Funky Top Off water

[Piazzon12]

I set up an ATO two months ago. It uses a 5G bucket for water storage, and I just fill it to about 3G as necessary. It has a lid, but I drilled a hole in order to let air in (for when the pump is running). The other day when i went to refill it, the bucket was kinda funky smelling and the sides were slimy...
What can I do to prevent this? I only need 1.5G a week at most for top off, so is the water sitting in there to long? Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[nwrogers]

Are you using RO/DI?

 

[Piazzon12]

only when making saltwater, not topoff. Topoff is just tapwater with start-right. Is that the problem?

 

[nwrogers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10276577#post10276577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Piazzon12
only when making saltwater, not topoff. Topoff is just tapwater with start-right. Is that the problem?

That would be my guess. Try using RO/DI for your top off and see if the problem goes away.

Also where are you getting you RO water from? Are you making it yourself or buying it at a store? When I tested the RO water from the store it came up 80 on my TDS meter. When I tested it directly out of my tap it came up 83. When I tested the RO/DI water I made it came up 0. So if you are buying store bought RO you may want to test it before doing this test...