ATO Maintenance...

[Dom]

The media with in my 5 stage RODI is 14 months old. The TDS meter reads 1-2, but with a 5 minute flush, I can get it down to zero. The TDS meter will read zero for the duration of making water. But after it sits, unused for a few days, the TDS meter will first read1-2 again until I flush. I think the guy at BRS called it "TDS Creep".

So the water coming out of the TDS meter is zero, and it is collected into a 5 gallon water cooler jug, which remains capped when not in use.

I checked the water coming out of the ATO tank and get a TDS reading of 50!

Where are all the TDS coming from?

 

[Flippers4pups]

The media with in my 5 stage RODI is 14 months old. The TDS meter reads 1-2, but with a 5 minute flush, I can get it down to zero. The TDS meter will read zero for the duration of making water. But after it sits, unused for a few days, the TDS meter will first read1-2 again until I flush. I think the guy at BRS called it "TDS Creep".

So the water coming out of the TDS meter is zero, and it is collected into a 5 gallon water cooler jug, which remains capped when not in use.

I checked the water coming out of the ATO tank and get a TDS reading of 50!

Where are all the TDS coming from?

What's the ATO reservoir made of?

 

[miPapareef]

The media with in my 5 stage RODI is 14 months old. The TDS meter reads 1-2, but with a 5 minute flush, I can get it down to zero. The TDS meter will read zero for the duration of making water. But after it sits, unused for a few days, the TDS meter will first read1-2 again until I flush. I think the guy at BRS called it "TDS Creep".

So the water coming out of the TDS meter is zero, and it is collected into a 5 gallon water cooler jug, which remains capped when not in use.

I checked the water coming out of the ATO tank and get a TDS reading of 50!

Where are all the TDS coming from?

I’d recommend a filter change but that won’t help much, if any, on the ATO TDS. A good cleaning of the ATO tank and lines should help.

The ATO 50 TDS is coming from environmental contaminants like dust, or things leeching from the ATO, even the air discharged from the skimmer can carry contamination back to the ATO.

 

[Dom]

What's the ATO reservoir made of?

The ATO reservoir is a 15 gallon Aqueon glass tank. I fill from the top and have my float valve connected to a bulkhead at the bottom of the tank.

 

[Dom]

I’d recommend a filter change but that won’t help much, if any, on the ATO TDS. A good cleaning of the ATO tank and lines should help.

The ATO 50 TDS is coming from environmental contaminants like dust, or things leeching from the ATO, even the air discharged from the skimmer can carry contamination back to the ATO.

Yeah... I thought that might be the cause... you know... dust in the room settling in the ATO. I do keep the ATO covered, but that's more to limit loss secondary to evaporation. I suppose a fitted cover may help.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Yeah... I thought that might be the cause... you know... dust in the room settling in the ATO. I do keep the ATO covered, but that's more to limit loss secondary to evaporation. I suppose a fitted cover may help.

RO/DI water is like a magnet to anything in the air. Yes it needs a fitted led to seal it. Many reefers use a polypropylene tank with a lid. Here's mine.

Threaded lid keeps micro particals out.

 

[miPapareef]

I use an old salt buckets with the power and water lines run through tight fitting holes in the lid. It stays sealed and TDS free.

But now that I’m thinking about it, I’m sure it doesn’t make sense to seal a 5 gallon ATO when my 75 gallon tank and 34 gallon sump are just open air tops. If it’s airborne contamination causing the TDS in ATO, more than likely it’s having larger effect on an open top system.

Good luck with your system.

 

[Dom]

RO/DI water is like a magnet to anything in the air. Yes it needs a fitted led to seal it. Many reefers use a polypropylene tank with a lid. Here's mine.

Threaded lid keeps micro particals out.

Where did you purchase your tank? How many gallons is it?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Rual king, 16 gallons.