Hello all and welcome to another DIY penny-pinching project from yours truly..

Up today. A DIY ATO reservoir and DIY easy-refill solution for all of you out there that DON'T have in-line auto refill systems and emergency shut-offs.

I have broken the steps down a little better for this build for those who may be trying a DIY for the first time and wish to replicate it.

I must say that there are ENDLESS ways to modify, change, or revamp this idea.

I don't know if anyone has already done this... but I don't go looking for ideas, I try to come up with my own as best I can. Thanks for checking it out!

What you will need:

Reservoir brand, size, hose size, bulkhead size, etc is completely up to you. Here's what worked for me:

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And, of course, the one thing every true DIY'er needs on hand at all times, some sort of all-purpose adhesive that is Reef Safe. I use this.

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Mainly because it says "ULTIMATE" !!
IT MUST be good stuff if it says ultimate on the packaging. No joke. ;)

You will Need:

- 1 water container (what you are filling with or transporting the water with) I use the one pictured, made by WECO, it has a water-tight seal that is threaded and a simple threaded plastic air-bleed valve to allow for less splashing when pouring. It also has a gasket in the screw-top to improve even further the seal for no leaks, even when full of 5 gals, and hung upside down.

- Power Drill or equivalent
- 1.75" holesaw
- 1.5" bulk head
- box cutter or equivalent
- latex/rubber gloves
- 1" Tubing - this fits perfect in the hole we will make in the container screw-top, and also is a perfect slip into a 1.5" slip bulkhead.
- any reef-safe Silicone or Glue can be used for the seal we will apply later on.

STEP 1
MEASURE EVERYTHING AND FIT-CHECK HOSES AND CONNECTIONS BEFOREHAND TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT TUBING, BULK HEAD AND HOLE SAW.

ALSO MEASURE THE DISTANCE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE STANDING AWAY FROM THE RESERVOIR WHEN YOU WILL EVENTUALLY BE FILLING IT UNDER THE TANK. I USED APPROX 18" OF HOSE IN MY APPLICATION.


Step 2
Figure out which corner of the reservoir cover you like best for where the "fill point" will be, and use the holesaw to cut out ur bulkhead hole.

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Step 3
Install bulkhead with the threads on the bottom side of the reservoir cover.

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Step 4
Make a "x" pattern with a razor blade across the small plastic center piece of the containers' screw-top and then cut out the flaps you have made to reveal a nice empty circle cut-out in the middle.

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Once you have done Step 4, you should have something left that resembles this.
** note that it is JUST shy of 1" in diameter. This will allow for a tight "squeeze fit" of your filler tube, which is exactly 1" **

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Step 5
Cut the tubing to your desired length. Add at least 2" to your original measurement! You can always trim more off, you cannot add more back on once you cut it too short. (see step 1 if u forgot to figure out the length you want for your individual setup)

Once the tubing is cut, go ahead and slide the tubing into the screw-top hole you just finished making, and leave a good 2" hanging out the bottom to reduce water splashing back up and testing your seal.

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Check the length AGAIN by doing a test fit on the cover AFTER you reinstall it on the reservoir!

Step 6
*** Latex gloves are Strongly Advised at this point to save yourself from getting adhesive all over your fingers. ***
Safety first ;Nurse

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Apply your choice of sealant. I used silicone 1st, and while it was still malleable, I pressed with my fingers along the gap to force the silicone down in between the hose and the threads of the screw-cap.

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I allowed 16-hour cure, and then I applied a bead of my all-purpose adhesive for a nice clean finish on top. Here's how it turned out after I was done:

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Allow this at least another 16 hours to fully cure, and then test for leaks.

FINAL STEP:

Fill your mobile Water Container, screw on the new, beautiful, DIY AUTO FILLER 9000 cap you made, and then walk your bad self over to your sump, plug in the opposite end of your filler tube to the Reservoir Bulkhead, and FILLLLLLERRRRUP!


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I hope you enjoyed this build, and best of luck on your new ATO refill experience!

Until next time, Stay salty my friends!

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Note from the Editor:

@RichtheReefer21 dedicates this article to his late companion, Diesel, pictured below.

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Author Profile: @RichtheReefer21

My name is Rich, 35 years old, never married, no kids. I actually started reefing in hopes to fill a hole left in the home by a passing friend, Diesel, my 10 y.o. mastiff. He was 100% on a Thursday, and the following Saturday I had to let him go. It was unexpected and hit me like a train. I was out drinking and never wanted to be home, for weeks. Reefing saved me. Literally.

I love to come up with fixes and out-of-the-box ideas to help save money and make the reefing routine as easy as I can without breaking the bank.

My first system was a used 55g long with a hob skimmer, a canister, local LFS knowledge and no QT regimen or understanding of the concept. Five months in, and rushed as a system can get, the outbreak hit and the losses began tallying up. I reached out to R2R and found my forever home. I came across this 125g, transferred everything over in 3 days and ran it fallow while the survivors were treated in the 55g.

Since then I have been building the 125g system while it was wet and operating, including a complete drain and gain project when I drained, drilled and plumbed a sump upgrade while all my rock and livestock sat in brutes strewn across my home.

I love sharing other reefers' stories and experiences. Always ready to learn the next chapter. Humble and grateful to have come across R2R and the community. Changed my life. Literally.

Thank you for this honor, and thanks for giving me the best place a reefer could ask for to call home. I look forward to many more years of being part of this community.

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