Todd's DIY ATO...new pics and post #16!

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by Todd_Sails, Apr 21, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2011
    Messages:
    4,732
    Location:
    A Texan in S.E. Wisconsin
    After months of thinking about it, and alot of research on simple, and complicated ATO's, I built my own I felt would work best on my set up.

    I 'T'd the DI line of of my RO/Di to a float valve I installed in my sump.

    Fot me, this was the simplest, and would work the best, for under $20.

    I have a shut off valve in the feed line also.

    I ran a 1/4 inch line from my RO/DI under my kitchen sink, under the floor, thru the ceiling of my basement, back up thru the floor behind my DT, to a nice inexpensive float valve in my sump.

    Works great!

    NO more adding ~2 gallons /day by hand!
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2013
  2. Click Here!

  3. gabbyr189

    gabbyr189 Bubble Tip Anemone

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2011
    Messages:
    666
    Location:
    Philadelphia
    Have any pictures? If I were you, I would add an extra float valve in your sump above the water level. This way, if a snail, hermit, a star, or salt creep decides to mess with the inexpensive float switch, and the switch gets stuck in the "on" position, you won't end up with an overflowing tank.
     
  4. norg.

    norg. Kole Tang

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    1,766
    Location:
    Muskego WI
    +1 Ive heard of this too many times. A member a while back killed his entire tank loaded with corals this way. Not to mention that he destroyed his floor and water soaked into the apartment below his. That thought is scary.
     
  5. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2011
    Messages:
    4,732
    Location:
    A Texan in S.E. Wisconsin
    Thanks,

    But the nice float valve I installed, is IN MY SUMP, not my DT. ;-).

    I have no critters like a snail, etc, in my sump. Also, almost all of it is out or above the water.

    Also, they way I have it hooked up to my RO/DI, it probably makes about 1 gallon/hr max.
    I have at least 20gallons reserve in my sump before it over flows in my stand.

    The valve itself is shielded anyways, and nothing above water line is going to get in there anyway. It's all plastic except the pivot, which is a SS cotter pin.
    The plastic wingnut makes for quick and easy height adjustments.

    I'll post a pic.

    In the pics the large white pipe is my 1 inch return. The Strainer looking thing is my chaeto basket in my DIY 50gallon sump.

    BTW- this is a manual, float valve directly feed by my RO/DI from under my kitchen sink- currently at TDS.
    It's not an electric switch, etc.

    Work great!
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Apr 23, 2012
  6. ingtar_shinowa

    ingtar_shinowa Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    7,072
    Location:
    Billings Montana
    YET. I have snails in my DT, overflows, sump, skimmer, the NEXT ROOM OVER. Snails are amazing and insidious in their ability to travel where you least expect. Also they especially love equipment. Last night I heard the clicking of my vortech and though somehow it was misaligned but it was a nerite snail about the size of a nickle that wedged itself just far enough to hit the prop.
     
  7. norg.

    norg. Kole Tang

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    1,766
    Location:
    Muskego WI
    By the time you poured 20 gallons into your sump you would have started to do some serious damage to your livestock. That would make for a pretty large change in salinity.

    Ahahaha. The next room over. I found a hermit crab 2 rooms over, about 40 feet away from the nearest tank once. It was still alive too. I have no idea how that happened.
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. silor

    silor Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    541
    Location:
    Las Vegas
    Wow that is kinda scary with no back up float or anything ?
    Shoot mine sticks sometimes, I would never hook it up to my unit just my 2cents
     
  10. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2011
    Messages:
    4,732
    Location:
    A Texan in S.E. Wisconsin
    Thanks for the comments and concerns.

    This is going to work well for me and my system.

    It can be seen near the end of my newest short 3 min DT video in my sig.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2012
  11. FatBastad

    FatBastad Zoanthid

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    Messages:
    1,133
    Location:
    MA
    I concur many, many folks have had floods when setting up right from the rodi...
    If you have a controller on your setup you may want to look into a water bug alarm or simply a cheaper independent one with a audible alarm that sits on the floor near your sump. ;D
     
  12. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2011
    Messages:
    4,732
    Location:
    A Texan in S.E. Wisconsin
    FB,

    Thanks,

    I'm doing just that soon.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2012