Looking for cheap & easy auto-topoff
 

Right now I have my ro/di filter draining into a 22 gallon rubbermaid container, I want to set something up so I can have the water from the container go right to the sump, if I can do this, I might even be able to mix kalk directly in the container and cover it., I think I evap approx. 2 gallons a day, came across this on Reef Central.

What do you think, any safer/better ways?, need something simple & reliable, I'm far from a plumber.



cheap and easy autotop off

My buddy uses a litermeter on his tank and I went to buy the same until I found out that they quit making it and the new model won't be out til the end of Oct.
So after checking his out I came up with an idea.I use digital timers for my lighting and also for the pumps on my ponds and they can be set to the minute(homedepot 17$),I used one of these with a small powerhead with the exaust reduced down to airline tubing and run it around the wall in my fish tank room to the sump.I turned it on and filled a bucket with the amount I add everyday (2 gals for my tank) and timed how long it took(13 min.) to fill that much.set the timer to run for 13 minutes once a day.No float valves to stick or expensive pumps to buy,probably could be hooked to a Neilson reactor(I use a calcium reactor) total cost about 25$.I also put a mark on my sump where the water level should be so I can vissually check that the level is right and with my water testing once a week no need to add manually everyday.

Humidifier float valve from Revy or Home Depot for about $12 ...

Or a Kent float valve for a little more (a little more robust product)

Works best if you drill a wall for the valve to mount onto (BTW I have a glass drill bit that will work if you want to go this way), but, if you really don't want to do that, you can work around that.

One way is to take a piece of scrap acrylic or glass and drill through that, then silicone that into your sump.

On my 50g, I just took a piece of 3" PVC and made a tower that sits in my sump. For the base I just used a toilet flange. Works like a charm.

I can try to take some pictures and show you. Very easy to set up, and inexpensive, but EFFECTIVE. You can even use them for adding kalk...

this is the one I did
http://www.canreef.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1945

it cost 25.00 for the kent float valve, and 11.50 for the jug and 5 gal of RO water. then another 10 bucks for the fittings and valve. for a couple bucks more you could use a 20 gal rubbermaid for the water storage instead of a 5 gal water jug. (this is what I am doing now)

Steve

Top off water system
 

Delphinus, I would really like those pictures. Not to mechanical. I need a picture. Thanx in advance.

Tony:

I'd like to see some pictures also, better still, I'd like you to come over & rig it up. (lol).

I can do both. I snapped some pictures last night and transferred them to my PC this morning but I didn't have time to "webify" them this morning. So, pictures forthcoming.

Wayne, I'd be more than happy to come over and help out. I may not be able to do much well, but float valves and drilling I can do. :) Besides, I want to see this new table of yours, very jealous, I've never been able to get Jayson to sell me a table despite years of whining and pining for one... :)

Sounds good Tony, maybe you can send me a private message with your phone number and we can discuss what I need to purchase, setup, etc., I'll have a couple of frags for you for helping, if you want of course.

The table is just a frag right now, about 2", but already i'm seeing color change and good polyp extension, I have it up fairly high under a 400W Radium with good flow, you'll have to wait a while for a frag of this one.

Steve, how long does that 5g jug last? Are you re-filling it every week?

I was filling it ever two days don't forget I have the surface area of 3 tanks to evaporate on me so my consumption was and is kinda high.. I now have a 18 gallon jug on there and I go a week easy on that.

Steve

Hey Steve,

Ya, nice auto-top off. Gives me a good idea that I can work off of (in other words, copy :lol: ). I have a question though, how did you get that 1/4" line fitting threaded into the jug? Ever thought of dripping kalk? or do you have a reactor?

Also, I was looking at those exact same rubbermaids (the ones with the wheels) everything looks good but the wheels concerned me. I was thinking it might leak there from the stresses caused by wieght of water. What do you think? Would these be good sump tanks? I might just use two of them exactly how you did, one for refugium, one for auto top, and then a large one for a sump. Let me know what you think, thanks.