Evaporation on a 15g AIO?

[fishguypa]

I’m building my system out and thought to be a good idea to do a ATO. So I picked up a Osmolator 3 nano and not thinking first I bought 2.5l or .66 gal storage tank. (I must have been half asleep I thought it was 2.5gal . Should I even bother to use this or should I send it back and start over. With a bigger tank? Part of me thinks it will be ok but I don’t know how much evaporation actually happens in a small tank like this.

 

[fishguypa]

 

[PapaFishRocks]

If you have room for the bigger ATO container, get it.

 

[Paullawr]

Evaporation is difficult to estimate. Room temperature, lighting et el. Plus splashes from pumps etc also drop water level over time.

I like the acrylic manufactured ones, which was what I had planned to purchase. However, this was after the aquarium was installed and didn't have the room in the cabinet to add one.

I bought a top off pump with light sensor. Then a 10litre, 5.5inch wide jerry can (suitable for drinking water). Which fit the space between back of aquarium and wall (6 inches I think from memory). It took some googling to find one with the correct dimensions - but it existed!.

Drilled cap and fed power cord and tubing through this.

Sorry not much help I know, but there are other DIY options that might work out cheaper and offer better solutions. They just don't look quite as nice.

 

[fishguypa]

Evaporation is difficult to estimate. Room temperature, lighting et el. Plus splashes from pumps etc also drop water level over time.

I like the acrylic manufactured ones, which was what I had planned to purchase. However, this was after the aquarium was installed and didn't have the room in the cabinet to add one.

I bought a top off pump with light sensor. Then a 10litre, 5.5inch wide jerry can (suitable for drinking water). Which fit the space between back of aquarium and wall (6 inches I think from memory). It took some googling to find one with the correct dimensions - but it existed!.

Drilled cap and fed power cord and tubing through this.

Sorry not much help I know, but there are other DIY options that might work out cheaper and offer better solutions. They just don't look quite as nice.

No I appreciate the info I have no clue. So any advice is fantastic.

 

[fishguypa]

If you have room for the bigger ATO container, get it.

It going back I don’t want to burn a pump up over a small thing like container size. Or even remotely chance any aquarium problems

 

[RedReefer]

I would get the largest ATO holding tank you can fit. That way you won't have to fill it too often.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have a 15 gallon tank and my reservoir is 2.5 gallons, I refill it every 5-6 days. I think you will be refilling that thing every other day, I would bite the bullet and get a larger one.

 

[Uncle99]

I’m building my system out and thought to be a good idea to do a ATO. So I picked up a Osmolator 3 nano and not thinking first I bought 2.5l or .66 gal storage tank. (I must have been half asleep I thought it was 2.5gal . Should I even bother to use this or should I send it back and start over. With a bigger tank? Part of me thinks it will be ok but I don’t know how much evaporation actually happens in a small tank like this.

Can’t see that working, or maybe close. Evap rates change at lot in different settings.

Maybe just make a week with 2.5g at outside best.

15g at roughly 10% per week (ish) is 1.5g per week
And your reserve is just a hair over .5 g so maybe good 2 days?

You need 5g or 10g based on what you want your frequency to be, weekly refill, twice monthly…

 

[fishguypa]

I’m currently looking at 3 gallon rv water storage tank.

 

[Paullawr]

Have a look at the ATO pump and light sensor options (few available) and some cheaper Chinese alternatives. Check out fishstreet.com / amazon. See if a jerry can or container with lid from a supermarket will do the trick. Few seconds of drilling a hole and off to the races!

Good luck and happy reefing / DIY-ing.

 

[fishguypa]

I’m building my system out and thought to be a good idea to do a ATO. So I picked up a Osmolator 3 nano and not thinking first I bought 2.5l or .66 gal storage tank. (I must have been half asleep I thought it was 2.5gal . Should I even bother to use this or should I send it back and start over. With a bigger tank? Part of me thinks it will be ok but I don’t know how much evaporation actually happens in a small tank like this.

Can’t see that working, or maybe close.
15g at roughly 10% per week (ish) is 1.5g per week
And your reserve is just a hair over .5 g so maybe good 2 days?

You need 5g or 10g based on what you want your frequency to be, weekly refill, twice monthly…

Dang I didn’t think 5g

 

[Uncle99]

Dang I didn’t think 5g

3 will work for weekly refresh, but what about you being away for say 2 weeks vacation.

I gear all my “fills” of everything to two weeks.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have a IM 15-gallon AIO that I use as a quarantine tank. It's amazing how much water evaporates each day.

 

[penfold2]

Evaporation rates can vary considerably, but 2.5L is awfully small. I probably go through almost half a gallon a day on my 25g with 3 ft² of open water. I use a 5g reservoir which is enough to safely get me through a one week vacation.

 

[fishguypa]

Have a look at the ATO pump and light sensor options (few available) and some cheaper Chinese alternatives. Check out fishstreet.com / amazon. See if a jerry can or container with lid from a supermarket will do the trick. Few seconds of drilling a hole and off to the races!

Good luck and happy reefing / DIY-ing.

I got osmalator 3 nano I was worried a Amazon deal would flood my house one day.

 

[Tahoe61]

I have the Tunze ATO on my Nano aquariums,14 and a 25. I don't use large reservoir containers just in case the ATO fails, that way my tank doesn't overflow.

 

[BriansBrain]

I remembered this video from a few years ago from the late Jake Adams. I’m in the same boat with my IM 15. I’m going to get a glass or acrylic lid, leave a corner open as well as the AIO back. Only have two clowns and a goby

 

[puckstopshere]

I have a IM Nuvo 14 and I use a 5 gallon plastic bucket and drilled a hole in the lid to pass the cable and tube through. There are more elegant solutions but volume-wise it feels about right. It allows me to be fairly relaxed about checking and topping it off.

 

[exnisstech]

How much was that container? I've been looking for a large dosing container and that would be perfect.
FWIW I have and IM20 with 5 gallon ATO container. I never fill it past 3 gallons and have never used more than 2 gallons in 7 days. I refill all ATO containers every Sunday