Topping off???

ReadyRock · 01/02/2016, 07:01 PM

Hi all I am currently in the process of fine tuning my tank and need a little help with topping it off without raising or lowing my salinity I have currently just added fresh water into my sump until it is at the appropriate level is this correct or is there an easier way??

homer1475 · 01/02/2016, 07:08 PM

Yes that's correct. Mark your sump and fill to that line daily. The only easier way is with automation(ATO = Auto top off). You top off with fresh RO/DI and not salt water. Water evaporates and not the salt. When water evaps your salinity raises(why you add FW), and without adding FW every day, you will get wild salinity fluctuations which is not good for your inhabitants.

matt1444 · 01/02/2016, 07:15 PM

Do yourself a favor and invest in an auto top off. No matter what size tank this is almost a must have for me. Makes your life much easier and keeps your tank much more stable.something like the jbj are affordable and work great.

davehead86 · 01/02/2016, 08:45 PM

Gravity fed ATO can be done fairly cheap. If you have room above the sump for a gallon or so of water.

Otherwise get an ATO that is redundant to make sure you dont flood the house. The Tzune Osmolator seems to be the favorite around here.

kmbyrnes · 01/03/2016, 06:49 AM

+1 for ATO. Didn't have one for the first 2 months of reefing. Can't imagine life without one now.

Member No. 1 · 01/03/2016, 08:02 AM

Just be sure to monitor your salinity levels weekly. With either method, using a full level line on the sump and adding RODI water daily by hand, or using a ATO, as your skimmer pulls some water out with it, over time if you keep adding top off water to the full level line, your salinity will slowly decrease.

Marchillo · 01/03/2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Member No. 1

Just be sure to monitor your salinity levels weekly. With either method, using a full level line on the sump and adding RODI water daily by hand, or using a ATO, as your skimmer pulls some water out with it, over time if you keep adding top off water to the full level line, your salinity will slowly decrease.

Agree with this. I also believe I lose some salt to creep over time as well. I test water weekly when I do water changes with my calibrated refractometer. I may boost the change water a tad higher when I see my display drop .01 every few changes or so.

I also find its good practice to test both at water change time for consistency. Unlikely a calibrated refractometer would be off by more than .01 or so but I feel keeping the change water consistent with the DT is important and a nice safety check.

01/02/2016, 07:01 PM	#1
ReadyRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 12	Topping off??? Hi all I am currently in the process of fine tuning my tank and need a little help with topping it off without raising or lowing my salinity I have currently just added fresh water into my sump until it is at the appropriate level is this correct or is there an easier way??

01/02/2016, 07:08 PM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Yes that's correct. Mark your sump and fill to that line daily. The only easier way is with automation(ATO = Auto top off). You top off with fresh RO/DI and not salt water. Water evaporates and not the salt. When water evaps your salinity raises(why you add FW), and without adding FW every day, you will get wild salinity fluctuations which is not good for your inhabitants. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/03/2016, 06:49 AM	#5
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	+1 for ATO. Didn't have one for the first 2 months of reefing. Can't imagine life without one now. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

01/03/2016, 08:02 AM	#6
Member No. 1 Ver. 2.1 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rehoboth, MA Posts: 1,803	Just be sure to monitor your salinity levels weekly. With either method, using a full level line on the sump and adding RODI water daily by hand, or using a ATO, as your skimmer pulls some water out with it, over time if you keep adding top off water to the full level line, your salinity will slowly decrease. __________________ Pete "I never make mistakes... I thought I did once, but I was wrong" Current Tank Info: In the process - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2661614

01/02/2016, 07:15 PM	#3
matt1444 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: kansas city MO Posts: 37	Do yourself a favor and invest in an auto top off. No matter what size tank this is almost a must have for me. Makes your life much easier and keeps your tank much more stable.something like the jbj are affordable and work great.

01/02/2016, 08:45 PM	#4
davehead86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Monticello, IL Posts: 819	Gravity fed ATO can be done fairly cheap. If you have room above the sump for a gallon or so of water. Otherwise get an ATO that is redundant to make sure you dont flood the house. The Tzune Osmolator seems to be the favorite around here.