Multiple ATO

[CSremo]

Has anyone used multiple ATOs? Considering if it would make any sense to have one ATO with Kalk and one with only DI. Could have a controller switched between them based on ph or something?

 

[Snoopy 67]

Just run kalk for top off.

 

[CSremo]

Just run kalk for top off.

 

[CSremo]

Ya that’s what I mean. Two auto too offs. One for reg rodi and one with kalk. Push the kalk based on ph. Maybe over complicated?

 

[KStatefan]

Dose Kalk at a rate less than your minimum evaporation rate and use an ATO for the variation

 

[14 foot reef]

Has anyone used multiple ATOs? Considering if it would make any sense to have one ATO with Kalk and one with only DI. Could have a controller switched between them based on ph or something?

I think this is actually a smart Idea. Most people if they dose with a kalk stirrer hooked through their ATO, it will drive PH and DKH higher than they wont, and if you dose RO only, you can't keep up with alk consumption. I like this idea. but if you have a doser, its simpler as mentioned above. Dose Kalk, ATO the RO.

 

[CSremo]

I think this is actually a smart Idea. Most people if they dose with a kalk stirrer hooked through their ATO, it will drive PH and DKH higher than they wont, and if you dose RO only, you can't keep up with alk consumption. I like this idea. but if you have a doser, its simpler as mentioned above. Dose Kalk, ATO the RO.

K. Thanks. Building my system and just considering options. My tank is new so kalk goes a long way right now and I’m putting too much in. Backing it down currently.

 

[sixline]

I'm a new ApexEL owner wanting to improve my ATO regimen.

Currently, i don't really have an ATO, but instead use a Litermiter to just dose 2 gallons of RO/DI water every day. The two gallon figure is pretty accurate overall, so my salinity stays pretty stable.

But...I've been having heating issue lately with my tank getting up to around 84 degrees when the ambient room temperature is only in the low 70s. I'm thinking of installing fans in the sump and controlling them with the Apex.

However, I think this will increase the variability of my evaporation quite a bit and using the Litermiter set at two gallons a day might not work. So, I'm thinking of getting an official ATO mechanism.

I hear good things about the Tunze osmolator, but how well does it integrate with the Apex? Am I better of getting a Neptune ATO?

 

[CSremo]

I’m using tunze nano. No Apex though. I like it so far.

 

[CSremo]

I’m overdosing kalk and just wondering if there is a way to set it up to control itself somehow. Maybe just need to do two part.

 

[WIReefer]

I’m overdosing kalk and just wondering if there is a way to set it up to control itself somehow. Maybe just need to do two part.

Do you need to dose anything? Maybe weekly water changes will do the job for now?

 

[CSremo]

Do you need to dose anything? Maybe weekly water changes will do the job for now?

Ya might be right. Was just thinking the buffering would help. I’m not going way overboard. Just a little too much. 2 teaspoons for 3 gallons is too much right now. I’m thinking 1 might be just right.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

I’m overdosing kalk and just wondering if there is a way to set it up to control itself somehow. Maybe just need to do two part.

If you have an apex I think this would be pretty simple to set up. Like if your ph goes below a number then you can set your kalk top off to run for a minute or something. I’ve been thinking of something similar but then ended up just putting kalk in my main ATO container since I don’t have a lot of floor space in my fish room.

 

[CSremo]

Do you need to dose anything? Maybe weekly water changes will do the job for now?

I’m doing 10-25% wc weekly

 

[WIReefer]

I’m doing 10-25% wc weekly

Okay keep doing that and test regularly and see how levels stay keep an eye out for Alk and check the same time everyday.

 

[Snoopy 67]

The Litremeter is a great ATO.
If you need more just increase the dose amount.
I have variation between the summer & winter months & with the press of a few buttons I'm right back where I need to be.

 

[ca1ore]

Has anyone used multiple ATOs? Considering if it would make any sense to have one ATO with Kalk and one with only DI. Could have a controller switched between them based on ph or something?

I run dual ATO for redundancy. I’ve never been able to overdose kalk, even during low humidity months, so not an issue for me.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I would keep your limewater (kalkwasser) and ATO separate. Almost all of the problems that people frequently cite with calcium hydroxide are due to us dosing it in our ATOs. Topoffs are great at keeping the water level in a system relatively stable. They're not great at delivering high pH solutions in precise amounts at the same time of every day. We understand that it would not be smart to put sodium carbonate (soda ash) in our topoffs because they're not precise enough to supplement something like alkalinity. Why we still do this with calcium hydroxide is beyond me.

Dose your limewater with a dosing pump. Set it to dose a little bit every hour. The only caveat with this approach is that it's possible to add more liquid than your system evaporates per day. You'll just need to keep an eye on it as you're tuning the dose and when the seasons change.

 

[CSremo]

I would keep your limewater (kalkwasser) and ATO separate. Almost all of the problems that people frequently cite with calcium hydroxide are due to us dosing it in our ATOs. Topoffs are great at keeping the water level in a system relatively stable. They're not great at delivering high pH solutions in precise amounts at the same time of every day. We understand that it would not be smart to put sodium carbonate (soda ash) in our topoffs because they're not precise enough to supplement something like alkalinity. Why we still do this with calcium hydroxide is beyond me.

Dose your limewater with a dosing pump. Set it to dose a little bit every hour. The only caveat with this approach is that it's possible to add more liquid than your system evaporates per day. You'll just need to keep an eye on it as you're tuning the dose and when the seasons change.

Ok. Thanks everyone!