Auto Top off

[ZANYMASTER]

Going to do a 5.5g tank and a minijet pump using the ultra life ATO.Do I have to add salt to the top off?

 

[RyanG]

No dont use salt in the ATO. When the water evaporates its only freshwater which in turn concentrates your salt. If you put salt in the ATO it would just whack out your salinity.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Makes sense but even after a while of fresh water flowing in,Wouldn't it lower the salinity after a while?

 

[RyanG]

It shouldnt you will still have to add salt during water changes.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Been doing it with buckets.I really don't trust ATO's but the summer is coming and I have to give it a shot.I've heard alot of horror stories about them.

 

[jejton]

You might see that you are losing salt but it will be from salt creep which is basically saltwater splashing onto the surrounding equipment, tank frame, etc. and when that water evaporates it leaves salt behind. In your ATO use only fresh water but test your salinity frequently since in such a small volume tank even salt creep might become a significant factor if you have a lot of water movement.

 

[kmaintl]

If you're replacing the water that evaporates with a ATO, then no salt is needed. When saltwater evaporates, only water evaporates, the salt still stays in the tank. So, salt does not evaporate with the water. Like the above, if you have a lot of salt creep, you are loosing some salt, but it's not that much.