Ato

[o0jmadr0x0o]

i was thinking about getting a top of from www.autotopoff.com

should i spend the 10 extra beans to get the double switch controler or is the single fine?

are these things reliable?

and does the resevior need the be heated and circulated and what not if im gonna use a 120gph powerhead

 

[NYreefNoob]

ato

yes it needs to be circulated. i dont heat mine especialy now with temps rising. i should have gotten a dual switch { turn return off in case of flooding }

 

[Awibrandy]

Yes, duo switch. My reservouir is not circulated. It's a 10g tank that needs to be refilled every two to three days. I have the aqua hub deluxe kit model $49.99.
"aquahub.com"

 

[Tonyscoots84]

the resevoir does not need to be heated or circulated... if it dont have salt in it dont worry about it... just keep a cover on it ...

 

[TimberTDI]

You don't have to circulate it. My topoff water is a pet food container on wheels. Picked it up in Petsmart for like $20. Something like the one in the pic. It's 11 gallons and has an airtight lid.

Also spend the $10 bucks and get the double switch. You'll thank yourself after the first flood it prevents.

Steven

 

[fritz]

NO NEED to circulate the top off water.

I have the dual switch from autotopoff.com it is reliable but you do need to soak it in vinegar every now and again. Just like anything exposed to the surface of our water it will get a calcium / salt buildup over time. This buildup can cause it to stick, which is what the second switch is for. I soak mine every three months or so for about an hour.

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

has anyone had a flood with the single or double switch?

would it be wiser to just get the JBJ Auto top off?
http://finsdepot.com/pro1072688.html

 

[NYreefNoob]

ato

ok let me re-interate on having a circulation pump. i have a 20g tub for ato that gets used up in about a week and half. with the water covered and no movement it will start to become stagnent and you will see a film start to cover top of water. so my opinion use something to mix water up

 

[TimberTDI]

Rick,

Check your TDS levels. It may be time to change your RO filters.

 

[NYreefNoob]

at

if i need to change them already i better send unit back. it's 3 weeks old. a aquasafe 6 stage unit. reguardless of how pure of water you have it will get a film atop it. take a look at your ato holding tank. with the light on it at an angle. maybe it's just me. but i preffer to keep the water moving

 

[TimberTDI]

There's nothing wrong with keeping the water circulating. If you have a spare pump, why not? I don't think you would need a heater, the heat from the pump should keep it close enough.

Rick, BTW, I keep 40 gallons of RO/DI and 40 gallons of mixed salt. I only had a film on the freshwater in the beginning, before I changed out my 3 year old membrane. I do keep the salt reservoir circulating and heated.

Steven

 

[tripstank]

You can use circulation pump in the reservoir and add kalkwasser to it. It will will keep the kalkwasser nice and stirred. As far as the film goes, if you are using kalk, get used it, other than that I would clean the reservoir well with warm water and light detergent.

Also, has anyone used a ATO on the tank and not the sump? Any problems?

Sorry don't want to hijack

 

[Deanos]

You can use circulation pump in the reservoir and add kalkwasser to it. It will will keep the kalkwasser nice and stirred.

Bad idea. How long do you think a pump running in kalkwasser will last before it gets calcified?

 

[TimberTDI]

Since this has been hijacked;

• What if you had two five-gallon containers.
• One has only freshwater with the pump,
• the other has freshwater with kalk.
• Pump from bucket one into bucket two.
• Put a check valve between bucket one & two, to prevent a back flow of kalkwater.

This just popped into my head, I have no idea if it would work. I guess bucket two would have to be pressure sealed some how.

Steven

I

 

[DevIouS]

other than that I would clean the reservoir well with warm water and light detergent.

You're kidding.....right?



& the point of mixing Kalkwasser & waiting an hour, is to have the crud settle to the bottom.
Why would you circulate that & dose it to your tank?



"The solids on the bottom of a limewater reservoir contain everything that did not dissolve, or that dissolved and later precipitated from solution. Such solids could contain magnesium hydroxide and carbonate, calcium hydroxide and carbonate (though calcium hydroxide is fairly unlikely in unsaturated limewater) and a variety of other impurities, such as alumina, silica, etc."