RODI to ATO top off bucket?

[fish face]

Do most people just have a a two way divider after their DI unit? meaning one going to rodi bin for mixing water and one going strait to the top off bucket next to the sump? if so, do you just leave the RO system on all the time? I installed a new RO system recently that has a flush valve to increase membrane life. If I leave the RO system "on" all the time wouldn't that lead to higher TDS's in my top off bucket? How do most people deal with this? thanks.
In my picture (please don't laugh at my tube madness, lol)... the black line will go to a float in my fresh water bin and I have the clear line going strait into my ato bucket next to my sump.

 

[KStatefan]

I use a high-low tank controller to run my RODI system. It turn on after I have used 40 gallons.

 

[Zero_Cool]

I put a float valve in my RODI container and manually close the feed line after filling (to save the number of times the auto membrane flush goes off).

Like KStateFan above, I use a Tunze RO water controller (dual optical sensor with powered solenoid shutoff valve) backed up by a float valve in my top off container. This is 12 gallons so I will have it set to run down to 2 gallons before filling. This way the membrane flush only goes off when I have used 10 gallons from the top off container.

 

[srobertb]

Do most people just have a a two way divider after their DI unit? meaning one going to rodi bin for mixing water and one going strait to the top off bucket next to the sump? if so, do you just leave the RO system on all the time? I installed a new RO system recently that has a flush valve to increase membrane life. If I leave the RO system "on" all the time wouldn't that lead to higher TDS's in my top off bucket? How do most people deal with this? thanks.
In my picture (please don't laugh at my tube madness, lol)... the black line will go to a float in my fresh water bin and I have the clear line going strait into my ato bucket next to my sump.

I have two lines from my RO/DI to two bins (AWC and ATO). My RO/DI has a built in controller which flushes the line before and after use. I use AutoAqua Flood Guardians on both AWC and ATO lines on an Apex powerbar (but you could use Wi-Fi power outlets too). I also use a Wi-Fi timer on the RO/DI unit. The RO/DI unit comes on/off twice a week for 3 hours. The flood guardian for the ATO also come on during that period of time and opens its solenoid. It fills until the flood guardian ATO sensor is tripped, closes the solenoid, then RO/DI senses back pressure and flushes it’s membrane then shuts down (then it is physically powered off by the wifi timer). The whole process repeats a few days later.

My ATO system can run like this indefinitely.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I'm not currently doing this but I have it in the works.

My 100g fresh water resivor is 48" off the ground on a frame, then run a r.o tube to the resivor near the tank with a float valve, and gravity feed the tank ato resivor.

The only thing I worry about is the float valve getting stuck open, although I haven't personally had this happen in fresh water. It is a concern

The way you described, yes I would worry about high tds and using up resin and filters faster.

I manually flush my system before I start collecting, I fill a 100g and a 65g resivor at one time then use it for a few weeks before producing water agin.

So my plan is to do as I described but putting in a ball valve and basically manually filling.

I'm still working it out in my head and free time, for now I carry 5gallon buckets like it's the 1800's lol

 

[srobertb]

Do most people just have a a two way divider after their DI unit? meaning one going to rodi bin for mixing water and one going strait to the top off bucket next to the sump? if so, do you just leave the RO system on all the time? I installed a new RO system recently that has a flush valve to increase membrane life. If I leave the RO system "on" all the time wouldn't that lead to higher TDS's in my top off bucket? How do most people deal with this? thanks.
In my picture (please don't laugh at my tube madness, lol)... the black line will go to a float in my fresh water bin and I have the clear line going strait into my ato bucket next to my sump.

Sorry if I didn’t answer your question. People absolutely do…well let’s say did…run their top off directly from their RO/DI unit. If something goes bad, you have your city’s municipal water supply to use up before it stops flowing.

I suggest filling a container or reservoir in an automated fashion (I wrote how I automated mine below) then have that pumped into your system. I use a cheap $50 peristaltic high flow pump off Amazon and it is pushing water 60’ away and 5’.

