LETS see these DIY Auto Top Off containers

[EW_Fish]

I know people like these Fancy ATO storage "Containers" But lets see some DIY stuff.

-5-10g tanks
-Rubbermaid storage
-2 Liters
-Water Vats
-Diy acrylic/abs

What do you have and why do you like it?

 

[User]

22 gallon, $23 from HD and easily drilled. White one on right. 5 days volume

Sits under the bench my 125g sump will be on top of

For extended time away, a 33g brute trash can on wheels gets rolled into room. An additional 8 days volume

Either way, I can add RO to either from my main 55g container via an apex controlled solenoid, via the web

 

[EW_Fish]

22 gallon, $23 from HD and easily drilled. White one on right. 5 days volume

Sits under the bench my 125g sump will be on top of

For extended time away, a 33g brute trash can on wheels gets rolled into room. An additional 8 days volume

Either way, I can add RO to either from my main 55g container via an apex controlled solenoid, via the web

That's awesome. What size tank? 22g in 5 days is a good bit

 

[User]

It’s an in wall 180 viewable from office and living room plumbed to a combined 180g volume sump in the basement.

Info here-

Fish room reality check
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=390436&share_fid=1020&share_type=t

 

[redfishbluefish]

My ATO began it's life as a Soda Ash bucket from my pool, and a water jug. I could not fit my reservoir under the tank, so this ugly setup sat next to the stand.

This setup gave me about ten gallons of water, and a siphon point that was at the level of the water in the bucket. This siphon point was important, because if it was above the level of my sump, the water would have siphoned.

I eventually painted the bucket black, and the water jug on the top made water additions easy....just like an old fashion water cooler. What eventually happened is that the lid of the bucket ripped.

This was fixed by cutting a 1/2 plexiglass piece to fit the lid.

Next came a cabinet that was on four small caster wheels and could easily be pulled out to change the water jug.

However, what this did was now hide the water jug and I wouldn't know when it needed to be replaced. So a horizontal float switch was installed in the side of the bucket.

This went through a relay to an LED that was installed in the face of my equipment cabinet...that green LED between the controllers.

When the water level drops below the float switch, the LED comes on telling me it's time to add a new jug of water.

 

[EW_Fish]

My ATO began it's life as a Soda Ash bucket from my pool, and a water jug. I could not fit my reservoir under the tank, so this ugly setup sat next to the stand.

This setup gave me about ten gallons of water, and a siphon point that was at the level of the water in the bucket. This siphon point was important, because if it was above the level of my sump, the water would have siphoned.

I eventually painted the bucket black, and the water jug on the top made water additions easy....just like an old fashion water cooler. What eventually happened is that the lid of the bucket ripped.

This was fixed by cutting a 1/2 plexiglass piece to fit the lid.

Next came a cabinet that was on four small caster wheels and could easily be pulled out to change the water jug.

However, what this did was now hide the water jug and I wouldn't know when it needed to be replaced. So a horizontal float switch was installed in the side of the bucket.

This went through a relay to an LED that was installed in the face of my equipment cabinet...that green LED between the controllers.

When the water level drops below the float switch, the LED comes on telling me it's time to add a new jug of water.

Great detail and Idea. Love it!

 

[tiggs]

I have the fanciest ATO container out there.

I pushed my DIY skills to the limit by drilling a hole just big enough for the ATO tube. In all seriousness, my ATO and dosing reservoirs are hidden behind my Apex control panel, so there's no way I'd spend money on something nice that nobody (including myself) will ever see.

I went slightly fancier with my dosing containers, but only because they came with a low level float switch. Between splicing the float switches into my breakout box and using a DIY cable to trick my DOS into thinking a DDR is connected, I now have fluid monitoring and low level sensors in Fusion and saved $170 in the process.

 

[EW_Fish]

I have the fanciest ATO container out there.

I pushed my DIY skills to the limit by drilling a hole just big enough for the ATO tube. In all seriousness, my ATO and dosing reservoirs are hidden behind my Apex control panel, so there's no way I'd spend money on something nice that nobody (including myself) will ever see.

I went slightly fancier with my dosing containers, but only because they came with a low level float switch. Between splicing the float switches into my breakout box and using a DIY cable to trick my DOS into thinking a DDR is connected, I now have fluid monitoring and low level sensors in Fusion and saved $170 in the process.

I have always wondered why people spend so much in plumbing and ATO fancy fancy stuff. I see guys spend up to 150$ + on plumbing when I spent $20. Glad you broke out some DIY skills. I like a clean look but I also like Making my own stuff

 

[Katrina71]

Not to highjack, but I was talking about this today on a small scale. 1 or 2 gallon with a small footprint.

 

[George Lopez]

I used a dog food container for a 2 gallon... about 5.5" wide at the top holds well and is fully sealed minutes the hole I drilled

 

[mta_morrow]

12 gallon dog food container on sale for $30.

Lasts 18-20 days.

 

[Joshua Kerstetter]

I use a generic 32 gallon trash can, on a wheeled platform, sitting in my basement, generic AC pond pump from harbor freight, pumped into a food grade water hose, zip tied to a part of PVC going into my sump. Programmed the ATO off of 2 amazon float switches going into my Apex with safety shut offs and timers in case of overfill or the pump runs too long. Pics are in my build thread. Its cheap, works, and never failed me.

 

[Niterunner77]

23G Slim brute can (right side of pic)
As it’s name says it’s slim and fit perfectly in my limited space and holds a lot of RODI water for my 180G+30G frag evaporation! Just drilled a float valve into the side to connect to my RODI system in the next room over when I’m low. I have a optical sensor in the bottom hooked to my Neptune Ststems ATK to set an alarm off when it’s low. So I never have to move the brute can to fill it! Then built a shelf over the top to conceal it!

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Ditto on the dog food container.

 

[Bfaxi]

12 gallon dog food container on sale for $30.

Lasts 18-20 days.

I have that same setup, just for dog food, lasts about 20 days with a medium sized beagle

 

[JonoB]

I just use a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Solis Reef]

A 20 gal tank

 

[dbl]

A little fancy, but it was still a DIY project!

 

[Kscope]

2.5 gallon bucket that contained hard boiled eggs powered by a pressure switch and a 40 year old maxijet 500 pump.

 

[Bfaxi]

I use a 20 gallon tank also. I keep it empty most the time and just fill it the day before I do a water change.

Still working on being more efficient, I don’t have space for anything I can’t hide in furniture