Cleaning ATO Chamber

[tbrown]

Curious: how often do you clean your ATO tank?

I run an air stone in the tank but no other movement. I was looking in there this morning and noticed there seems to be a layer of scum on the bottom of the tank. I've recently been having some rising nitrates and I'm wondering if maybe this is part of it.

 

[tbrown]

Test strips show some Nitrate (very slight pink) so it should be under 10. We'll see what Hanna says here in another minute.

 

[tbrown]

Hanna Nitrate high range shows 0.7 so that's good news! Especially since I stirred it up this afternoon. 7 months without emptying or cleaning and it's at a 0.7 ppm.

So it looks like the slime isn't causing nutrients unless it's because I'm using the saltwater Nitrate tester. I did read that some of the Hanna testers don't work properly under a certain SG.

 

[Gtinnel]

Hanna Nitrate high range shows 0.7 so that's good news! Especially since I stirred it up this afternoon. 7 months without emptying or cleaning and it's at a 0.7 ppm.

So it looks like the slime isn't causing nutrients unless it's because I'm using the saltwater Nitrate tester. I did read that some of the Hanna testers don't work properly under a certain SG.

The reason I’m planning on testing with some test strips is because I wasn’t sure if the Hanna works with freshwater.

 

[tbrown]

The reason I’m planning on testing with some test strips is because I wasn’t sure if the Hanna works with freshwater.

Yeah, that's what I figured too so I tried both. The test strips just barely showed pink so it's present but low.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Never, I have the cheap bucket ATO resivor and cut a hole in the edge of the lid for the hose and wire. It stays covered and clean.

Now the lid gets covered with dust and pet hair and needs cleaned :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

But of course it's only been a year....

I have the exact same set up as you with similar things that get on the lid haha

 

[vetteguy53081]

Curious: how often do you clean your ATO tank?

I run an air stone in the tank but no other movement. I was looking in there this morning and noticed there seems to be a layer of scum on the bottom of the tank. I've recently been having some rising nitrates and I'm wondering if maybe this is part of it.

I dont and I never have residue but if you need to clean it, a hose under pressure would be ideal to break up precipitation and slime and then pump out or wet/dry vacuum it out. Mine is always clear. My Mixing tank also stays clear.

 

[tbrown]

I dont and I never have residue but if you need to clean it, a hose under pressure would be ideal to break up precipitation and slime and then pump out or wet/dry vacuum it out. Mine is always clear. My Mixing tank also stays clear.

I only have a 10 gallon aquarium for my auto top off. I wonder if the clear glass vs the opaque plastic makes a difference. I would imagine it plays a part!

Thanks for the reply.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I only have a 10 gallon aquarium for my auto top off. I wonder if the clear glass vs the opaque plastic makes a difference. I would imagine it plays a part!

Thanks for the reply.

Mine is Black and 28 gallons and makes a huge difference

 

[LRT]

Curious: how often do you clean your ATO tank?

I run an air stone in the tank but no other movement. I was looking in there this morning and noticed there seems to be a layer of scum on the bottom of the tank. I've recently been having some rising nitrates and I'm wondering if maybe this is part of it.

I just had same exact issue by waiting to change my Cation resin. I bet your DI cans have the same clear slime have you checked them? My ATO actually had some brown and white looking bacteria or mold floating in the bottom of it as well as caked in the same clear slime. My tank also exploded with pretty much every undesirable nuisance everything you can imagine.
Something about our water man. I'm making it a point to clean my ATO brute can e ery few months when I change my DI resin from here on out.
Also not going to allow my membrane to go above 10 either.
Have you been smelling chlorine more frequently lately?

 

[LRT]

Test strips show some Nitrate (very slight pink) so it should be under 10. We'll see what Hanna says here in another minute.

I'd be more concerned about silicates and whatever that clear bacteria is thats been living off whatever has been getting through

 

[tbrown]

I just had same exact issue by waiting to change my Cation resin. I bet your DI cans have the same clear slime have you checked them? My ATO actually had some brown and white looking bacteria or mold floating in the bottom of it as well as caked in the same clear slime. My tank also exploded with pretty much every undesirable nuisance everything you can imagine.
Something about our water man. I'm making it a point to clean my ATO brute can e ery few months when I change my DI resin from here on out.
Also not going to allow my membrane to go above 10 either.
Have you been smelling chlorine more frequently lately?

Yes to the chlorine - a lot. Is your city more surface water or well water? I think we just increased our surface water which actually requires more chlorine than most well water I believe.

 

[LRT]

Yes to the chlorine - a lot. Is your city more surface water or well water? I think we just increased our surface water which actually requires more chlorine than most well water I believe.

I'd have to check again. I'm over by Salt River and really not sure. Maybe they have been chlorinating more to kill something in the water that we have been growing in our ATO's lol. Its been super frequent here. Smell chlorine all the time now. Wish it would kill the clear stuff before if makes it through my filters to di cans haha
I do a ton of stuff for the water treatment plants here. The really smart people walk around the plants with hazmat masks on no joke

 

[n2585722]

I don't normally clean my DI reservoir. It is a 20 gallon brute can and the lid is always on it. There is no heater, air stone or pump in it. It is in my garage and the ATO pump which is also in the garage pulls from it and pumps the water up through the attic 35ft to the tank. I don't think much will grow in a DI tank that kept dark with no water movement. I have used it for almost 8 years. Now I use the same brute cans for my mix tank and fresh saltwater reservoir and those get cleaned because of the stuff that cakes on the tank. It is probably the Reef crystals that is the cause. Our water comes out of Lake Travis and the city uses chloramines in the water but I have a RODI system and it does not seem to be an issue but I get the carbon for dealing with chloramines.

 

[n2585722]

I got curious after this post So I braved the 104 degree garage and pulled out the DI reservoir and pulled the lid. I cannot see anything on the tank. I took a couple of photos.From the photos it is hard to tell since there are so many reflections on the surface of the water but zi guess that is a good thing that it can do that.

 

[tbrown]

I'd have to check again. I'm over by Salt River and really not sure. Maybe they have been chlorinating more to kill something in the water that we have been growing in our ATO's lol. Its been super frequent here. Smell chlorine all the time now. Wish it would kill the clear stuff before if makes it through my filters to di cans haha
I do a ton of stuff for the water treatment plants here. The really smart people walk around the plants with hazmat masks on no joke

Tempe? I'm up in Goodyear by the Salt River.

 

[LRT]

Tempe? I'm up in Goodyear by the Salt River.

East Mesa

 

[Dburr1014]

I just got my new Nitrate Hanna reagents. Watching Indiana Jones right now but I'm going to test as soon as the movie is over.

LOL, watching a movie but on this site?
Hope your movie neighbors don't get upset.
So is it worth the trip or do I wait for the video?

 

[tbrown]

LOL, watching a movie but on this site?
Hope your movie neighbors don't get upset.
So is it worth the trip or do I wait for the video?

We were watching the old Indian Jones movies. My daughter wanted to see them before we go see the new one. That's probably happening on Saturday so I'll have to let you know.

 

[drblank1]

Curious: how often do you clean your ATO tank?

I run an air stone in the tank but no other movement. I was looking in there this morning and noticed there seems to be a layer of scum on the bottom of the tank. I've recently been having some rising nitrates and I'm wondering if maybe this is part of it.

I get a slime on my ATO and SW make-up tanks. I clean them both with water and bleach every 6 months. Of course I rinse thoroughly. :)

 

[GuppyHJD]

Mine is Black and 28 gallons and makes a huge difference

My ATO container is clear. And it gets some light from the refugium light. But I like the clear because I can easily see the level from the camera.