RO top off without buckets or tanks

[toneytigger4]

Howdy folks I've started and finished a project to eliminate the the need for a RO holding bin but wanted to get some feedback on what you guys are doing I have a 75 gallon tank setup back in December I got sick of having to fill the resevoir every two days what i did was added a fridge icemaker valve inline from my sump to the RO system direct using a magnetic float switch, Has anyone done this before if so what were the results the only advantage I have gained so far is that my salinity stays stable my protein skimmer has gone nuts because the water level stays exactly were it needs to be, I have had floats fail but they only fail off not on so im not overly concerned about floods if need be I can run two floats in series what do you think

[Cammed_02]

At the very least I would get a 2nd float valve in case one fails. I guess you couldn't get a bigger reservoir to fit under the stand?

I have a 6 gallon gravity fed ATO reservoir in my 75 gallon and I only have to refill it about every 5 days.

[toneytigger4]

yeah I think I will add the second float (wow) I was using the same size bucket and had to fill it way more than that but I dont have a lid on top to slow down the evaporation but im running a custom led system that has no noticable heat

[Cammed_02]

That's weird, I have dual 150w metal halides over my tank and I evaporate a little over a gallon a day. With leds I would figure you evap less. You keep your house hot during the day?

[ErikH]

Do either of you use fans to help increase evap? What do your tanks run at temp wise?

[Cammed_02]

I actually need some fans, my tank creeps up to 81 towards the end of the light cycle.

[ErikH]

I actually need some fans, my tank creeps up to 81 towards the end of the light cycle.

I tell you what, the 15 dollar WalMart fans that are about 15x15 work wonders if you have room to cram them under your tank. You'll evap like crazy. When I had my 175 and 250 over the tank with the fan on it was dropping at a rate of 1/10 a degree every 5 minutes. I was floored! Right now with my 2 400s, and my house temp on 78, I get home and the lights are still on. They are programmed to turn off once the tank reaches 82. Once I get my chiller, I plan on running at 79, because below 80 degrees you get a ton less algae growth in my experience.

[Cammed_02]

I tell you what, the 15 dollar WalMart fans that are about 15x15 work wonders if you have room to cram them under your tank. You'll evap like crazy. When I had my 175 and 250 over the tank with the fan on it was dropping at a rate of 1/10 a degree every 5 minutes. I was floored! Right now with my 2 400s, and my house temp on 78, I get home and the lights are still on. They are programmed to turn off once the tank reaches 82. Once I get my chiller, I plan on running at 79, because below 80 degrees you get a ton less algae growth in my experience.

So would it be better to run one of these pointed at the sump or 2 of the smaller 4" clip on fans pointed at each MH fixture?

[ErikH]

Run them so it blows long ways across your sump. You should get about a 2 degree drop.

[toneytigger4]

my house usually is set at 77 degrees the tank itself is on average it stays at 77 to 79 but yeah its not an exaggeration that a five gallon bucket is getting toped off at the end of two days, I can tell u my tank looks a little happier especially since my air bubbles are eliminated when i dont get to the bucket in time

[ErikH]

my house usually is set at 77 degrees the tank itself is on average it stays at 77 to 79 but yeah its not an exaggeration that a five gallon bucket is getting toped off at the end of two days, I can tell u my tank looks a little happier especially since my air bubbles are eliminated when i dont get to the bucket in time

Yeah keeping your tank topped off automatically is a HUGE benefit to you. I have always hated the routine of having to make water in 5g jugs daily. Automation is great, just make sure you add a second float, just to be safe. Chaeto, snails, crabs, buildup can get in there and totally mess up your day. Do you not have DI on your system? It helps!

[toneytigger4]

no im gonna swing by Pauls at reefs2u and pick one up on Friday I know he's got em for cheap i'm not really sure how it works I know how the RO system works tho and while im there I will pick up another bulk head fitting for second switch to avoid a tide pool in my kitchen lol

[rrasco]

My rimless 105 evaps 2-3 gallons daily. I'm working on getting my water change system up. There will be 2 ATOs, one for the RODI storage and one for the sump. They will both be controlled by autotopoff.com double float switches and the RODI storage will also have a float valve as a 3rd fail safe. I'm not sure if I'm going to run the sump ATO directly from the RODI storage or if I want to add a 2nd container just in case the sump setup fails (even with 2 switches) I don't have an unlimited supply of water that will keep pumping into the sump and crash my salinity.

[toneytigger4]

Yeah same here with capacity so I dont have to worry so much about crashing my salinity I have about a 2.5 gallon output of RO which is more than enough for me per day I just gotta stay on top of things when its time for a water change

[SABOB]

I wouldn't run RODI straight into sump, found out every time your RODI unit comes on, the TDS is high,bypassing the membrane and DI chamber long enough to bring TDS down will prolong the life of your DI resin


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[toneytigger4]

im not going to bypass the DI im actually need to add a DI that I will pick up tomorrow if thats what youre thinking or maybe im not following your thread correctly sabob can you clarify

[ErikH]

You should try and pick up a dual DI (I run a triple) as it makes it easier to not have to change the DI resin so much. It gets expensive! :)

[SABOB]

When you first turn on your RODI unit, the initial TDS output can be high, it's recommended to run unit and bypass the DI canister until TDS is low ( 5-6) before allowing to run through DI canister.


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[reefreak]

lol i dont have a ato so every morning i am topping it off lol

[allan]

I run my ATO directly from the rodi unit.

The issue that I have is that I can't leave it on 24/7. Eventually that switch goes bad and the unit starts putting out waste water no matter whether you're making water or not. I've replaced it a few times, now I just turn it on every other day to fill up the sump. If I forget, no worries because it won't over fill my sump.

I used, initially, the auto topoff.com floats, and they gave up on me. I would definitely do the dual for peace of mind. Me? I will probably never leave the simple/cheap float valve assembly. I check the tank daily, and the float is one of my checks so I'm not concerned with anything disrupting the mechanism.

[toneytigger4]

Thats good to know allan now all i gotta do is get my waste water tube out to my plants I can kill two birds with one drain lol

[allan]

I'm routing my waste water out to an overfill barrel this weekend. Then I'll run that out to the plants in the yard.

[toneytigger4]

yeah I got a few elephant ears and a banana tree that cant get enough water

[ErikH]

I run mine into a hose that's high up in the air. I just set the hose in my front yard which slopes down toward the street. That's how I water my yard. :)

[toneytigger4]

hmm thats a thought I wonder if can get high enough without to much back pressure and get all the potted plants