ATO methods?

Markk96

Markk96

Premium Member
How are you guys handling your Auto Top off methods? My sump has a 3 Gallon Fresh Water Chamber, I am trying to figure out how I want to keep it full with Fresh RODI water.
 
So wait, you're trying to keep the fresh water tank full, not automate the tank top off? If that's the case, you really don't want to automate topping off the top off container. If your tank auto top off sticks on, you will continuously dump water in your tank killing your livestock and flooding your house. Just set up a large container for RO/DI water, so you can make large batches, then you can check your ATO container as part of your regular maintenance and manually fill it as needed.
 
smoothdog said:
So wait, you're trying to keep the fresh water tank full, not automate the tank top off? If that's the case, you really don't want to automate topping off the top off container. If your tank auto top off sticks on, you will continuously dump water in your tank killing your livestock and flooding your house. Just set up a large container for RO/DI water, so you can make large batches, then you can check your ATO container as part of your regular maintenance and manually fill it as needed.
Click to expand...



I added a 24 gallon nano cube tank for ro/di and it gives me 2 weeks of topping off. Much better than the 10 gallon trash can I started with. Added benefit is I can see the level easy and it has a lid to reduce evaporation. I would like to connect a ro/di system to it with a manual valve though to make filling it easier. Staying away from automatic.

Previously I used the Reef Genesis storm as an automatic option and it worked well but was not cheap.


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smoothdog said:
So wait, you're trying to keep the fresh water tank full, not automate the tank top off? If that's the case, you really don't want to automate topping off the top off container. If your tank auto top off sticks on, you will continuously dump water in your tank killing your livestock and flooding your house. Just set up a large container for RO/DI water, so you can make large batches, then you can check your ATO container as part of your regular maintenance and manually fill it as needed.
Click to expand...
I have a ato from the fresh water container to the return. It works fine.

My goal is to fill the fresh water container with an ATO
I have ideas already and I am not worried about overflow.

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Markk96 said:
Gravity will not work, I will need a pump or something to go about 13'.
Click to expand...

So you need a way to keep your RO/ATO reservoir filled?
I'm not 100% confident on what you are going for but if you just want a less labor intensive way of filling up the ATO reservoir I would recommend plumbing a small MJ or something over to the ATO and using a wifi or remote controlled switch and just filling it up as you are watching it. That assumes you already have another RO reservoir near your RO filter but I don't know if you do.

Some people plumb the RO directly to the tank or directly to the ATO reservoir but that scares me and I won't do it.
 
MperRluvR said:
Those are cutoffs though not a solenoid or anything and would not really be for ATO just for if it detects a leak. I think the pads are even one time use.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I miss-read the prior post. I read it as "I am worried about overflow" so thought that cutoff might work to detect a leak and cut the flow of water. I now see "not worried about overflow". My bad.
 
I am going to use a shutoff solenoid with two optical eyes as a backup there will be a float valve and as well my RODI has an auto shutoff.

I am going to use the solenoid on a timer so it will run on a certain time everyday.

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Markk96 said:
I am going to use a shutoff solenoid with two optical eyes as a backup there will be a float valve and as well my RODI has an auto shutoff.

I am going to use the solenoid on a timer so it will run on a certain time everyday.

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Click to expand...

So you are filling directly from your RO/DI filter daily. This would still scare me just a little, even with double backups. Also, starting and stopping your ro/di daily just to make a small amount of water will burn through your DI resin very quickly. I would try to find a way to use a larger storage container that could be filled every week or two and be used to top off your auto top off container, but that's just my 2 cents. It never hurts to have a large container of filtered water around for emergency water changes too.
 
smoothdog said:
So you are filling directly from your RO/DI filter daily. This would still scare me just a little, even with double backups. Also, starting and stopping your ro/di daily just to make a small amount of water will burn through your DI resin very quickly. I would try to find a way to use a larger storage container that could be filled every week or two and be used to top off your auto top off container, but that's just my 2 cents. It never hurts to have a large container of filtered water around for emergency water changes too.
Click to expand...
I run a water line to my fridge with no backup.

The auto flush on the RODI will help with the TDS creep. If the solenoid is only powered up for a set time max say 4 hours the risk is minimal. I am not worried about the DI resign.

In the future I will have a better solution but it is not available on the market yet., along with auto water changes.


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Ah, didn't realize you had an autoflush on your rodi. That's a game changer. Is that something you designed, or did it come with your rodi? I've never seen one.
 
Markk96 said:
Gravity will not work, I will need a pump or something to go about 13'.
Click to expand...

Yeah im curious how you got the gravity feed to work 100% of the time.

This thread seems like there is only one reliable easiest answer.....
get a top off kit and a large as you can container for RODI water.

what am i missing?
 
clevername2000 said:
Yeah im curious how you got the gravity feed to work 100% of the time.



This thread seems like there is only one reliable easiest answer.....

get a top off kit and a large as you can container for RODI water.



what am i missing?
Click to expand...
I cannot use gravity and plus I want an automated system. I have something in the works.

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I have a peristaltic pump running from my 55g RO barrel to my sump. It's controlled by a timer and float switch/relay to prevent the ato from running all day( just in case a float switch sticks).


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