ATO (need super duper slim!) advice needed

[DmitryB]

I'll be setting up an IM 170 system, will use their gigantic sump as well. There's not much room left inside the cabinet for an ATO. I asked IM directly and they said "Hey find something that's 5.5'' wide to fit between the sump and the door." I'm looking around and... the pickings are slim. There was one, but it's only 5 gallons. Does anyone know of anything OR suggestions for something I can use as a sort of DYI?

Thanks!

 

[Reefuzz]

Are you married to that sump? I have an IM 50EXT with the IM sump(zero room in the cabinet) and a 170int with an FijiCube 36 sump. I have tons of room and more customization with that sump. I was able to fit an icecap 10 gal reservoir and a custom controller board in the cabinet

 

[Jamie814]

Ho much depth do you have?
Red Sea reefcan? OR something custum made to fit?

 

[get-salty]

Ho much depth do you have?
Red Sea reefcan? OR something custum made to fit?

them RS will def work.

 

[fishface NJ]

I have the 10g Red Sea ReefCan. It's the slimmest with max water storage container I could find. I even looked at camper water cans.

 

[X-37B]

You can slide a 6" reservoir in the front. I use one for kalk, its 6g's.
I have a 15g behind the tank for my ato.

 

[DmitryB]

Are you married to that sump? I have an IM 50EXT with the IM sump(zero room in the cabinet) and a 170int with an FijiCube 36 sump. I have tons of room and more customization with that sump. I was able to fit an icecap 10 gal reservoir and a custom controller board in the cabinet

That's sweet and I Love the control board you made! I'm not super married to the sump that's coming, but I do like the IM sump designs. I just wish they made it a bit smaller and leave more room inside the cabinet. Or at least offer a downgrade!

 

[DmitryB]

Ho much depth do you have?
Red Sea reefcan? OR something custum made to fit?

That smaller one would fit (there's only 5.5'' of space between sump and door), but it's less than 5 gallons.

 

[DmitryB]

I have the 10g Red Sea ReefCan. It's the slimmest with max water storage container I could find. I even looked at camper water cans.

Yep those canisters are the smallest things I could find as well. But the 10g one is too wide, which is crazy!

Nothing on the camper water cans front?

 

[DmitryB]

You can slide a 6" reservoir in the front. I use one for kalk, its 6g's.
I have a 15g behind the tank for my ato.

I'd love to, but IM tells me there's only 5.5'' of space there.

 

[Jamie814]

I'd love to, but IM tells me there's only 5.5'' of space there.

Do you have any way to run a 1/4" RO line to the tank? Under the wall trim around the room or near or through the wall behind the tank? You could do a remote ATO this way.

 

[X-37B]

I'd love to, but IM tells me there's only 5.5'' of space there.

Actually there is over 7".

 

[X-37B]

Advanced acrylics make 3,4,5,6" wide ato's. Mine in the pic is 6×16×16.

 

[DmitryB]

Do you have any way to run a 1/4" RO line to the tank? Under the wall trim around the room or near or through the wall behind the tank? You could do a remote ATO this way.

Hmmm no, the water sources are all basically on the opposite side of the room.

 

[DmitryB]

Actually there is over 7".

Hold the presses! You have an IM 170 it seems? So.... this is all very confusing. Why are they telling me it's only 5.5''?!

 

[DmitryB]

Advanced acrylics make 3,4,5,6" wide ato's. Mine in the pic is 6×16×16.

Oooh looking at Advanced Acrylics now and they do have some narrow sizes with decent height/width. But holy smokes those prices! The cheapest one, without a "viewing window" is a 10 gallon for $195. The other ones will run up to $400 for the view. Still definitely worth keeping that on the list.

BTW not sure if you're interested in a fleece roller filter for that IM sump, and maybe you already know about it, there is one that fits this sump.

https://naturedimensions.com/products/n-clear-m-fleece-roller-filter?variant=48803826237683

 

[X-37B]

Oooh looking at Advanced Acrylics now and they do have some narrow sizes with decent height/width. But holy smokes those prices! The cheapest one, without a "viewing window" is a 10 gallon for $195. The other ones will run up to $400 for the view. Still definitely worth keeping that on the list.

BTW not sure if you're interested in a fleece roller filter for that IM sump, and maybe you already know about it, there is one that fits this sump.

https://naturedimensions.com/products/n-clear-m-fleece-roller-filter?variant=48803826237683

Thanks, I run 400 micron socks in the first sock hole and none in the other 2. I have tried all methods and this is the best after 30+ for my systems.

Not sure why they say 5.5". Just a miss print maybe.

I have 4 advanced acrylic atos and 2 kalk reservoirs. Like everything else in this hobby buy once cry once, lol. Nothing in this hobby is inexpensive.

 

[fiji32]

Second the Advanced Acrylics suggestion. I ordered 3 @ 5” wide with custom widths and heights to fit into a small stand for ATO and AWC.


Customer service was amazing (he had texted me about my order/suggestions) and you definitely get what you pay for they are very well made.

Wasted money on the Red Sea cans at first which have ended up being better fresh RO and saltwater storage cans. Should have just done the AA ones in the first place.

 

[DmitryB]

Thanks, I run 400 micron socks in the first sock hole and none in the other 2. I have tried all methods and this is the best after 30+ for my systems.

Interesting about just running 1 of the 3 slots for filtration. In a video I watched, the guy who fit those rollers was only using 2 and capped off the 3rd. So just one is enough to take all the water, no backups? And you use the 1st one?

One thing I've wondered about the socks is, unless one washes them every day, that detritus just stays in there polluting things for a while, no? That's why the roller seems like a good idea to me, it removes the solid waste regularly. At least that's how it seems to me in theory.

 

[X-37B]

No, the first 1 catches most of the big stuff. Its 400 microns and wont clog for over a month easily.
The 2 open ones allow pods to go to the sump.
I control po4 with gfo, you can see it on top of the sock chamber.
I control no3 with vodka.
I also run 2 over size skimmers on this system.
A 28" LifeReef venturi in chamber 1 and a Tunze 9430dc in the return running ozone.
Felt socks will backup and overflow, this is why I run 400 mesh.
Anyway just the way I run this system currently.