expose your RO and container to extreme temperatures, and it exposes your tank to all of the RO in your reservoir, and if you are filling your reservoir automatically, it exposes your tank to an infinite supply of RO.

Snoopy 67 · Apr 28, 2019

Litremeter is your solution, I use one for ATO.
It pumps what you tell it to.
It does this in small increments 150 times a day.

Eggs · Apr 28, 2019

I bought a 300g off of someone who had two vertical units for top-off and water change just outside the house where the tank was....it was a very nice setup and close. Obviously it depends on where you live for the climate and how your home and outdoors are laid out; this setup is in south Florida. I asked about how the extreme high temperatures affected the tank and it wasn’t a problem. He had an AWC for smaller daily volume so it didn’t shock the system. ATO would also be smaller volume.
I’m in a similar situation as you and debating the outdoor vertical tanks, or garage and going up and over through the attic (I miss basements lol).
I’m in an HOA community so the outdoor tanks are a little trickier to get away with but I figured out a few options to get around the rules if I go that route.
I’ve found some others on R2R that have done something like this.

Dr. Reef · Apr 28, 2019

My tank and sump and all equipment including 55g ATO bin and 55g Saltmix bin 2 QT and 1 frag tank are all in garage as is a in wall tank. Everything sits in garage. Oklahoma heat can get up to 105F outside while garage is cooking at 125 to 140 F.
I never had any issues with ATO water being too hot as its introduction is very slow and small and over many many times. Impact is rare to none.
Saltwater mix is a different story. I do have a heater and chiller on it ONLY to keep it at 78 for mixing salt. Once salt is mixed it turn pump and chiller etc off and saltwater sits stagnant. Doing water changes with Reef Genesis system automatically. Set to do 3 gal per day. It breaks it down to 1 gal every 8 hrs.
Impact on that is also barely ever noticed.
My total water volume is 300g.