I used a duel head master flex pump on my reef before, one head pulls water out, one puts the water in. Brute filled with saltwater and other head down the drain. It didn't mess with ato since adds and removes at the same time and the duel head ensures you have the same amount removed and added.
You could have a brute can with reminerlized RO water to put in, and the removal goes down the drain. Can mount this good deal of distance away since the master flex pumps have great head pressure - they are expensive but can find them on ebay used from time to time.
When I converted the system to FW I do something similar. We have quite poor tap water here in Iowa, so I have RO/DI water fill up 3 brute 55g cans with an avast marine barrel topper, the use both heads of the masterflex to take water to the system. The sump then has a line to the floor drain. I control the amount of w/c daily with the timer (on apex but doesn't need to be). Sort of like a drip but not quite - you could still use the 2nd head to remove instead of the sump drain and send to a reservoir of waste water.
I reminerlize the RO water in the brute cans with seachem equilibrium, and change about 25% daily in the system. Very little work and has been quite robust. I also have peace lilies and pothos in the external overflows, but has kept my 180 discus tank and 120 fahaka puffer tank (plumbed together - both have sumps) at under 5ppm nitrate with very little work. I have been really happy with the system.
You could have a brute can with reminerlized RO water to put in, and the removal goes down the drain. Can mount this good deal of distance away since the master flex pumps have great head pressure - they are expensive but can find them on ebay used from time to time.
When I converted the system to FW I do something similar. We have quite poor tap water here in Iowa, so I have RO/DI water fill up 3 brute 55g cans with an avast marine barrel topper, the use both heads of the masterflex to take water to the system. The sump then has a line to the floor drain. I control the amount of w/c daily with the timer (on apex but doesn't need to be). Sort of like a drip but not quite - you could still use the 2nd head to remove instead of the sump drain and send to a reservoir of waste water.
I reminerlize the RO water in the brute cans with seachem equilibrium, and change about 25% daily in the system. Very little work and has been quite robust. I also have peace lilies and pothos in the external overflows, but has kept my 180 discus tank and 120 fahaka puffer tank (plumbed together - both have sumps) at under 5ppm nitrate with very little work. I have been really happy with the system.
