Cleaning ATO reservoir ? ?

jennmac415 · 02/04/2014, 01:52 PM

Just getting ready to refill my reservoir and was wondering if or how often everyone actally cleans it out and with what? Thanks!

Uncle Salty 05 · 02/04/2014, 01:56 PM

I have an egg crate bottom sitting on 3/4" PVC.
When the sludge gets deep enough that it starts getting sucked into my DT I dump it, hose it out, wipe it with vinegar and start over.
Takes about 2 years for it to build up that much.

thegrun · 02/04/2014, 02:00 PM

If you are using kalkwasser once a year or so. If it is a simple reservoir with only RO/DI water it should never need to be cleaned.

Uncle Salty 05 · 02/04/2014, 02:05 PM

+1
Was assuming kalkwasser was being used.

jennmac415 · 02/04/2014, 02:07 PM

Nope, no kalkwasser in my ATO. ..so the ro/di water won't create any slime or anything harmful in the container to warrant cleaning it every so often?

jennmac415 · 02/04/2014, 02:09 PM

Another ?...I know alot of people DO use kalk in the ATO ..mine is from autotopoff. com, using the aqualifter, is it possible to dose kalk using this setup? Won't it clog?

thegrun · 02/04/2014, 02:10 PM

Being pure water there should not be anything to build up at the bottom and it has no nutrients so algae should not grow.

Uncle Salty 05 · 02/04/2014, 02:25 PM

It depends on how much light gets to it.
Being stripped of chlorine, algae will grow if it recieves much light.
A qiuck wipe down with vinegar should clean it right up.

jennmac415 · 02/04/2014, 02:43 PM

It does get some light. ..its an opaque dog food container. ..guess it can't hurt to just give it a quick clean.

cloak · 02/05/2014, 11:46 AM

I just clean mine out under the faucet in the garage with a wash cloth. (once every 3 weeks or so) Piece of cake.

pledosophy · 02/05/2014, 01:45 PM

If your RODI water is growing algae I would test the water.

Mine has been going for 4 years now, still spotless.

When I was dosing kalk I would run my top off on a timer and I had an old powerhead go on a couple minutes before to get everything all stirred up. Worked great for years.

cloak · 02/05/2014, 08:00 PM

A bucket of water sitting still will always grow sludge. Sometimes sooner than later. Life...

02/04/2014, 01:52 PM	#1
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	Cleaning ATO reservoir ? ? Just getting ready to refill my reservoir and was wondering if or how often everyone actally cleans it out and with what? Thanks! __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

02/04/2014, 01:56 PM	#2
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	I have an egg crate bottom sitting on 3/4" PVC. When the sludge gets deep enough that it starts getting sucked into my DT I dump it, hose it out, wipe it with vinegar and start over. Takes about 2 years for it to build up that much. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

02/04/2014, 02:05 PM	#4
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	+1 Was assuming kalkwasser was being used. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

02/04/2014, 02:07 PM	#5
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	Nope, no kalkwasser in my ATO. ..so the ro/di water won't create any slime or anything harmful in the container to warrant cleaning it every so often? __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

02/04/2014, 02:09 PM	#6
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	Another ?...I know alot of people DO use kalk in the ATO ..mine is from autotopoff. com, using the aqualifter, is it possible to dose kalk using this setup? Won't it clog? __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

02/04/2014, 02:00 PM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If you are using kalkwasser once a year or so. If it is a simple reservoir with only RO/DI water it should never need to be cleaned.

02/04/2014, 02:10 PM	#7
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Being pure water there should not be anything to build up at the bottom and it has no nutrients so algae should not grow.

02/04/2014, 02:25 PM	#8
Uncle Salty 05 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,799	It depends on how much light gets to it. Being stripped of chlorine, algae will grow if it recieves much light. A qiuck wipe down with vinegar should clean it right up. __________________ In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure. Knowledge and reason, change like the season. A jester's promenade. - Kerry Livgren Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank with dual attached refugiums 20 long and 10 gallon. Plus 55 gallon True Percula breeding tank.

02/04/2014, 02:43 PM	#9
jennmac415 premium member "reefmama" Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 1,903	It does get some light. ..its an opaque dog food container. ..guess it can't hurt to just give it a quick clean. __________________ Jenni AKA "Reefmama" Current Tank Info: currently just have a 34 gallon.

02/05/2014, 11:46 AM	#10
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I just clean mine out under the faucet in the garage with a wash cloth. (once every 3 weeks or so) Piece of cake.

02/05/2014, 01:45 PM	#11
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	If your RODI water is growing algae I would test the water. Mine has been going for 4 years now, still spotless. When I was dosing kalk I would run my top off on a timer and I had an old powerhead go on a couple minutes before to get everything all stirred up. Worked great for years. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

02/05/2014, 08:00 PM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	A bucket of water sitting still will always grow sludge. Sometimes sooner than later. Life...