What are some good DIY containers for Auto Top Off Reservoir?

[Even Further]

How much water does this hold? What are the actual dimensions of it? I see two listed on the Amazon page

5 gallons.

• 14in L x 9in W x 13in H

Personally I would only use a container where you can glance at it and see the water level.

 

[tgafish]

AmazonSmile: Rubbermaid Commercial Products Plastic Space Saving Square Food Storage Container For Kitchen/Sous Vide/Food Prep, 22 Quart, Clear (FG632200CLR) (Lids Sold Seperately): Industrial & Scientific

This is what I use. Drilled a hole in the lid. Cheap, clear, and helps monitor daily evaporation with the unit markings.

 

[Schreiber]

27 gallons, $10. Can't beat it.

Whenever I do water changes, I just pump out the RODI water into another container; it's already room temperature & ready to mix! Only have to fill it once a month or so.

27 gallons, $10

 

[Apotack]

I’ve been using a plastic tank made for potable water for RV’s.

 

[Simply__J]

I've used small trash cans in the past but evaporation was always an issue. On my second tank, I used pet food containers. They have large lids with doors/flaps for easy access to refill.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

I use a 5 gallon brining bucket. Its got graduated markings in L and Gal. I also use the blue aquatainers that I fill up for RODI water storage.

 

[shred5]

I used a 16 gallon High aquarium. Took some vinyl sticker numbers and some white car pinstriping and made this:

 

[Johnjman]

I just used installed one this weekend. 16 gallon dog food container from PetSmart. It think it was around $39

 

[Joe31415]

Bucket on the top is my ATO container. The one on the lower shelf on the one in the left corner (on the ground, but should be on the second shelf down) will hopefully be for an AWC if I can get my hands on one.
You can see the RODI line coming in from the top of the picture and splitting off to the (top) ATO bucket, the (hopefully) AWC bucket and the Brute can I've been using to mix saltwater.
The hole in the ceiling is directly below the tank. I ran a bunch of tubing (easier to do it all at once) up to the tank area, but the only one in use right now is the ATO line.
You can also kinda see, on the ATO bucket, I have some clear tubing running up the side of it so I can see the water level when I walk past it. I plumbed in an electric valve that feeds the RODI filters and put a countdown timer on it. If the water gets down to the top piece of tape, I run it for 15 minutes, the bottom piece, 30 minutes. Once I have it all fine tuned, I'll make some lines with a Sharpie. It's really nice to check it once a day or so, set the timer for the correct amount of time and not have to remember to turn it back off.
(and the three lines running through the top of the picture are unrelated (speaker wires))

Now, if the tank would ever finish cycling, I'll be all set to go.

 

[MickeyR]

If I had room I would do the cheapest option that fit the most volume. Because I am limited on cabinet space, Initially I had a rimless ato glass 5 gallon container, had no top, I just didnt care for it. It would get stuff in it when doing maintenance or fiddling around. Then a local reefer sold me one of those fancy 5 gallon acrylic ones with ato connectors and lid and a section to see how much water was in there and it looks nice. So really depends on what you want to do and budget, I wouldnt buy new plenty of people locally depending where you are dumping off the fancy ones. But if I had to do budget and largest size, I would do the large pet food containers.

 

[Ayce]

I have a small set up and use a plastic bucket which Tidy Cat litter comes in. Holds about 3.5 gallons.

 

[Darksidereefer]

I use a 10 gallon tank fits perfect in the cabinet and makes for an easy refill. With the hard top I also have some extra shelving for dosers.

 

[cmmatxh]

5 gallon tank and used some scrap acrylic as a lid

 

[Layzie_chi_reef]

I bought one of those water barrels for Agua Frescas at Walmart for $10 it holds 5 gallons and had a plastic lid that I drilled a small whole for the ATO to go through. Works great for my 25 gallon reef tank. I have to refill it every 7 days or so

 

[Beau_B]

Dog food bin. Tall, skinny, clear. Large, sealing lid. I think it was $12. Wheels on the back so it can be moved full-ish if needed for cleaning behind or whatnot.

Edit: What Simply_J posted above!

 

[ForrestGump]

I bought a 15 gallon tall aquarium off craigslist for $15.

 

[Gtinnel]

I use a 29 gallon aquarium with a baffle in it so only half is my ato, the other half is my refugium.
I also have a 5 gallon bucket in a utility room on the other side of the house that I have connected with a hose with a siphon to the 29 gallon tank. So technically I use half of a 29 g tank and a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Joe31415]

I use a 29 gallon aquarium with a baffle in it so only half is my ato, the other half is my refugium.
I also have a 5 gallon bucket in a utility room on the other side of the house that I have connected with a hose with a siphon to the 29 gallon tank. So technically I use half of a 29 g tank and a 5 gallon bucket.

No concerns about the baffle failing? I have one of those sump kits with the plastic baffles. It's difficult to get plastic to stick to glass (as opposed to glass baffles against a glass tank), the only reason I'm not concerned about my baffles failing is because there's a generally equal amount of water on both sides so the net pressure on each baffle is minimal.

(If I ever build another sump, it'll be with glass baffles.

 

[Gtinnel]

No concerns about the baffle failing? I have one of those sump kits with the plastic baffles. It's difficult to get plastic to stick to glass (as opposed to glass baffles against a glass tank), the only reason I'm not concerned about my baffles failing is because there's a generally equal amount of water on both sides so the net pressure on each baffle is minimal.

It doesn't worry me at all. I used 3/8" thick glass and I used a lot (probably way too much) silicon when I installed the baffle. I honestly think the factory panels of the cheap 29g aquarium would fail before my baffle would

 

[HockeyRooster]

I put a partition in my sump and keep the RO and pump there