Stock Tank and an ATO

[srobertb]

Hello,

working through some thing here…

I really don’t want a separate Refugium on my new build. I’m hopeful that I can work through using a single, 300g stock tank instead of a 150g stock tank + 50g tank or 125g Glass tank.

I’m having a hard time thinking how to mount my ATO (and other sensors). Especially while ensuring no snails knock things over. I’m also not sure I want my ATO to kick on only when the water level drops in the 300g stock tank. I’d typically like a smaller area for water level fluctuations. What are ya’ll using?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Hello,

working through some thing here…

I really don’t want a separate Refugium on my new build. I’m hopeful that I can work through using a single, 300g stock tank instead of a 150g stock tank + 50g tank or 125g Glass tank.

I’m having a hard time thinking how to mount my ATO (and other sensors). Especially while ensuring no snails knock things over. I’m also not sure I want my ATO to kick on only when the water level drops in the 300g stock tank. I’d typically like a smaller area for water level fluctuations. What are ya’ll using?

Wondering if you mean 'sump' when you wrote 'refugium' ...

My multiple chamber sump sits under my tank inside the stand. To the left of my sump, also inside my stand is a 15 gallon ATO RO reservoir. ATO sensors are in my sump, last chamber which holds return pumps. There are no snails etc in my sump. Having my sump is also nice holding additional reactors that over time I have needed to add to compensate for water parameter controls.

Refugiums are optional. While I've had it running for years, my middle sump chamber for refugium did not start that way. It only evolved when I needed a solution for nitrate and phosphate reduction cheaper than constant water changes and/or adding chemicals.

Good luck to you!

 

[Screwgunner]

Float valve in pump chamber. Hooked up to rodi system .

 

[srobertb]

Wondering if you mean 'sump' when you wrote 'refugium' ...

My multiple chamber sump sits under my tank inside the stand. To the left of my sump, also inside my stand is a 15 gallon ATO RO reservoir. ATO sensors are in my sump, last chamber which holds return pumps. There are no snails etc in my sump. Having my sump is also nice holding additional reactors that over time I have needed to add to compensate for water parameter controls.

Refugiums are optional. While I've had it running for years, my middle sump chamber for refugium did not start that way. It only evolved when I needed a solution for nitrate and phosphate reduction cheaper than constant water changes and/or adding chemicals.

Good luck to you!

Thank you!

sorry. This was a bit disjointed.

I would like to use 1, Rubbermaid stock tank (150-300g) for everything (refugium, ATO, dosing, Heater, etc).

I have always used a more traditional system where I put the ATO in the return pump like you but I have a basement now and ample space.

In this scenario the best I could do is the sensors on the side of a 150-300g stock tank and I don’t like the idea that my snails could bump the sensors and that the water level would have to change in a 150-300g tank to trigger the ATO vs a more traditional sump where the ATO is triggered based on the water levels in the last/pump chamber.

I’m leaning towards using two basement tanks this morning- a 50g stock tank as a refugium with snails, chaeto, DSB, LR, Frag rack, etc and a 150-300g stock tank that will just have water volume, pumps, dosing tubes, heaters, and an ATO sensor in it (no livestock to bump sensors).

I was hoping to not have to use 2 tanks but I can’t think of a reliable method to do so, so I was hoping someone might have an idea.

Drilling the stock tank and using a mechanical float switch seems to be most people’s choice in my situation but I don’t trust them.

 

[trevorhiller]

Thank you!

sorry. This was a bit disjointed.

I would like to use 1, Rubbermaid stock tank (150-300g) for everything (refugium, ATO, dosing, Heater, etc).

I have always used a more traditional system where I put the ATO in the return pump like you but I have a basement now and ample space.

In this scenario the best I could do is the sensors on the side of a 150-300g stock tank and I don’t like the idea that my snails could bump the sensors and that the water level would have to change in a 150-300g tank to trigger the ATO vs a more traditional sump where the ATO is triggered based on the water levels in the last/pump chamber.

I’m leaning towards using two basement tanks this morning- a 50g stock tank as a refugium with snails, chaeto, DSB, LR, Frag rack, etc and a 150-300g stock tank that will just have water volume, pumps, dosing tubes, heaters, and an ATO sensor in it (no livestock to bump sensors).

