Auto topoff question?

[naturebatslast]

What salinity do you keep your topoff at, if at all?

 

[Andy O]

I just use straight RO/DI for my auto top off. If my understanding is correct the tank water evaporates and not the salt. Thus dosing with salted top off will increase your overall salinity in the tank.

 

[this is me]

Straight RO/DI. Why would you want salinity in your top off water?
Your tank water evaporate but the salt stay, so having some salinity in your top off water will increase your salinity in the tank.

Edit: lol, didnt read andy's post before I made mine. I agree with Andy.

 

[naturebatslast]

My topoff just doses a little more than I would like. I noticed a drop in salinity after the first few doses. Maybe I just have to wait a little more.

 

[maurod]

Cindy pointed out to me that adding some salt to topoff water keeps it from being so chemically reactive. Pure RODI is chemically dry and will soak up contaminants from the air or container it's stored in.

M.

 

[naturebatslast]

Thanks, how much do you add?

 

[denvig]

Straight RO/DI for reasons stated above.

 

[Chris L]

i add my additives to my top off ro/di so it isnt actually straight ro anymore

 

[naturebatslast]

I've done manual topoff for years. But with MH and fans, I almost couldn't keep up on my evaporation. But so far, I feel the a little bit of freedom not having to constantly be topping off.
I did add a very small amount of salt water, not enough to show on my bulb hydrometer. I'm only using a clean plastic bucket, and I've read on the reactiviy of RO/DI water.
Another question, I'm battling dinoflagellates and I'm trying to keep up my ph and alk, can I weakly dose auto topoff water?
Thanks, Matt

 

[Chris L]

i do i add buffer to my topoff. just figure out how long it takes to empty your topoff container and figure out how much buffer or anything else you would be dosing in that time frame

 

[etszoo]

I use kalkwasser in my topoff. Helps to keep the ph up.

 

[hans1976]

It depends on the purpose of your top off. If it's to replace evaporation, the RO is fine. However, if you have a system like Randy's, you need to add salt. As I recall, he runs his skimmer wet so he is pulling out 1% of his water everyday so he doesn't have to do a water change. In that case, you need to have salt in your top off water.

 

[NateHanson]

If you've got dinos, you should dose with Kalk water. It'll raise your ph and keep your alk (and ca) up.