12G Fluval Reef

[mygirlsbelieve]

I am a newbie to the forum slash reef set up. My question pertains to the ATO that I want to put in place for my aquarium's success. Because of the special opening and enclosed top I was not sure which ATO switch I should use. Anyone have any suggestions?

My plan: Have an ATO switch connected to a pump which will also be connected to a reservoir of RO/DI water.

Thank you all, in advance, for any help you may offer.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Welcome to AA!
I'm not really good with the electronics, sorry:/
But I do know some pretty cool fish options, stocking and all that!
Welcome to AA!

 

[Terrance]

Would a Tunze ATO fit your tiny tank? I can't imagine seeing one of the ATOs with float switches fitting into the fluval without causing some kind of eye sore.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Thank you GF loach boy for the nice welcome. I will need help with all of that. I have one clown, a BTA, skunk shrimp, and a small clean up crew, with 9lbs of LR and 20lbs of LS. I don't have a lot of room for much more than that.

I kind of feel lost as I am a noob to the forum's. I'm sure I'll find my way around.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Hi Terrance. I was thinking the exact same thing, but did not know what my options were, which is why I am here. I will def. look into the Tunze ATO. Can you tell me more about it? Does it fit inside the tank or how does it work?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Thank you GF loach boy for the nice welcome. I will need help with all of that. I have one clown, a BTA, skunk shrimp, and a small clean up crew, with 9lbs of LR and 20lbs of LS. I don't have a lot of room for much more than that.

I kind of feel lost as I am a noob to the forum's. I'm sure I'll find my way around.

Oh good, have you tried some coral, or anemones?

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Terrance, I looked at the Tunze ATO and they had several options, but this is what I found. The Tunze Osmolator Nano 3152 ATO. Would that work? It is a little out of the range of what I was wanting to pay, but if that would work, I may reconsider. I am so new to all of this that I am not sure what is what. :/

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Oh good, have you tried some coral, or anemones?

I have a Bubble tip anemone, or at least that is what I think it is. The LFS did not tell me what it was.

 

[Terrance]

Tunze use a sensor to detect lower water levels. I do not know my way around a fluval though, so even my suggestion is not ideal.

Best thing right now is to either wait for someone with a fluval to recommend something

Or do a quick google search to see what ATO other people have tried with the fluval.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Another related question, but how much water that evaporates from the tank is considered dangerous to the tank in regards to salinity spikes and drops, etc.?

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Tunze use a sensor to detect lower water levels. I do not know my way around a fluval though, so even my suggestion is not ideal.

Best thing right now is to either wait for someone with a fluval to recommend something

Or do a quick google search to see what ATO other people have tried with the fluval.

Thanks Terrance. I have googled for days and weeks trying to find an ATO system and/or switch that would work for a fluval and have not had any success. I was going to basically do a DIY, but with purchased parts, not homemade, but the switch is the only part that I have not had success in finding. Thank you for trying to help.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Thank you everyone for your help

 

[Terrance]

I just watched a review of how to put together the fluval. I think you should take off the hob filter and place the ato in that section. Cleaning that tank looks very difficult.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

I just watched a review of how to put together the fluval. I think you should take off the hob filter and place the ato in that section. Cleaning that tank looks very difficult.

If I take off the HOB filter to put the ATO in its place, what will filter my water or cause agitation at the surface of the water? And, you are so right Terrance about cleaning the tank. It is a huge pain, but so far I am getting more accustomed to it. I just have to remember to take some water out before I stick my hands in so water doesn't spill out everywhere. lol. I have done that a time or two...not a fun mess to clean up.

 

[Terrance]

Thank you GF loach boy for the nice welcome. I will need help with all of that. I have one clown, a BTA, skunk shrimp, and a small clean up crew, with 9lbs of LR and 20lbs of LS. I don't have a lot of room for much more than that.

I kind of feel lost as I am a noob to the forum's. I'm sure I'll find my way around.

When you take out the HOB filter (acts as a mechanical and biological filtration, and you can use it as a chemical filter if carbon or other media is added), then you will have to do weekly water changes for mechanical filtration.

