RO Water Shut off saftey
 

Hey guys,

Just cleaning up a mini RO water leak that could have been much more.

My Ro machine is fed into 2 brute blue barrels and stopped using a float valve... you can see where this is going.... float valve failed and blue barrel slowly over filled dumping probably 5-10 gallon of water on the floor before I noticed. Never had issues before

Just wondering what everyone does to add redundancy to the system? Is there an electronic eye float valve kinda like the tunze has that can directly shut the water off that wouldn't fail like a float valve ? Is there a way to have two float switches into the RO machine

I know I can do a leak detection one with a direct water shut off but id rather stop the water in the barrel before it starts to leak

What does everyone else do?

Thanks

Damn. I had the exact same thing happen!

Do you use a controller? I am using a Neptune now (first time using a controller).

Thinking will need 2 optical sensors and a solenoid.
Optical sensor 1 will be a low water sensor so it will trigger the solenoid to open and fill the tub until new RO/DI fills to the top and reaches Optical sensor 2 which in turn will trigger the solenoid to close.

Voila.

I do have a Neptune but the tank is upstairs and the RO machine and water change system is in the basement and I pump the water upstairs

fail safe RODI...
 

I set my system so that the RODI is on the Neptune Apex power bar. I put 2 float switches in the RO reservoir tank (2nd one for redundancy). Programmed Apex so that if one or both switches is closed, it powers off the RODI unit. No power = no more water production. Works well and provides some fail safe redundancy. I have a fresh water tank upstairs, joined a couple of BLUE USB 3 cables together and daisy chained the Apex Neptune EB8 power bars together using the Aquabus ports. I control all my main lights, moon lights, canister filter, CO2 solenoid valve and main water pump.

Yea that seems ideal but my tank is too far from where my RO set up is

https://www.reefsupplies.ca/online-s...ller-8555.html


Was thinking something like this but it seems stiff for 233$ but kinda the idea I'm looking for

I use high tech. I put my 5 gallon bucket in the sink and set a timer for 50 minutes. If I forget it overflows into the sink.

Except for the one time the bucket sits on top of the drain... people I know had a $30,000 flood claim due to that.

I have yet to see a float valve shut off that works for any longer than a month. They are a waste of time and money. Like has been said before, set a timer. It’s way more reliable than anything else.

Check this out. Genesis Reef Systems | Automated Aquarium Water Handling Systems

I don't like their slogan of "setting and forgetting". I can think of a bunch of problems I have run into on my tanks because I set and forgot.

Yea It sucks relying on such a cheap piece of equipment but how is there no other solution other than setting a timer , like my barrels are like 50g and i dont empty them all the way before refilling them so such a hassle to always be setting timers

Was kinda figuring there would be an upgraded float switch or like electric eye i could tie into a solenoid to cut the water that was more reliable then a float switch

Funny cause prob 60% of reefers have RO set ups into a brute can or barrel but no one has a good solution for this

[Unauthorized link]


I think i found the solution everything that i was looking for

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Here is what we are all looking for :)

sorry about previous link

I run flood sensors on my home automation system. Sensors under the dishwasher, behind toilets, near the washer and... next to the RO system.

Any water detected at these areas immediately activates an electric actuator on the main inlet gate valve cutting all water.

I've used these for 15+ yrs without issue in sumps on various systems.

Trough-O-Matic Stock Tank Float Valve with Plastic Housing

You need to replace the pivot pin with plexiglas 1/8" rod and use nylon bolts into plexi support to attach the float valve to container.

One thing to note about leak detectors, most rely on the water being conductive. RO/DI water is not conductive as it has no minerals.

Cheers,
Tim

What about the XP Aqua RO/DI flood guardian?
It appears to be exactly what is wished for here. I have pre-ordered one, looks to do exactly what I want. Make water in a brute, with sensors to shut the RO off when it gets to the set full level.

I like the description, "marriage saver".
I think I saw ReefDudes had a review of this.

I have used a cheap plastic float valve on gravity systems for 8 years with auto top off ,my pond and rodi systems without any issues at all. not fancy but effective and cheap

Yup 100000% just ordered one as well , I don’t know why I didn’t search around earlier

Yeah and that’s what I was using till all of a sudden it failed, thank god I was home cause I usually left it over the weekend and shit cause never had an issue

sometimes the ball can fill with water if it has a pin hole or something. you can also attach some Styrofoam to the float. what part failed?