Schnitzel's mixing station

[SchnitzelReef]

Ato reservoir low + decreased salinity in the apex would support ATO stuck "ON", useful information to have. As for total reliance on any automated controller, i decided to draw the line behind auto ATO.

I see an internet cam in your shed in the near future...

Yes sir. I decided to keep the HD drop cams for watching the house, I'm gunna get 3 IP cams for the tank. 1 for display, 1 for sump, and 1 for shed.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

She's done. Works great

 

[mark.a.smith405]

Where'd you get those float switches nick?

 

[Confuse]

Where'd you get those float switches nick?

autotopoff.com

I got one for my ATO container and they work great.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Where'd you get those float switches nick?

autotopoff.com

I got one for my ATO container and they work great.

U can get them from ^ ATO.com or I got mine from Amazon for a bit cheaper.

 

[mark.a.smith405]

U can get them from ^ ATO.com or I got mine from Amazon for a bit cheaper.

For sure... Got a link?

 

[GoReef165]

Looking good.
~ Young Grasshoppa

 

[Confuse]

Nick, do you have any piping automating the water change? Rob showed me his setup inspired by you. It was pretty cool having the water drain through his pipes and then pumping it back up.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Nick, do you have any piping automating the water change? Rob showed me his setup inspired by you. It was pretty cool having the water drain through his pipes and then pumping it back up.

Yes I taught young Robert well, he is quick learner. Lol

I setup my mixing station to do smaller auto water changes on a daily basis. I'm now reconsidering that setup. I think doing water changes once every couple weeks is better for my system. If I do that, I'm gunna run 1/2" pvc into my house from the shed. Right now I'm using a hose to pump it in.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Lower float is up, so it's almost full. Love my apex!!!! Gunna setup another break out box for my main tank ATO. That way I'll know if it's not filling

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Got home and she's full

 

[e30]

Nice!!

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Couple new toys for the mixing station

 

[Fly5150]

Couple new toys for the mixing station
View attachment 41455

You going to keep them heated full time or just when doing water changes? The problem I have with my 160gal tanks, it's hard to get the sg correct with cold water. I have to mix and heat up a cup of water to get the sg correct to test.


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[solitude127]

You going to keep them heated full time or just when doing water changes? The problem I have with my 160gal tanks, it's hard to get the sg correct with cold water. I have to mix and heat up a cup of water to get the sg correct to test.


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Which refractormeter are you using?

 

[Fly5150]

Which refractormeter are you using?

I have a Milwaukee digital and a Red Sea.


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[SchnitzelReef]

You going to keep them heated full time or just when doing water changes? The problem I have with my 160gal tanks, it's hard to get the sg correct with cold water. I have to mix and heat up a cup of water to get the sg correct to test.


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Yep I plan on keeping my ro/di and my salt reservoir heated all the time. I use my ro/di reservoir for my ATO, so it's nice to have it heated. And I recently did a 50g water change and it dropped my tanks temp 2-3 degrees. If anything I might just heat the salt reservoir when I know I'll be doing a water change, just to keep cost down a bit. We'll see how it goes

 

[solitude127]

I have a Milwaukee digital and a Red Sea.


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I thought those would compensate for temp. What is usually the difference in SG with cold vs tank ready water?

 

[Fly5150]

Yep I plan on keeping my ro/di and my salt reservoir heated all the time. I use my ro/di reservoir for my ATO, so it's nice to have it heated. And I recently did a 50g water change and it dropped my tanks temp 2-3 degrees. If anything I might just heat the salt reservoir when I know I'll be doing a water change, just to keep cost down a bit. We'll see how it goes

Should be less stressful on everything. I'm sure you thought of it, but make sure you program your apex to turn the heater off when your doing your water change. I just burned a hole in a 44g brute during a water change on my qt tank in the garage because I forgot to unplug the 300w heater.

I thought those would compensate for temp. What is usually the difference in SG with cold vs tank ready water?

Water in storage in my garage is around 60 degrees. I've seen it go from 32-35 ppt at 80*.


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[SchnitzelReef]

Should be less stressful on everything. I'm sure you thought of it, but make sure you program your apex to turn the heater off when your doing your water change. I just burned a hole in a 44g brute during a water change on my qt tank in the garage because I forgot to unplug the 300w heater.


Water in storage in my garage is around 60 degrees. I've seen it go from 32-35 ppt at 80*.


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Good advice. Actually I've already been in the middle of a water change and I've remembered that I left it on. I'm gunna setup a virtual outlet that says "water change", and when I turn it on, it will turn off the heater in the mixing station, turn off my skimmer, power heads, and my return pump. Then when I'm done, just manually turn off "water change"