NEED IDEAS: ATO temporary expansion for vacations

Alfrareef · Apr 13, 2017

Hi guys,
In a few weeks I'll be away from my tank for 3 weeks and my ATO reservoir can't handle more than 1 1/2 week.
I was thinking of a way for expanding my ATO capacity without the need to rearrange the wiring and plumbing so I would appreciate to have some ideas on how would you do that.
TIA.

lambchops · Apr 13, 2017

How big is your current ATO reservoir?

Engloid · Apr 13, 2017

Easy fix...
Keep in mind that if you have one full bucket and one empty bucket sitting on the floor, siphon from the full one to the empty one, you will end up with two half full buckets. The water level will equalize. Do this with your ATO. Just sit a bucket or more...on the same level, and let it add volume. It's not a permanent solution, but it's an easy temporary and reliable solution. Just make sure the hoses can't come up out of the water and break siphon.

Alfrareef · Apr 14, 2017

lambchops said:
How big is your current ATO reservoir?

ATO holds about 20G.

Alfrareef · Apr 14, 2017

Engloid said:
Easy fix...
Keep in mind that if you have one full bucket and one empty bucket sitting on the floor, siphon from the full one to the empty one, you will end up with two half full buckets. The water level will equalize. Do this with your ATO. Just sit a bucket or more...on the same level, and let it add volume. It's not a permanent solution, but it's an easy temporary and reliable solution. Just make sure the hoses can't come up out of the water and break siphon.

Good idea!
And the hose end should be touching the bottom, correct?

Engloid · Apr 14, 2017

Close to it, just because once water level drops to the hose end, siphon breaks.

Reefer1978 · Apr 14, 2017

Exactly what I did when I left for 2 weeks... Added another large container in front of the tank, let the water equilize....

Engloid · Apr 14, 2017

Here is a simple article on a "water level" which works on the same concept.
http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Water-Level

Many reefers don't utilize these simple methods of water transfer from one container to another. In short, if two containers are connected by a siphon line, water flow will go from the one with highest water elevation to the lowest. So if you have two buckets with equal water level, put water in one, half of it will flow through the siphon to the other bucket. I use this method to transfer water from a 55g drum to a store bought sump with bubble wall and sump in it....because it's hard to put a skimmer into a 55g drum.

Alfrareef · Apr 14, 2017

THKS guys!!!
I'll give it a try. Going out to find a container that holds same or more water than my ATO reservoir and it shorter in high.

Engloid · Apr 14, 2017

Keep in mind that if height of what you buy isn't optimal, you can always put bricks or something under one.

Tuffyyyyy · Apr 14, 2017

Alfrareef said:
ATO holds about 20G.

Came in here thinking "Oh..just get a Brute trash can. That should be big enough." Nvm...your ATO is larger than 60% of the tanks on here

Alfrareef · Apr 14, 2017

Tuffyyyyy said:
Came in here thinking "Oh..just get a Brute trash can. That should be big enough." Nvm...your ATO is larger than 60% of the tanks on here

Eh eh... The system has 123G of SW and I like to have enough FW for not been concern with it every day.