Adjusting SG through ATO guidance

[twistedfinn967]

Hello all, long story short... My ATO glitched while I was out of town. My S.G is now 1.023 instead of the usual 1.0255 - 1.026. I thought about adding the salt mix to the ATO resevoir but the Salt addition calculator says that I need 3.8 pounds of salt. My ATO res is 9 gal. Tank is a standard 120 w/sump, I guesstamate about 110g actual. I'm probably being over-cautious but I'd rather ask than screw up!

TIA!

 

[X-37B]

Dont use your ato.
Just make up 1 gal of new salt water, depending on tank size, and add it to the system. Then let the evaporation bring the SG up to your number. Then restart the ato.

 

[TX_REEF]

agreed do not add salt to ATO, just add additional water containing the correct amount of salt.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t see why not do it by ato.

Just add the same amount of seawater to the ato as you would do manually, and fill the rest of the way with fresh water on the second refill to reach the needed volume.

For 110 from sg = 1.023 to 1.026 you need (26-23)/23 x 110 = 14.3 gallons.

 

[TX_REEF]

I don’t see why not do it by ato.

Just add the same amount of seawater to the ato as you would do manually, and fill the rest of the way with fresh water on the second refill to reach the needed volume.

For 110 from sg = 1.023 to 1.026 you need (26-23)/23 x 110 = 14.3 gallons.

I'd say don't do it by ATO because when you're done with the salt top-up you'd probably want to clean out the ATO before going back to RO/DI which is annoying depending on the size of your ATO (I use 23 gallon trashcans...)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd say don't do it by ATO because when you're done with the salt top-up you'd probably want to clean out the ATO before going back to RO/DI which is annoying depending on the size of your ATO (I use 23 gallon trashcans...)

Why clean it out?

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

I don’t see why not do it by ato.

Just add the same amount of seawater to the ato as you would do manually, and fill the rest of the way with fresh water on the second refill to reach the needed volume.

For 110 from sg = 1.023 to 1.026 you need (26-23)/23 x 110 = 14.3 gallons.

This is how I've done it in the past - it's nice because it's very gradual.

 

[TX_REEF]

Why clean it out?

because I don't want salt in my ATO container, no other logical reason :grimacing-face: - but touché

 

[Dburr1014]

Hello all, long story short... My ATO glitched while I was out of town. My S.G is now 1.023 instead of the usual 1.0255 - 1.026. I thought about adding the salt mix to the ATO resevoir but the Salt addition calculator says that I need 3.8 pounds of salt. My ATO res is 9 gal. Tank is a standard 120 w/sump, I guesstamate about 110g actual. I'm probably being over-cautious but I'd rather ask than screw up!

TIA!

My coral get angry @ 1.023
If all looks fine, raise slowly. If coral look bad, get it up to at least 1.024, IMO.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

I'd say don't do it by ATO because when you're done with the salt top-up you'd probably want to clean out the ATO before going back to RO/DI which is annoying depending on the size of your ATO (I use 23 gallon trashcans...)

edit: Randy beat me to it

 

[TokenReefer]

You can also slide a bucket nearby with the saltwater and move your ato pump over to it until it's back on track. If it'll reach, or make it reach :) just temp anyway

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

because I don't want salt in my ATO container, no other logical reason :grimacing-face: - but touché

Ok, sounds more like a psychological issue than a real issue. lol

 

[TokenReefer]

I'd say don't do it by ATO because when you're done with the salt top-up you'd probably want to clean out the ATO before going back to RO/DI which is annoying depending on the size of your ATO (I use 23 gallon trashcans...)

Fwiw I think the fresh rodi the next time you fill up and every one following will clean it out pretty good

 

[TX_REEF]

Ok, sounds more like a psychological issue than a real issue. lol

ouch :crying-face: