Does anyone use saltwater for an ATO?

[xkon]

Just curious if anyone is using mixed saltwater instead of just RODI for their top off? The reason I am asking is that if you run a fairly wet skim, then you essentially are taking out some saltwater which over a course of time would lower the salinity. I'm guessing probably not enough to make a difference, but just wondering if anyone tops off with water at a low salinity, like 1.005 or 1.010 to negate that?

 

[CStrickland]

When I've had to run a lot of water out through the skimmer because I medicated the tank I've just added extra saltwater during a water change. Like take out 5 gallons and add back 6. By the time it evaporated down far enough to kick in the ato, the salinity was where I wanted it. The rest of the time my water changes keep it from getting out of whack even skimming pretty wet and carbon dosing.

I've heard of people just adding a teaspoon of salt to the sump when they dump the skimmer cup but that seems kinda risky.

The issue with topping off is evaporation isn't that stable. Depending on the season, room temp, humidity, etc. it's hard to use the ato to dose stuff that's more tricky than kalk. On top of that, skimming is probs not a steady salinity reduction either. It's only taking the salt attached to the poop, that could vary. Its not like you could just test the skimmate to see how much you lost each time.

 

[mapleredta]

No. Salt doesn't evaporate like water does. You'll raise your salinity by doing what you're talking about doing.

 

[RMD photography]

No. Salt doesn't evaporate like water does. You'll raise your salinity by doing what you're talking about doing.

He is not talking about evaporation, he is talking about wet skimming, which would be removing saltwater.

I have heard of people essentially never doing traditional water changes by constantly wet skimming and then adding saltwater as needed. Basically skim out a gallon jug and add a gallon of saltwater.

But as said earlier, getting it to balance with an ATO would be almost impossible.

 

[Roccus]

unless you have a really small tank the amount you actually remove will be minimal... this makes the case for regular water checks and water changes...my 20 G skims very wet and evaporates like mad... I have several types of shrimp, a flame scallop and emerald crabs as well as frog spawn and bubble coral in it... I top off with RO/DI daily ( twice a day in the morning and again at night) and empty the skimmer each morning.. I do weekly 25% water change and even those delicate critters have no issues..

 

[ReefTeacher]

I have only done this when returning from hyposalinity to normal levels. The ATO made this transition nice and gentle.

 

[KafudaFish]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1534930&highlight=wet+skim+waterchange

That should give you directions on what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[ca1ore]

I run my skimmer on the wet side also, but I don't find it impacts the salinity all that much. Whenever I do a water change, I add water that is slightly higher salinity than the display.

 

[Bent]

I don't know why they can't make a Salinity controller. Then it could take water from two seperate places, one freshwater and one salt water.

 

[ca1ore]

I don't know why they can't make a Salinity controller. Then it could take water from two seperate places, one freshwater and one salt water.

Apex has one, which I do use; I just don't use it to differentiate ATO reservoirs. Probes can drift which makes them, IMO, a poor choice for this kind of control. I simply use mine for monitoring and triggering alerts.