Top off tank

JasonM38401 · Apr 28, 2013

Has anyone built a custom top off tank? My sump takes up most of the room under my tank. I need to build a custom tank, that will fit with in my remaining space. What would be the best way to build one?

Jason Martin
110 tall mixed reef
Columbia TN

thejoshdavis · Apr 28, 2013

How much are you topping off to warrant a tank?

Check with Rick @ Synergy Reef

From my iDevice

Mike J. · Apr 28, 2013

I top off with kalk and used a five gal. bucket for years. Now I have a 10 gal. hid under a satellite frag tank.

bknapp · Apr 28, 2013

thejoshdavis said:
Check with Rick @ Synergy Reef

From my iDevice

+1, I have their Top Off Box, holds almost ten gallons, smoked acrylic and sits next to my stand as I don't have the room inside the stand for it.

JasonM38401 · Apr 28, 2013

Top of about 3-4 gal a day.

Jason Martin
110 tall mixed reef
Columbia TN

JasonM38401 · Apr 28, 2013

I'm thinking about getting a jbj auto top off.

Jason Martin
110 tall mixed reef
Columbia TN

bknapp · Apr 28, 2013

The JBJ ATO is nice, I am going to upgrade from mine and get the Tunze Osmolator.

Tennsquire · Apr 28, 2013

That's a fair bit. I only go through about a gallon a day on a 75 gallon with 2x 250 watt halides and 330 watts of VHOs. I've had a Lifereef float switch for several years (bulletproof), but don't think they're made anymore. I've also used the JBJ ATO, and they work fine. Top off reservoir is a 10 gallon in the stand (although it barely fits with the sump and the dosing jugs.

JasonM38401 said:
Top of about 3-4 gal a day.

Jason Martin
110 tall mixed reef
Columbia TN

Mike J. · Apr 28, 2013

I have a 120 with 32 gal sump, all open tops, 4000 gph flow, and only top off 1 1/2 - 2 gal a day. Sure you don't have a leak?

jmann124 · Apr 29, 2013

I also top off a gallon a day on my 75 with 20 long sump, and I know I don't have a leak.

Mike J. · Apr 29, 2013

If it were 3-4 gallons a day would you check for a leak?:neutral:

jmann124 · Apr 29, 2013

Yes, but it's always been roughly a gallon a day since I set it up 8 months ago. I checked for a leak when I first realized I was topping off a gallon a day. I have a slightly larger water surface than a standard 75g and a lot of surface agitation. My canopy and cabinet is open all the way across the back and I have a very open stand(inside) that my sump is in. I also run my sump/fuge light from 1030p-1030a. That and my wife keeps a warm house. Lol

Mike J. · Apr 29, 2013

I think you're missing this. I also have a 75 and top off about a gallon a day.

JasonM38401 said:
Top of about 3-4 gal a day.

Jason Martin
110 tall mixed reef
Columbia TN

jmann124 · Apr 29, 2013

My apologies. I confused this with another thread I had read earlier. I would agree that one would either be boiling their water or have a very unusual situation to top off 3-4 gallons a day on a 75.

Once again, my apologies on the confusion Mike.

Mike J. · Apr 29, 2013

I accept. No matter how hard I try I make mistakes. Like I've never seen a white branching sponge.

jmann124 · Apr 29, 2013

Mike J. said:
I accept. No matter how hard I try I make mistakes. Like I've never seen a white branching sponge.

Yes, that was a strange one for me as well.

bknapp · Apr 29, 2013

JasonM38401 said:
Top of about 3-4 gal a day.

Jason Martin
110 tall mixed reef
Columbia TN

We have the same sized tank, with the same footprint. I don't use nowhere near that much top off a day, and I am running halides. I go through maybe one to one and a half gallons a day.

pickupman66 · Apr 29, 2013

I can easily see that much a day from mine. I have a 55 gallon drum full of Ro water in the garage. home made float switch to an Aqualifter pump. runs about every 3 days id guess.

ibbennyb · Apr 29, 2013

i go through so much top off with my 300 im about to just hook up the ro/di unit to it direct. but i use the tunze osmolater and hands down wouldnt buy another top off.. with the optic sensor and shut off.. its probably the safest top off on the market..