ATO reservoir

pecan2phat · 10/01/2017, 01:47 PM

Have a dumb question regarding ATO reservoir/vessel. Should the container be vented or air tight?
I had used an old BRS 5g kalkwasser bucket. Drilled 2 holes for the metering pump and the lid was gasket sealed so almost air tight during use. Now I have a Trigger ATO reservoir and where the opening cutout is, there’s an area about the size of a nickel that the lid does not cover. Is there any negative reason why I should not cover this, does the sitting water need the air gap?
I know this is a silly question but the reason why I ask is because my cat’s fur ends up every where.

sfdan · 10/01/2017, 02:23 PM

If the container were fully airtight you couldn't pump water out of it, but close to airtight is good. You want it as sealed as possible so debris doesn't get in there. This would be especially true if you are dosing kalk, you want as little air interacting with the top-off water as possible.

pecan2phat · 10/01/2017, 03:56 PM

Thanks sfdan!

kendrid · 10/02/2017, 06:32 PM

I use a 10g tank as my ATO and I use the supplied glass lid to 'seal' it. It prevents a lot of evaporation and keeps stuff out.

10/01/2017, 01:47 PM	#1
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	ATO reservoir Have a dumb question regarding ATO reservoir/vessel. Should the container be vented or air tight? I had used an old BRS 5g kalkwasser bucket. Drilled 2 holes for the metering pump and the lid was gasket sealed so almost air tight during use. Now I have a Trigger ATO reservoir and where the opening cutout is, there’s an area about the size of a nickel that the lid does not cover. Is there any negative reason why I should not cover this, does the sitting water need the air gap? I know this is a silly question but the reason why I ask is because my cat’s fur ends up every where.

10/01/2017, 02:23 PM	#2
sfdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: San Francisco Posts: 451	If the container were fully airtight you couldn't pump water out of it, but close to airtight is good. You want it as sealed as possible so debris doesn't get in there. This would be especially true if you are dosing kalk, you want as little air interacting with the top-off water as possible.

10/01/2017, 03:56 PM	#3
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Thanks sfdan!

10/02/2017, 06:32 PM	#4
kendrid Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lake in the hills, IL Posts: 806	I use a 10g tank as my ATO and I use the supplied glass lid to 'seal' it. It prevents a lot of evaporation and keeps stuff out.