I was hoping to not have to use 2 tanks but I can’t think of a reliable method to do so, so I was hoping someone might have an idea.

Drilling the stock tank and using a mechanical float switch seems to be most people’s choice in my situation but I don’t trust them.

I'm working on plans a future build for my basement for my next upgrade. It's a ways out, but I want to have a big sump and I'm on planning on using a stock tank and float valve for the ATO. I'd like a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank partially filled to contain any splashes, salt creep and all the equipment.

IMO, float valves are way more reliable than an electronic ATO. When's the last time you heard of a toilet overflowing-from the tank that is?

I just picked up this beast of a float valve from Kerick, I'm not sure if you've seen this style. They come in larger sizes and you can even get different size orifices if you're worried about the opposite problem (clogging).

The only issue is it has some 18-8 stainless hardware on it, but I'm going to track down some nylon replacement components so corrosion won't be an issue. To be honest, the hardware is cheap enough that if it rusted it would be easy enough to just buy a replacement arm, cotter pin and screw once a year. There's no way that snails could have an effect on this--unless you have some 9-10 inches conches in your sump.

Pictured next to my TV remote for scale, that float ball is ~4x5 inches

Links:
Float Valve: https://www.cdivalve.com/products/detail/kerick-3-8-tank-mount-float-valves
Float: https://www.cdivalve.com/products/detail/pf-series-spherical-polyethylene-floats
Arms: https://www.cdivalve.com/products/detail/bob-stainless-steel-stems

 

[srobertb]

I'm working on plans a future build for my basement for my next upgrade. It's a ways out, but I want to have a big sump and I'm on planning on using a stock tank and float valve for the ATO. I'd like a 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank partially filled to contain any splashes, salt creep and all the equipment.

IMO, float valves are way more reliable than an electronic ATO. When's the last time you heard of a toilet overflowing-from the tank that is?

I just picked up this beast of a float valve from Kerick, I'm not sure if you've seen this style. They come in larger sizes and you can even get different size orifices if you're worried about the opposite problem (clogging).

The only issue is it has some 18-8 stainless hardware on it, but I'm going to track down some nylon replacement components so corrosion won't be an issue. To be honest, the hardware is cheap enough that if it rusted it would be easy enough to just buy a replacement arm, cotter pin and screw once a year. There's no way that snails could have an effect on this--unless you have some 9-10 inches conches in your sump.

Pictured next to my TV remote for scale, that float ball is ~4x5 inches

Links:
Float Valve: https://www.cdivalve.com/products/detail/kerick-3-8-tank-mount-float-valves
Float: https://www.cdivalve.com/products/detail/pf-series-spherical-polyethylene-floats
Arms: https://www.cdivalve.com/products/detail/bob-stainless-steel-stems

I started down this rabbit hole as well. I found this one. I won’t use anything metal in my tanks but there are a lot of options. If it’s backed up with a solenoid and flow meter, I think I’d be comfortable.

My two largest turbo snails (chungus and big chungus) are reaching tennis ball size.

 

[punchy7080]

I have a 300g stock tank in my basement that houses coral and live rock. I have some fish in there sometimes and also snails and crabs. I use the tunze ATO with zero issues. Have a 10 gallon reservoir that supplies the stock tank and 300g display. Two tunze pumps in the reservoir and it only has to refill every couple days.

 

[srobertb]

I have a 300g stock tank in my basement that houses coral and live rock. I have some fish in there sometimes and also snails and crabs. I use the tunze ATO with zero issues. Have a 10 gallon reservoir that supplies the stock tank and 300g display. Two tunze pumps in the reservoir and it only has to refill every couple days.

Just the Tunze magnetic sensors on the side of the stock tank?

 

[punchy7080]

Just the Tunze magnetic sensors on the side of the stock tank?

Yup, magnet holds it in place firmly. Has the optical sensor and float switch.

 

[srobertb]

Yup, magnet holds it in place firmly. Has the optical sensor and float switch.

Makes some sense. Those Tunze magnets are no joke.

 

[srobertb]

Yup, magnet holds it in place firmly. Has the optical sensor and float switch.

You sold me. I ordered one + the AC plug adapter