RedSea Reefer 170 - Holy Evaporation!!

[tcreeftank]

We have a RedSea Reefer 170 at our office and it seems to go through a ton of water. I'm topping this thing off every other day. When I leave on Friday afternoon I fill the sump an inch over the float valve and completely fill the ATO tank and its still blowing air on Monday morning. Is that normal for these tanks?? What can I do??

 

[Highgrade]

I would get a bigger ATO container and the AutoAqua MircoSmart ATO. Overall evaporation depends on your tanks temp and the rooms ambient temp. Most of my nano tanks that are 25-40 gallons go through about half a gallon a day. My larger tanks have 1+ gallons of evaporation. If I recall the RS170 reefer ATO container is 2.5 gallons which isn't much.

 

[sbash]

How much are you topping off exactly? There is no mention of volume, so it is hard to gauge what is normal...

I cannot speak to your RedSea tank, but my 220 gallon tops off over gallon a day... Probably two or three, lol, it is a lot... My 20 gallon reservoir refills every 4-6 days and it tops off my LowBoy frag tank and my 220...

An office building typically has sealed windows, so there is a constant flow of air, this will increase evaporation. Also consider tank and ambient air temperature, water surface area and water surface agitation will all affect the evaporation.

If the tank has a skimmer, then you can safely put glass panels on the display tank (i.e. a lid); which will decrease your evaporation.

 

[tcreeftank]

The ATO is completely empty every other day and I usually have to put any where from .5 to 1 gallon in the sump to bring it back up to the float valve. Tank temp is usually 78-79 and the temp in the office ranges from 68-74 depending on who touches the thermostat or which one of my co-workers is having hot flashes that day haha. We do not have a skimmer so the lid won't be an option at this time. I don't mind filling it every day I just worry when the return is blowing air on Monday's as I don't want the pump to get damaged or any livestock to be stressed by this.

 

[sbash]

The ATO is completely empty every other day and I usually have to put any where from .5 to 1 gallon in the sump to bring it back up to the float valve. Tank temp is usually 78-79 and the temp in the office ranges from 68-74 depending on who touches the thermostat or which one of my co-workers is having hot flashes that day haha. We do not have a skimmer so the lid won't be an option at this time. I don't mind filling it every day I just worry when the return is blowing air on Monday's as I don't want the pump to get damaged or any livestock to be stressed by this.

It could (and will) likely cause damage to the pump.

Can you not increase the size of the ATO reservoir?

 

[Highgrade]

The ATO is completely empty every other day and I usually have to put any where from .5 to 1 gallon in the sump to bring it back up to the float valve. Tank temp is usually 78-79 and the temp in the office ranges from 68-74 depending on who touches the thermostat or which one of my co-workers is having hot flashes that day haha. We do not have a skimmer so the lid won't be an option at this time. I don't mind filling it every day I just worry when the return is blowing air on Monday's as I don't want the pump to get damaged or any livestock to be stressed by this.

Try lowering the tanks temp to a steady 76-77 degrees. Decrease any surface agitation. Keep the room temp around 72. This may help slightly but I believe the stock Red Sea ATO container is too small IMO. You most likely need to go bigger. Good luck.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I agree that Red Sea puts too small of an ATO reservoir on their sumps. Get a new ATO container and use a controller, like the Smart ATO Micro, instead of that float valve.

 

[Scubafrog]

The weather in the Midwest doesn't help. My evaporation is very inconsistent as the weather and humidity is always changing.

Also, in my experience, offices are usually pretty dry environments so your evaporation is probably greater than it would be in a home that may have a humidifier.

Two things working against you.

 

[HolisticBear]

On my 170, I added a custom ATO for the cabinet next to the the sump. It's 4 gallons and will last 5 days, but not 6, for me. Just for comparison.

 

[karo25]

I have 100 gallon system with screen covers and fill a 5 gallon bucket with top off water every 3 -4 days depending on how much the ac/heat has run.

 

[scurvy dawg]

We have a RedSea Reefer 170 at our office and it seems to go through a ton of water. I'm topping this thing off every other day. When I leave on Friday afternoon I fill the sump an inch over the float valve and completely fill the ATO tank and its still blowing air on Monday morning. Is that normal for these tanks?? What can I do??

Every other day seems like alot. I have the RSR 170 with stock ATO and I am filling the ATO up every 3 days. I have a custum ATO on the way that will get me about 5 gallons.

 

[HolisticBear]

I have 100 gallon system with screen covers and fill a 5 gallon bucket with top off water every 3 -4 days depending on how much the ac/heat has run.

That's between ~1.25% and 1.6%, my 170 is sitting 1.9% evaporation a day. I think between 1% to 2% is normal evaporation with rimless tanks.

 

[tcreeftank]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. Decided to order a larger ATO reservoir and Smart ATO Micro. Next up will be a skimmer for this system... Open to suggestions on that as well.

 

[Aaron Gustafson]

On my 170, I added a custom ATO for the cabinet next to the the sump. It's 4 gallons and will last 5 days, but not 6, for me. Just for comparison.

@HolisticBear What's the footprint of that ATO reservoir?

PS - It also doesn't help that their stock reservoir is also lidless.

 

[Greybeard]

I have a 5 gallon reservoir on a 150 gallon or so system. Reservoir empties every other day or so, depending on weather conditions. I, too, got tired of refilling it. Started by running an RO/DI line to the reservoir with a manual valve. Then put a float valve on it... so I didn't have to watch it so close. Eventually, I put a low level and full float switch on it, an electric solenoid, and set it up so that it refills itself, as needed.

Automation is a wonderful thing

 

[Leisuretron]

On my 170, I added a custom ATO for the cabinet next to the the sump. It's 4 gallons and will last 5 days, but not 6, for me. Just for comparison.

Old post but, where did you get the ATO custom tank?