Your 9lbs of LR will be your biological filtration. I think you should add a few more pounds of rocks. The live sand also helps with biological filtration (I am assuming you have a thick sand bed).

If you don't already have nano circulation pumps, then you will have to get preferably 2 pumps. Something like this: Hydor Koralia Nano Circulation Pump/Powerhead

Search online to see what nano pumps are available for you.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

When you take out the HOB filter (acts as a mechanical and biological filtration, and you can use it as a chemical filter if carbon or other media is added), then you will have to do weekly water changes for mechanical filtration.

Your 9lbs of LR will be your biological filtration. I think you should add a few more pounds of rocks. The live sand also helps with biological filtration (I am assuming you have a thick sand bed).

If you don't already have nano circulation pumps, then you will have to get preferably 2 pumps. Something like this: Hydor Koralia Nano Circulation Pump/Powerhead

Search online to see what nano pumps are available for you.

Terrance, you are awesome! My plan is to definitely buy more live rock, but I am waiting for a friend to buy about 80 pounds of live fiji rock as he will give me more. I don't want to buy more from my LFS because their rock is not seasoned and is pretty ugly. And I have about a 2-3 inch sand bed.

I didn't realize that I would not need a HOB filter. I can get rid of that now, or do I need to wait until my tank has cycled awhile? What is recommended? I just ordered a filter/skimmer combo too. So did I just waste my money? Or, can I still use that and just try and find an alternative for my ATO switch/system? I do about a 2 gallon weekly water change also with RO water. I also manually top off as needed with RO water.

I have one 240 GPH powerhead in my tank. I am assuming that is what you were referring to when you said I needed circulation pumps? If not, let me know so I can look into that.

Thanks so much for your help and support. I appreciate it so so much.

 

[Terrance]

Since your tank has living animals in it, I'm assuming your tank is fully cycled. There are probably a lot of beneficial bacteria in your filter pad and/or media.

There are not much room in your tank rim. I think you should return the HOB skimmer because of its possible large size. Water changes will be much more beneficial to you than a HOB skimmer.

Manual top offs are ok if you want to go that route, but you have to be on top of it. One day missed top off might cost all your livestock (beneficial bacteria dying and you get a spike in ammonia). ATO is very important for any nano tank just because its peace of mind (as long as the reservoir has enough water lol) and stability.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

Since your tank has living animals in it, I'm assuming your tank is fully cycled. There are probably a lot of beneficial bacteria in your filter pad and/or media.

There are not much room in your tank rim. I think you should return the HOB skimmer because of its possible large size. Water changes will be much more beneficial to you than a HOB skimmer.

Manual top offs are ok if you want to go that route, but you have to be on top of it. One day missed top off might cost all your livestock (beneficial bacteria dying and you get a spike in ammonia). ATO is very important for any nano tank just because its peace of mind (as long as the reservoir has enough water lol) and stability.

I just love to learn from people who know what they are talking about.

Ok, so skip the skimmer/filter that I just purchased and am waiting for in the mail which would replace my stock HOB filter, and don't have any filter at all in place. Should I keep the filter pad/media in tank so I do not shock it when I take the filter out or just take everything out? Place the ATO switch hanging on the glass in back where my filter is hanging now and call it good?

Also, will you check out this link to see if this would work for my 12g fluval for an ATO? It is a Tunze like you suggested, but they have different models so I was not sure... http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/tunze...top-off.html?gclid=CO6gz-WNsLYCFe5AMgodBEkAUw

I have the advantage where I can stay on top of my reservoir being full since I am home often.

Anything else you can think of that would help me is welcomed! I think my being a noob shows..

 

[Terrance]

What is in your current hob filter now? Just a sponge or pad?

The nano tunze looks good. I did not know they offered a nano version.

 

[mygirlsbelieve]

What is in your current hob filter now? Just a sponge or pad?

The nano tunze looks good. I did not know they offered a nano version.

It is media and a sponge in my HOB filter.

I read in reviews for that model that the Tunze nano model ATO is for sumps, which I don't even know what that is. Is that true? Do I need a sump, and more importantly, what is it?