ATO Water Confusion...

[Cweed]

Yes, I’m a newbie and wanted to install a ATO with my Neptune doser.... Should I use RO fresh water filled reservoir to top off or use a mixed salt water reservoir???

 

[dreamcatcherr9]

Yes, I’m a newbie and wanted to install a ATO with my Neptune doser.... Should I use RO fresh water filled reservoir to top off or use a mixed salt water reservoir???

For top off it’s fresh water. To counteract evaporation and salt left behind.

 

[Cweed]

For top off it’s fresh water. To counteract evaporation and salt left behind.

i have a 135, what would be more logical!!!

 

[schuby]

One would always top off with fresh water. This is because when water evaporates from saltwater tank, the salt doesn't leave. If you top off with saltwater, you'll increase the salinity too much.

 

[Cweed]

One would always top off with fresh water. This is because when water evaporates from saltwater tank, the salt doesn't leave. If you top off with saltwater, you'll increase the salinity too much.

Cool I’ll just go the fresh water rout... Thank you all!!!

 

[K7BMG]

The Neptune Dos is not the correct tool for an ATO.

Yes it can be used but it would be very hard to determine how much to dose.

Your evaporation rate is constantly changing whereas the Dos will dump the same amount of water every day, and has a maximum rate per day.

Neptune makes a ATO unit, or there are other solutions on the market.
Personally I had the Neptune version and had nothing but issues and it failed after a few months.
Tunze however makes a fantastic ATO the 3155.
This is the correct tool for the job.
I think you will find most folks here on R2R will agree.

 

[Cweed]

The Neptune Dos is not the correct tool for an ATO.

Yes it can be used but it would be very hard to determine how much to dose.

Your evaporation rate is constantly changing whereas the Dos will dump the same amount of water every day, and has a maximum rate per day.

Neptune makes a ATO unit, or there are other solutions on the market.
Personally I had the Neptune version and had nothing but issues and it failed after a few months.
Tunze however makes a fantastic ATO the 3155.
This is the correct tool for the job.
I think you will find most folks here on R2R will agree.

That was gonna be my next question: to use as DOS or ATO... Thanks!!!

 

[schuby]

I've successfully used the Apex ATO for 18 months. The v2 sensors are superior to v1.

 

[Cweed]

That was gonna be my next question: to use as DOS or ATO... Thanks!!!

I thought that if I used the DOS method and took out old salt water and replaced it with equal amounts of new clean water that it would have worked....

 

[BarSnackz]

I thought that if I used the DOS method and took out old salt water and replaced it with equal amounts of new clean water that it would have worked....

That would be considered a water change (Old saltwater out, clean saltwater in). Most use the DOS for that specific purpose to change a little bit of water a day.
An ATO is used to refill evaporated water throughout the day (Fresh water).

 

[Cweed]

That would be considered a water change (Old saltwater out, clean saltwater in). Most use the DOS for that specific purpose to change a little bit of water a day.
An ATO is used to refill evaporated water throughout the day (Fresh water).

Any recommend ratio for both??? I know that it varies on my climate, but was just wondering some average numbers fresh RO ATO vs salt DOS???

 

[magicwhistle]

Any recommend ratio for both??? I know that it varies on my climate, but was just wondering some average numbers fresh RO ATO vs salt DOS???

Not sure what you mean by ratio of both. They are not really connected.

A 13gallon aquarium would probably average losing around a gallon a week. But that depends entirely on ambient conditions in your house and what your tanks temp is and what specific gravity you maintain.

Water changes on the other hand are for nutrient export(or exporting anything really medications etc)/replenishment. There’s lots of different thoughts on water changes but it really comes down to you system. Are you dosing how much corals do you have? How much nutrient build up or depletion do you experience? For my 40 gallon tank I’ve been doing water changes once a month and it seems fine. But I don’t have many corals and only 2 fish.

But I think you need to understand what each is accomplishing and why they’re necessary. It’s really important to understand for instance evaporation leaves behind salt. You never want to replace it evaporated water with more salt water. Similarly you never want to do a water change matching specific gravities to top up water (ie your tank evaporated 1 gallon so you take out 1 more gallon and add 2 gallons saltwater). You need to adjust the salt content so the final salt content is your target.

 

[eagerreefer]

Any recommend ratio for both??? I know that it varies on my climate, but was just wondering some average numbers fresh RO ATO vs salt DOS???

10% weekly water change is pretty average, so for you that would be 13.5 gallons per week or 2 gallons salt water a day on the DOS. Not sure what you mean by ratio for ATO, just keep the reservoir filled with RODI fresh water.

 

[Pistondog]

Any recommend ratio for both??? I know that it varies on my climate, but was just wondering some average numbers fresh RO ATO vs salt DOS???

Ato/fresh water requirements change with the seasons and weather. If its hot and dry more, fresh water. Usually done with simple level control.
Salt water changes depend on how clean you need to keep your tank, and what fish in it that is changing it. Also, what other methods of nutrient export you use, other than water changes.
Some people rarely, if ever change their water since they have very effective means of nutrient export.

 

[scabbedwings616]

I use tunze for my top off and I love it. The Neptune one is hit or miss but with added sensors, it would be good(heard the rust) I use apex for everything else and love it. I’ve heard horror stories with atk. Also, when adding fresh water check salinity every so often to make sure it is good. I’ve had issues with evaporation and not having the correct salinity and corals suffered for a little bit.

 

[PatW]

Cool I’ll just go the fresh water rout... Thank you all!!!

I would not advise using tap water. Tap water often has impurities like copper that can accumulate over time and kill your inverts. I would advise getting an RODI unit and making RODI water (highly purified fresh water) using your tap water.

 

[Cweed]

I would not advise using tap water. Tap water often has impurities like copper that can accumulate over time and kill your inverts. I would advise getting an RODI unit and making RODI water (highly purified fresh water) using your tap water.

Yea, wouldn’t do that either... Ive kept Discus which required RO water, so I’m good on that front...

 

[Perthegallon]

I wouldn’t use a Neptune dos pump to add ro water ato systems are super cheap so unless you have tons of money to blow I would look at a ato system

 

[Cweed]

10% weekly water change is pretty average, so for you that would be 13.5 gallons per week or 2 gallons salt water a day on the DOS. Not sure what you mean by ratio for ATO, just keep the reservoir filled with RODI fresh water.

Thanx!!!