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Post by hitmanhoos on Jun 21, 2009 15:16:19 GMT -5
Any ideas for a good ATO reservoir? I'm thinking of getting a 32 gal Rubbermaid brute trash can, but I'd love to hear of any good alternatives.
Thanks
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L0S3R
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Post by L0S3R on Jun 21, 2009 15:50:49 GMT -5
BRUTE is the most commonly reccomended resevoir. you could also use an aquarium...
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Dyami
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Post by Dyami on Jun 21, 2009 16:52:09 GMT -5
I am all for the BRUTE. I have two of them now. They are durable and closable. I have one for fresh RO water and one for premixed salt water. I need to go ahead and post a few pictures here for your viewing pleasure.
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Dyami
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Post by Dyami on Jun 21, 2009 16:57:15 GMT -5
Well...I had a second. Here you go. This is what I have, maybe a few others can post what they got too.  |
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Post by hitmanhoos on Jun 21, 2009 17:13:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the pics. Where did you get yours?
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Dyami
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Post by Dyami on Jun 21, 2009 19:05:57 GMT -5
I got mine from Lowes. Grainger in South Charleston has them as well. I didn't bother to check pricing on either I just went ahead and bought them. But I know Grainer has the wheel dolly attachments too so you can roll them around.
I don't plan on having to move them. I am going to tidy up the hole in the wall and plumb everything so I can flip switched next to the tank to do water changes.
Whatever works for where you are putting everything. My basement is ugly anyway, so making everything hidden and neat is almost pointless.
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Solareclipsed
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Post by Solareclipsed on Jun 21, 2009 20:40:02 GMT -5
I bought mine from lowes also. If I remember correctly it was in the $35 range but I might be wrong.
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cdeboard
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Post by cdeboard on Jun 22, 2009 6:31:06 GMT -5
Nice setup, I need one, I am doing 2 gallons a day in the 125 by hand
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Post by hitmanhoos on Jun 22, 2009 7:49:36 GMT -5
Looks like I'm going to Lowes. Thanks guys
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Dyami
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Post by Dyami on Jun 22, 2009 10:43:27 GMT -5
I was adding at least a gallon/ day. I finally broke down and bought the Tunze Water Level Controller. SOOOOOO worth it.
Now I turn on the RO/DI unit once a week to top off the resevoir and that is it. It does all the work. I get to spend more time staring into the tank. Not to mention, it is healthier for everything.
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Post by brianatwork on Jun 22, 2009 21:31:09 GMT -5
I used a 5gal bucket and it would last about a week.
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tyler
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Post by tyler on Jul 22, 2009 12:38:52 GMT -5
I just use a 10 gallon tank for my ATO reservoir.
I use the Brute trashcans for mixing/storing larger amounts of water though.
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Jul 22, 2009 14:52:59 GMT -5
plan on doing almost the exact same setup under the stairs and all
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Dyami
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Post by Dyami on Aug 7, 2009 7:54:00 GMT -5
I always thought under the stairs was a waste of space, so I thought it was fitting to put it to good use. I need to get some update pictures on there. There are few more hoses running through the wall. I added a pump into my saltwater can that is piped into the sump on my tank. When I do a water change, I pump 5-10 gal out into jugs then I just plug in the pump for the saltwater tub and unplug it when it gets to my mark on the sump tank. The plug for the pump in the saltwater tub is on the side with my sump and display tank, so I can watch the water level from there. This has made water weekly water changes so easy. I used to dread doing water changes, it took so long to do mix it all up wait on it to get to the right temp. make sure all the salt was dissolved. Now I make up the saltwater ahead of time and it has a pump and heater in it already set for the same temp as the tank.
Much faster and worth every penny of the cost.
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 7, 2009 8:59:16 GMT -5
yep its why I want to do it make two or more marks on sump one for full and others for amount of water want to remove. push one button to pump water from sump to drain. then another to pump saltwater back in. water change by pushing a few buttons.
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Post by ADMIN on Aug 7, 2009 9:14:23 GMT -5
Why have buttons  |
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 7, 2009 9:20:28 GMT -5
how to do it then?
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Solareclipsed
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Post by Solareclipsed on Aug 7, 2009 23:26:47 GMT -5
You need a really big lever to throw and poof water change done. hehe
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cdeboard
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Post by cdeboard on Aug 7, 2009 23:56:57 GMT -5
Lol i believe they are talking about float switches. But who knows with this crew. Ron is on a hilarity kick tonight.
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 8, 2009 6:15:47 GMT -5
what I am talking about you dont need float switches. one switch supplies the power to a pump in the sump. which when turned on pumps water out of the sump into the drain. second switch supplies power to second pump in new saltwater can. which when turned on pumps fresh saltwater to sump. just flip first switch till reaches 10% water change mark. flip first switch off. then flip second switch till reaches full mark. no more carrying buckets. very easy to wireup and pulmb as well.
now ATO will be a tunze to keep evrything stable in between water changes of course.
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Post by ADMIN on Aug 8, 2009 9:16:59 GMT -5
Nope you don't need any buttons, think about it.
Make it 100% automatic all you need is a few relays and good quality timer and then you just need to make sure the machine has fresh SW in it at all times. Of course you could automate that part as well but it would begin to look like a Rube Goldberg Device. It's a simple logic circuit relay, anyway that's what I intend to do with my tank one day. The problem is it's a machine and when the machines rebel against us your tank will likely kill you.
Good luck.
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 8, 2009 10:02:36 GMT -5
but would you not run a risk of the SW not matching the tank. with the switch's you would have the chance to test the water. while if it was automated you might not think to. I guess it would be a personal choice. I do however will have a small portion of SW changes automated because I plan on skimming alittle wet taking waste to drain and controller tell witch pump either the FW or the SW pump needs to be kicked on to fill tank due to salinity. or something along them lines.
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Post by ADMIN on Aug 8, 2009 12:16:14 GMT -5
No no danger at all. I run an Osmolator for my actual top off, I set my SG at 1.025 and it stays there. All you would have to do is mix 1.025 water and keep a small powerhead and heater in the vat for the auto changer. When the new SW comes in there would be no change in SG.
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 8, 2009 12:45:33 GMT -5
well when I start plumbing all this up ill have to have you come and help me then  |
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cdeboard
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Post by cdeboard on Aug 8, 2009 13:04:14 GMT -5
Sounds interesting.. would love to see it...
I hate doing top offs and water changes lol
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Post by ADMIN on Aug 8, 2009 13:57:54 GMT -5
well when I start plumbing all this up ill have to have you come and help me then lol like I have time to do anything but I can send you a diagram if your interested. If you don't have one I do suggest an osmolatorfor your top off. All you need to do is put fresh water in a reservoir and leave it alone. Best thing I ever bought, we run one on almost every tank at the shop now. |
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 8, 2009 20:40:18 GMT -5
planing on getting one. diagram would be fine I'm pretty good at figuring how to put stuff together. just don't get the part how I would program something to change out like 30 gal once a week or however often I need to do 10% water changes
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Post by ADMIN on Aug 8, 2009 22:56:45 GMT -5
I'll explain when I get to a real computer it's hard to type on this phone lol.
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dreminon
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Post by dreminon on Aug 9, 2009 6:23:13 GMT -5
lol know how that is
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