Manual Top Off system - anyone do it? And is it practical?

[Subnautica]

I never used an ATO system because I heard horror stories about tanks overflowing when the sensor stopped working.

I'm thinking about making a simple manual one. It's just a 10gal tank inside the stand of my display with a pump in it and a hose going up to the display tank. Then I'll connect the pump's cable to some kind of switch to conveniently turn it on or off whenever I want to top off my tank.

I wonder if this is a risk-free, feasible method?

Thanks all

 

[JTP424]

So long as you remember to do it it shouldn't be an issue. I manually topped off my 15 gallon with water daily for a year or so until I invested in an ATO.
Look into Tunze ATOs they have built in redundancies.

 

[Reefara]

I never used an ATO system because I heard horror stories about tanks overflowing when the sensor stopped working.

I'm thinking about making a simple manual one. It's just a 10gal tank inside the stand of my display with a pump in it and a hose going up to the display tank. Then I'll connect the pump's cable to some kind of switch to conveniently turn it on or off whenever I want to top off my tank.

I wonder if this is a risk-free, feasible method?

Thanks all

I get the hesitation with ATOs, those horror stories are real, but most of the time it comes down to setups without any backup or safety built in.

What you’re describing would work, but I wouldn’t call it risk-free. The main issue is consistency. On a tank that size, even small delays in topping off can lead to salinity swings over time.

A good ATO with some built-in safeguards is honestly safer long term than manual top-offs. Things like dual sensors or a timer cutoff go a long way in preventing overfilling. The Tunze Osmolator is popular for a reason, it’s pretty reliable and tends to fail safe rather than just dumping water.

If you want to keep it simple, your idea works, just keep the reservoir small so even worst case it can’t cause a major issue.

Personally, once everything is set up, I’d trust a solid ATO more than manual. It just keeps things way more stable without you having to think about it every day.

 

[Tahoe61]

I get the hesitation with ATOs, those horror stories are real, but most of the time it comes down to setups without any backup or safety built in.

What you’re describing would work, but I wouldn’t call it risk-free. The main issue is consistency. On a tank that size, even small delays in topping off can lead to salinity swings over time.

A good ATO with some built-in safeguards is honestly safer long term than manual top-offs. Things like dual sensors or a timer cutoff go a long way in preventing overfilling. The Tunze Osmolator is popular for a reason, it’s pretty reliable and tends to fail safe rather than just dumping water.

If you want to keep it simple, your idea works, just keep the reservoir small so even worst case it can’t cause a major issue.

Personally, once everything is set up, I’d trust a solid ATO more than manual. It just keeps things way more stable without you having to think about it every day.

Is this AI?

 

[Reefara]

I get the hesitation with ATOs, those horror stories are real, but most of the time it comes down to setups without any backup or safety built in.

What you’re describing would work, but I wouldn’t call it risk-free. The main issue is consistency. On a tank that size, even small delays in topping off can lead to salinity swings over time.

A good ATO with some built-in safeguards is honestly safer long term than manual top-offs. Things like dual sensors or a timer cutoff go a long way in preventing overfilling. The Tunze Osmolator is popular for a reason, it’s pretty reliable and tends to fail safe rather than just dumping water.

If you want to keep it simple, your idea works, just keep the reservoir small so even worst case it can’t cause a major issue.

Personally, once everything is set up, I’d trust a solid ATO more than manual. It just keeps things way more stable without you having to think about it every day.

Is this AI?

lol nah that’s me, I just type stuff out and sometimes clean it up after so it doesn’t sound all over the place

I sometimes type to much or overthink and when I do I let ai just clean up everything I said

I’ve noticed most things I do say sounds robotic I’m working on my wording when it comes to bringing up a point where it sounds clean

But everything I do say is me and only me

Sorry about that

 

[Hunna’s Stunnas]

Just get one of these. I works great and is $10

 

[GillMeister]

As long as the ATO reservoir isn't large enough to overfill the sump, there's no risk that you're going to flood. My sump is 40 gallons, and I have a 10 gallon reservoir. If the reservoir is full and dumps all 10 gallons in my sump it's just below the top of the sump.

 

[GoReefin]

I have a manual system I run at night to top off. Its a 15g tank that I have my locline connected to a float valve with a ball valve that I use to top off rodi water once it gets too low for the pump to suck the water up into the sump. I then use a pump connected to a hose that I manually turn on at night.

 

[Tahoe61]

lol nah that’s me, I just type stuff out and sometimes clean it up after so it doesn’t sound all over the place

I sometimes type to much or overthink and when I do I let ai just clean up everything I said

I’ve noticed most things I do say sounds robotic I’m working on my wording when it comes to bringing up a point where it sounds clean

But everything I do say is me and only me

Sorry about that

Perhaps share your system or past tanks.

So you are using AI to construct your responses?

 

[Reefara]

lol nah that’s me, I just type stuff out and sometimes clean it up after so it doesn’t sound all over the place

I sometimes type to much or overthink and when I do I let ai just clean up everything I said

I’ve noticed most things I do say sounds robotic I’m working on my wording when it comes to bringing up a point where it sounds clean

But everything I do say is me and only me

Sorry about that

Perhaps share your system or past tanks.

So you are using AI to construct your responses?

yeah sometimes

I’ll type everything out myself and if it’s messy I just clean it up a bit after so it’s easier to read

but the ideas are all mine, I’m not just copying answers or anything

still working on saying things more naturally without overthinking it lol

I just started posting here too, waiting on an orange filter so I can take some better pics of my tank and actually show it

 

[Tahoe61]

So you are AI?

 

[Reefara]

So you are AI?

Huh… No I am not AI?? LOLOL

 

[Tahoe61]

Huh… No I am not AI?? LOLOL

I look forward to seeing your system or systems.

Welcome to R2R.

 

[Reefara]

I look forward to seeing your system or systems.

Welcome to R2R.

Was this a test LOL

 

[B&CinB.C.]

Just get one of these. I works great and is $10

Plus one . We put one on our 32.5 Flex and it works great

 

[jsmkmavity]

I did manual top off on my 125 for 15-20 years with no problems. Now i have ato and i like it.

 

[Reefara]

Plus one . We put one on our 32.5 Flex and it works great

another plus have it for my 4g and its perfect...

 

[NanoSteam]

I tried to do it on my nano after transferring the ATO to the new tank and only lasted 3 weeks... Couldn't do it anymore since it was upstairs and RODI unit was downstairs in the garage.

I don't know how I managed back when ATOs weren't a thing yet. Kept gallons of distilled water next to the tank.

 

[Crimsonphoenix]

I tried to do it on my nano after transferring the ATO to the new tank and only lasted 3 weeks... Couldn't do it anymore since it was upstairs and RODI unit was downstairs in the garage.

I don't know how I managed back when ATOs weren't a thing yet. Kept gallons of distilled water next to the tank.

Ive used a float valve ato with a 5 gallon jug for the past several years for my 65 gallon mixed reef with no problems. I periodically check and clean the float valve.

 

[dank.reefer]

I have alsways ran an ATO ever since my first reef back in 2003. Having to manually top off a tank is waaaaaaay too much fuss for me. I used to stick with the small reservoir system as well and even that was too much. Having to manually top off a tank also makes it hard to travel/be away from the tank it turns your tank into a chore. I now run a 55g barrel using a Tunze ATO controller and a secondary level sensor to shut that off should it somehow get stuck on. I can be away from my tank for 3 weeks at a time and not worry about it.