Above Sump ATO Reservoir Conversion Questions

[bsdubois00]

I have a 'new to me' Neptunian Cube MP90 that has an ATO reservoir that sits above the sump (and historically has an old gravity fed float switch for auto top offs).

At the bottom of the ATO is a 1/8" Quick Connect that was used to pull water out and top off below from the gravity fed float. What I'm thinking about doing is getting a Tunze Osmolator 3 and have more of a High Tech style ATO system. I want to use the exisiting hole (I'll convert it from 1/8" to 1/4" quick connect) to pull water out of the reservoir for topping off.

Would their be any issue getting a 1/2" to 1/4 QC adapter and using the pump to pull water out the hole to top off? Would the pump be able to "suck" enough water to operate effectively? Any other ideas as to how to use this existing reservoir with an automated ATO I'm all ears.

 

[TX_REEF]

I think it would be simpler to plug the hole and just use it as a res.

I use this ATO system on both of my systems, affordable and effective. I had one pump fail, and the vendor sent me a whole new system free of charge. Just an affordable option for consideration. I pair it with a timer to run for 1 minute an hour which effectively eliminates any possibility of it ever getting stuck in the "on" position.

https://amzn.to/4gNZbFI

 

[bsdubois00]

That was my initial thought but I had trouble finding a plug that I felt confident would hold. Guess I am being too OCD about it.

 

[TX_REEF]

I actually used my un-needed red sea ATO gravity fed reservoir as a freshwater planted tank. I used some two little fishies epoxy putty jammed into the plug from the inside of the plug, then siliconed over it and let that dry, and then super glued the cap on the outside of the plug. No leaks so far, has been almost a year.

 

[bsdubois00]

Just wanted to bump to see if anyone had any thoughts / ideas.

Thanks!