If you must have your RO/DI go directly into your tank: Keep an eye on your TDS weekly. Install a “always off” solenoid between your float switch and RO/DI unit. Put it on an Apex port or a Wi-Fi timer to come on for x minutes every x hours.

Better yet, use a AutoAqua flood guardian That way if the float switch gets stuck, the amount of water added is limited to the optical sensor level or an alarm is sounded.

 

[fish face]

I'm not currently doing this but I have it in the works.

My 100g fresh water resivor is 48" off the ground on a frame, then run a r.o tube to the resivor near the tank with a float valve, and gravity feed the tank ato resivor.

The only thing I worry about is the float valve getting stuck open, although I haven't personally had this happen in fresh water. It is a concern

The way you described, yes I would worry about high tds and using up resin and filters faster.

I manually flush my system before I start collecting, I fill a 100g and a 65g resivor at one time then use it for a few weeks before producing water agin.

So my plan is to do as I described but putting in a ball valve and basically manually filling.

I'm still working it out in my head and free time, for now I carry 5gallon buckets like it's the 1800's lol

Me too... So sick of the bucket brigade after 12 years. I am installing an external pump in the basement and will be able to finally automate things a little.

 

[fish face]

I put a float valve in my RODI container and manually close the feed line after filling (to save the number of times the auto membrane flush goes off).

Like KStateFan above, I use a Tunze RO water controller (dual optical sensor with powered solenoid shutoff valve) backed up by a float valve in my top off container. This is 12 gallons so I will have it set to run down to 2 gallons before filling. This way the membrane flush only goes off when I have used 10 gallons from the top off container.

i olny have room for a small rodi bucket next to my sump/ display tank. 12 gallons would last a lot longer, mine is only like 3 gal. I need to fill every other day probably.

 

[fish face]

Sorry if I didn’t answer your question. People absolutely do…well let’s say did…run their top off directly from their RO/DI unit. If something goes bad, you have your city’s municipal water supply to use up before it stops flowing.

I suggest filling a container or reservoir in an automated fashion (I wrote how I automated mine below) then have that pumped into your system. I use a cheap $50 peristaltic high flow pump off Amazon and it is pushing water 60’ away and 5’.

If you must have your RO/DI go directly into your tank: Keep an eye on your TDS weekly. Install a “always off” solenoid between your float switch and RO/DI unit. Put it on an Apex port or a Wi-Fi timer to come on for x minutes every x hours.

Better yet, use a AutoAqua flood guardian That way if the float switch gets stuck, the amount of water added is limited to the optical sensor level or an alarm is sounded.

I don't top off directly into the display tank. I have a line that goes to my top off bucket with a float. I use an electric float from autotopoff.com http://autotopoff.com/
I have an aqualifter from the top off bucket to the sump.
thanks for the advice!

 

[srobertb]

I'm not currently doing this but I have it in the works.

My 100g fresh water resivor is 48" off the ground on a frame, then run a r.o tube to the resivor near the tank with a float valve, and gravity feed the tank ato resivor.

The only thing I worry about is the float valve getting stuck open, although I haven't personally had this happen in fresh water. It is a concern

The way you described, yes I would worry about high tds and using up resin and filters faster.

I manually flush my system before I start collecting, I fill a 100g and a 65g resivor at one time then use it for a few weeks before producing water agin.

So my plan is to do as I described but putting in a ball valve and basically manually filling.

I'm still working it out in my head and free time, for now I carry 5gallon buckets like it's the 1800's lol

Preach. I’m currently carrying a 5 gallon water jug downstairs for a new tank until I can run a permanent ATO line for it and I feel like a

I don't top off directly into the display tank. I have a line that goes to my top off bucket with a float. I use an electric float from autotopoff.com http://autotopoff.com/
I have an aqualifter from the top off bucket to the sump.
thanks for the advice!

and thank you for the website link. Always cool to see stuff I haven’t seen before!