I have a 125 gal mixed reef with 40 gallon dual refugium and my father accidentally left the RO/di water top off on when I saw how low the salinity was I panicked I had barely any salt but atrangly the only corals that look like their dying are my lps colonies I've had for years but the sps frags look amazing salinity is back to where it should be I'll find out this morning. Has this happened to anyone?
So sad & confused!?
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Dsnakes
Knight Reefer
I haven't had it happen, however, I will say that the SPS may decline at a later date... sometimes they won't show the distress until a few days or week after. Same with something like an alk spike. But I'm hoping for the best for your corals!
reeferfoxx
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I think they make float switches to shut off of the ro/di in this type of instance. Sounds like it could happen again. Maybe the #reefsquad can give more insight. I just use a auto top-off system for my tank.
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Isn't this already being discussed?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/major-problem-with-salinity.328957/#post-4081736
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/major-problem-with-salinity.328957/#post-4081736
reeferfoxx
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I think this time he wants to here others experiences? But, a solution to something that could happen again also needs to be discussed.
Newb73
Valuable Member
I have 3 safteys.
1) My freshwater Resovoir is small and water stays off most of time.
2) Apex float switch activates an inline solenoid and switches off line
3) Line is hooked directly to float switch
1) My freshwater Resovoir is small and water stays off most of time.
2) Apex float switch activates an inline solenoid and switches off line
3) Line is hooked directly to float switch
I never keep enough water in my top off container to cause any issue. Never hook Ro/DI directly into a top off switch or container. Install a float switch in container to allow water to come into the ATO container if you want. In human interaction will cause issues. Humans do nothing but make mistakes.
Rip Van Winkle
Active Member
The only humans that don't make mistakes are the humans that do nothing. 
Hans-Werner
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Slowly running water is one of the most dangerous things in aquarium care. If you think you can go away for a moment you will forget it (for example because the phone rings just in that moment). If you think you can do something else for a moment to save time you will regret it. You will spend more time wiping up the mess than you could ever save.
I agree with Dsnake, decay may come later in SPS but I´m hoping for the best for your corals.
I agree with Dsnake, decay may come later in SPS but I´m hoping for the best for your corals.
Greybeard
2500 Club Member
Yup. One of the reasons why I'm such a big fan of GOOD ATO systems.
I once pumped enough RO/DI into my 75g reef due to a failed float valve to make the salinity effectively 0. Sump was in a room with a concrete floor and a drain, so it didn't cause a mess, excepting the tank itself. Luckily, I had 60g of salt mixed... I pulled the system down to normal volume, then pulled an additional 60g, and pumped the 60g of salt back in over a couple of hours. Made the sg 1.019. I stopped there, and gradually pushed it back up to 1.024 with regular water changes.
I didn't loose any corals, but it was mostly soft corals. I did loose a clam, and I had a fairly substantial ammonia spike. Don't know if it was from bio filter die off, or what... but it's something you might keep an eye on.
Some lessons, you learn the hard way.
Newb73
Valuable Member
Truth, I have given my RO membranes extended rinses by leaving on the fast flush mode on for a few hours more than a few times.
Fortunately, it's good for the membranes and prefilters/carbon blocks aren't terribly expansive.
Even with both valve and solenoid controls, I still have an audible alarm via leak detectors and never leave that line pressurerized unless Im actively filling the small Resovoir and I never put enough in a respvoir to cause much trouble.
Crashjack
Well-Known Member
My float valve allows only 9 gal of RO in my reservoir, and I made it to where I have to manually turn a valve to fill the reservoir. The only downside is if I forget to fill, but I've programmed my controller to email me if my ATO pump times out, which is what would happen if my reservoir ran dry. This was the safest automated system I could come up with.
iemsparticus
The Addiction is Real
As annoying as it is to fill smaller reservoirs frequently, I use a smaller reservoir on purpose so that if all of the safety measures on my ATO fail (I use the Apex ATK), it won’t kill the tank to have the entire FW reservoir pumped in.
I agree, everyone complains about the Reefer series ATO being too small. Mines 2.5g on a 65g system, I just refill it when I change filter sock every 3 days...
