I am going out of town for 4 days and only have a 5 gallon container for ATO. I want to get a bigger container and have found someone that has 15 gallon containers that used to store pickled garlic cloves. Will this be ok to use, if there is some residue left inside? Any help is appreciated!
ATO container
- Thread starter Nniemeyer
- Start date
d0ughb0y
Active member
I assume you must have a really large tank for 5 gallons to not be enough for 4 days.
I have a 60 and 5 gallons last me 2 weeks. When I had to be out for 21 days, I simply connected 2 5 gallon buckets with a siphon. As the ATO pump takes out water from the first bucket, the siphon will pull from the second bucket to keep both bucket water level the same. You must test this first before going on vacation to be absolutely sure it will work.
I have a 60 and 5 gallons last me 2 weeks. When I had to be out for 21 days, I simply connected 2 5 gallon buckets with a siphon. As the ATO pump takes out water from the first bucket, the siphon will pull from the second bucket to keep both bucket water level the same. You must test this first before going on vacation to be absolutely sure it will work.
Land_shark067
New member
you should be able to clean any residue out. I suggest bleach because after it evaporates it doesn't leave any soap residue behind. you can also run a test, after you clean the container, add water and test ph and alkalinity. let it sit a day or so and retest. if you have drastic changes then there is some residue left in the container that is effecting the water.
Jscwerve
New member
I wish I had it that simple. I burn between 2-2.5 gallons a day on my 125. It is open top and 6' long though. I also live in a very dry climate, humidity is sitting at a lovely 15% right now. I can understand what the OP is going through.
I like the idea of those containers if cleaned out really well. It doesn't even seem that if there was a miniscule bit of residual it would crash a tank either because they housed essentially a vinegar mix with garlic in it. Things we use on and in our tanks all the time.
I would wash the heck out of the container with RODI and a little bleach, then let it dry out completely, like a week.
