Question about running a dripper

[Tcox]

Hi all,

I have 60 Cube and with my sump, there's not much room for an ATO reservoir due to the size of my sump. I'm only running softies and a few LPS. Would it be reasonable to just run a proactive drip rather than an ATO? I could probably only fit a gallon jug or so.

 

[TYC]

Hi all,

Would it be reasonable to just run a proactive drip rather than an ATO? I could probably only fit a gallon jug or so.

sorry but what's a "proactive drip"?

 

[MrDemonicAngel]

if the entire content of the gallon jug can be poured into the tank/sump without overflow then I don't see any concern with doing it.

 

[Tcox]

sorry but what's a "proactive drip"?

Sorry, what I mean by proactive drip is use the dripper instead of an ATO. My intent would be to have a slow constant drip. My hope would be to only have to do manual top-offs every other day or so instead of small top offs once or twice per day.

 

[TYC]

Sorry, what I mean by proactive drip is use the dripper instead of an ATO. My intent would be to have a slow constant drip. My hope would be to only have to do manual top-offs every other day or so instead of small top offs once or twice per day.

I would get a pump w/ float and setup an ATO and not have to worry about monitoring salinity to automate it. ATO pump does not take up much space and it'll replenish as needed. During the dry winter seasons here in NJ, there's a lot more evaporation than during warm summer season so ATO requirement fluctuates. I've seen people place a large ATO reservoir next to stand and cover it with a cabinet or something. In my previous 65 gal cube, I had a 2 gal ATO reservoir that I was constantly refilling every few days. Wiht my 93 gal cube that I've put in basement, plan to drill a small hole in sheet rock behind the tank stand and run a tube to a 5-gal ATO reservoir hidden from view in the furnace room.

 

[A sea K]

Sorry, what I mean by proactive drip is use the dripper instead of an ATO. My intent would be to have a slow constant drip. My hope would be to only have to do manual top-offs every other day or so instead of small top offs once or twice per day.

Absolutely, I have done this on every system I've had to date. Some were housed in the stand and some were housed remotely. I'm currently using a 15gal container situated in a kitchen cabinet, it's gravity fed and has a small valve to control the drip rate. I must admit it does require adjusting every 4 to 5 days but as long as you keep a regular visual check your water level then the salinity does not vary enough to impact anything.