I use a salt bucket and can add more if I want sit new bucket next to old and add hose the two buckets will always be equal in water hight. Add another with hose and all will always be equal in hight and so on. You never have to worry when you are away for a prolonged period 5g last a week, and I am not normally gone for more than 10 days. I use one of thighs decoration water feature pumps as a aqua lifter is not made for this use. I have found after just about 6 months the aqua lifter I had was starting to loss its ability to pump as much water as needed in would go into alarm once in a while. I have cleaned the aqua lifer several times they are just not made for it, anyways the decoration pump was 2 at a store I can't remember which one it was but we got the decoration on clearance so I could get the pump.

Bill