Thinking of a clean install of a ATO

[350gt]

Thing is I dont want to see a white 5 gallon jug in my living room.... So is there some sort of cool looking resivour out there that I haven't seen?

Thinking of going through the wall and maybe having the jug there would be cool but where does the pump have to be? I don't have any power outlets on that side of the wall......


I am really getting tired of my skimmer getting thrown off cause of the fall in water level...

[Regric25]

You can talk to someone who does acrylic work and see if they can build you a custom resvour to hold the water that could sit on top of or next to your sump.. Maybe make it tall and skinny to fit in a smaller space. Depending on the pump you use it can be right next to the sump. I use an aqualifter pump but I dont think they are all that strong so you will have to account for headloss if you put the resivour far away. ATO systems save A LOT of headache.

[danvan75]

I had mister cobb make me a custom one out of black smoked acrylic, it sits on the outside of the stand

[350gt]

I had mister cobb make me a custom one out of black smoked acrylic, it sits on the outside of the stand
Thanks, I never thought of black acrylic.... That would work.

And Rick, don't know why I never thought of just building something under my tank... I don't have much room but something will fit if I have it made....

Thanks...

[350gt]

Daniel do you have a pic?

[Big_Pun]

I have a box open in the back made of oak that hides a 5 gallon bucket. it sits next to my tank.

[Regric25]

I know Jack (Txav8r) with Wet Acrylic can custom make you one any color you want. Even black or smoke colored since you probably want to be able to see the water level.

[350gt]

I have a box open in the back made of oak that hides a 5 gallon bucket. it sits next to my tank.

Thats another possibility, I have space on both sides...

[350gt]

I know Jack (Txav8r) with Wet Acrylic can custom make you one any color you want. Even black or smoke colored since you probably want to be able to see the water level.

The route I just might go...

[Europhyllia]

I use a dog food container. It's not pretty but the tall skinny dimensions fit perfectly into the space I am hiding it on. This kind of thing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AIRTIGHT-BLUE-DRY-DOG-CAT-PET-FOOD-SORAGE-CONTAINER-HOLDS-UP-20-POUNDS-/180728302446?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a143f0b6e

[BSJF]

A dog food container with a table cloth over it and a plant. The one I have looks similar to the one Karin uses. It came from petsmart and holds about 13 gallons and has wheels so I can move it. I also have a float valve in it so I can hook up the RO line directly to it.

[350gt]

If I can find one narrow enough, that will work too...



Now which ATO? Should I get one that will work with my RK?

[Regric25]

I would say yes only because you spend so much money on a RK you might as well use it lol. I just used a JBJ ATO and an aqualifter pump.

[Big_Pun]

if your using a rkl you need a sl1 and float switch or switches, depending on how you want it to work. or buy an individual one like jbj and you don't need to plug it in rk

[Europhyllia]

I have the RKL one on the seahorse tank and a Tunze one on the Reef Tank.
Honestly by the time you pay for the SL1 and the float thing you already spent quite a chunk of money plus your have the exposed wires thing going on.
If I had to do it over I'd go with another separate unit. The Tunze one bugs me because it has no shut off when the container is dry. Seems goofy for it being a more expensive set up. I've had a ReefFanatic unit before and was happy enough with it.
I would go with ReefFanatic or JBJ I guess.

[Big_Pun]

If you properly connect the wires and use a lil silicone and heat shrink it's fine on mine I made sure connections where far from anything.http://img.tapatalk.com/6330e6e5-bad1-732b.jpg

[Europhyllia]

yeah heat shrink might be a good idea. Thanks for the tip! I'll do that. :)

BUT if I had to do it over I'd skip the RKL one and just go with a separate unit

[krazykrakr2186]

I have also been trying to come up with a way to get rid of that random 5gal bucket in my living room. I'm gonna build a small end table looking deal with a pull out shelf. This will hold my reservoir. Then i'll just have to run a line a couple of feet to my sump. Still trying to weigh my options on what ATO unit to use though. I've just got to go make my end table now....

[350gt]

if your using a rkl you need a sl1 and float switch or switches, depending on how you want it to work. or buy an individual one like jbj and you don't need to plug it in rk


I am using the RK elite, it came with a SL1, can I use that one or do I have to buy another? Was trying to read the website but it doesn't specify much.

I wants as simple of a setup as possible.... Still trying to figure out how it works.

[allan]

Buy two floats, one for your top off reservoir and one for your sump.

Tie your rodi to the reservoir float to keep it full all the time.

Go through the wall (garage on the other side?) to the sump float. It's only a 1/4" hole, easily patched later.

The reservoir needs to be about 4' from the floor.

Gravity does the rest and you're out $30.

Oh... And you won't have to fill up anything anymore. It's all done for you. Just be sure to put in some online shutoff valves. You will want to turn it off when you do a water change for the obvious reasons.

[350gt]

I have also been trying to come up with a way to get rid of that random 5gal bucket in my living room. I'm gonna build a small end table looking deal with a pull out shelf. This will hold my reservoir. Then i'll just have to run a line a couple of feet to my sump. Still trying to weigh my options on what ATO unit to use though. I've just got to go make my end table now....


Good luck to you..... Having a cool looking reservoir seems like it might work for me. But then again I got room behind my tank to stash a plain dog food container which might be the cheaper option... And might be the way I just might do it.

[350gt]

4'? Or just higher than the sump?

My garage is on the other side but my RO unit is on the other side of the garage. I don't mind filling up a reservoir onCe a week, just the every other day is getting to me... Well not really but the skimmer getting thrown off is...

[allan]

I have this thought that higher it is the more pressure I get at the float.

Run your rodi to the other side of your garage. The pressure on that line is sufficient to push across the distance.

It was, by far, the best decision I had ever made. I kept forgetting to fill my reservoir. I don't think about it all now. About once a week I have to run straight rodi through to my sump because my top off is a kalk surrey. But other than that it's a completely hands off approach.

[350gt]

Nice

[zerreissen]

Now which ATO? Should I get one that will work with my RK?

I just picked up an Avast Marine ATO that I absolutely love! You can choose the interface that you want, which reduces the amount of wires, (I chose one for my Apex, they also have one to interface with the RKE/RKL) and it uses a pressure switch, rather than a float valve (much less chance of it failing). I also like the fact that it comes with a strong magnet mount, rather than a plastic hanging mount.

Here's a pic of it in my sump:

http://c3352251.r51.cf0.rackcdn.com/ato.JPG

And here is the link to Avast Marine's website:

http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/rigging/Top-off-Kit