Do I need a fancy ATO bucket?

[Huff747]

I use a 10g aquarium I bought from Petco for $10.

I use a 10 gallon aquarium

Add me to this list

 

[User1]

Another bucket user - mine is from HD. Whereas another poster is more advanced than me with properly fitting lid and bulk heads I was in a hurry and just cut a square on the lip :D

Buckets - now I'm going to spin some buckethead and go reply to the lounge what I'm listening to now thread :) Thanks ladies and gents. Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[reefwiser]

Simple dog food container drill hole in lid for water line for the pump to go thru. Slim so it could fit under a stand easy. 10 to 12 bucks and unbreakable.

 

[Ariel V Rosa]

I use a brute trash can. I use so much top off water [emoji23]

After I finish this current build i am going to do the same with a large brute trash can or a water barrel outside of my house, one for salt and one for fresh RO. I think I can build some kind of small shed for it to keep it from freezing. Trying to figure out a way pf streamlining water changes and top off. My laziest points in reefing. Original intent was to have my new tank 2 feet from the bathroom in my den... then I went crazy with the dimensions and ended up with an 80G frag tank.

 

[ihavecrabs]

After I finish this current build i am going to do the same with a large brute trash can or a water barrel outside of my house, one for salt and one for fresh RO. I think I can build some kind of small shed for it to keep it from freezing. Trying to figure out a way pf streamlining water changes and top off. My laziest points in reefing. Original intent was to have my new tank 2 feet from the bathroom in my den... then I went crazy with the dimensions and ended up with an 80G frag tank.

It gets pretty cold in Philly doesn't it?

I made the mistake of starting a cycle for previous rock in the garage in a brute with a heater.. boy that was a whopping electric bill. That heater never turned off!!

 

[timrocks311]

Another bucket user - mine is from HD. Whereas another poster is more advanced than me with properly fitting lid and bulk heads I was in a hurry and just cut a square on the lip :D

Buckets - now I'm going to spin some buckethead and go reply to the lounge what I'm listening to now thread :) Thanks ladies and gents. Hope everyone has a great day.

I love Buckethead btw. just saying.

 

[BirdGuy21]

I am currently using the container from an ExoTerra terrarium mister. One thing I have found though is since there is a small hole in the lid, it does increase my TDS from 0 to about 3, presumably from airborne contaminants. I am planning on trying to fit a larger bucket with a lid in my stand.

 

[oldfishman]

5 gal bucket from Home Depot works perfect. Every three months I clean out the bucket with hot water and dry it out and then back in service. I clean it because I like to be sure it is always clean.

 

[Ariel V Rosa]

It gets pretty cold in Philly doesn't it?

I made the mistake of starting a cycle for previous rock in the garage in a brute with a heater.. boy that was a whopping electric bill. That heater never turned off!!

Lol... I have had pretty much everything that can burst because it holds water burst. I left water in my motorcycle after a track day, left my bike in the garage came back one winter monrning to ky bikes hoses split in half leaking water.

 

[User]

I use a 10g aquarium I bought from Petco for $10.

Do the same with a 20

I evaporate 4g a day so 10 was too small

 

[Super Fly]

I use two 5 gal spring water jugs filled with RODI water. When 1 runs low, it's replaced by the 2nd full bottle. Then the now empty jug gets refilled with RODI water for next rotation.

 

[Aquavaj]

I have a mass produced 10g acrylic one and it's surprising how much it holds for the space. It came with my 120 but I probably wouldn't fork the $146 for one. Last me about a week in the summer and about 1.5-2wks in winter.

 

[dugthefish]

56L pet food container.

 

[ylreefer]

I am new to the hobby, and am planning on getting an ATO pretty soon. When I look on Bulk Reef Supply they have these expensive $100+ water containers. Do I need one of those? Do they have any advantages? Can I use a bucket or something really cheap?

Not at all. I've just finished making on out of Arcrylic and it's not difficult to work with. If you have a particular space that you need it to fit this is a great option. If not anything that is BPA free and food grade will work. You would like it to preferably have a tight fitting lid and remember it needs to have a big enough opening to allow whatever pump you plan on using to fit into. Apart from that anything goes. The instant ocean salt buckets are great as they have a rubber seal around the lids.

 

[jordan9095]

acrylic is nice an all but you can use a pet food container or any of the other options. just make sure its made out of safe plastic. i have one that holds about 10 gallons and is perfect. comes with wheels on the bottom

 

[Shaummy]

I also use a dog food container made by Gamma. They have different sizes and are made of food grade plastic. They fit the space I had under the stand
the best.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/gamma-vittles-vault

 

[Turnage]

 

[Sailingeric]

I use a 10g aquarium I bought from Petco for $10.

I was using a 5 gallon bucket with a lid on the side of tank for about a year, this weekend I did the same thing, got a 10 gallon tank and moved it under my DT, the tank is in side ways and is just a little longer than my 75 gallon's stand width but the inch and half sticking out the back is no big deal since it is against the wall. I do need to get a lid/cover to keep the evaporation down but so far it is not too bad.

 

[AiKkz]

I just use a brute trash can and a lid