DIY Auot-top off in 4 steps

[Mik_101]

Ok this might seem stupid but it works. I thought of it my self because I always have evaporation. If you guys what to make one for your self one hear are the directions.

Tools/materials: 1 gallon milk container, Sicrorcs/Knife, silicone and air line tubing

Step 1- Take your milk container a wash it with water ONLY and clean it very very well with hot water to wash out every little bits of milk and kill the smell.

Step 2- Take your sicors/ Knife and make a hole in the cap of the milk container where you what your tubing to be. I made mine right in the middle. If the hole is to big no worries.

Step 3- Insert the tubing into the milk container cap. Just about 1 cm should be in the inner part of the cap.

Step 4- Put silicone around the air line tubing and where it enters the cap so there is no leak. Don't put silicone on the thread of the cap because if you need to open the milk container to top it of with water you can.

After you are done the and the silicone is dry make sure that the cap and airline tubing is facing toward your sump so gravity can pull it down. Make sure that the end of you air line tubing is just below the water surface in your sump so now if you have the smallest amount of evaporation the DIY top off will top it off.

[Midknight]

Ok, need pics with this. How far do you stick the tube in the jug?
Is the jug higher or lower than the tank?

[Mik_101]

Ok will post some soon.

[muck]

What is a "Sicrorcs" ?

[Midknight]

Originally Posted by muck

What is a "Sicrorcs" ?

It be what ya use ifn' ya aint got a shotgun to shot a hole in the top of dat der lid.

[andresont]

Hey thats good idea and will work for a small tank like 33 gal or so.
The only mode i can think of is to secure the air tubing with something like a plastic bar that will hold it in place just below water line and making a tiny hole on top part in the milk jug for better flow.
Might need some testing though.

[Clown]

Originally Posted by Midknight

It be what ya use ifn' ya aint got a shotgun to shot a hole in the top of dat der lid.

Rofl
Nice idea for a top off thought

[IceTurf]

what prevents the salt water and other water from mixing, causing diffusion?

[Dale]

Mik, I can see three problems with your plans.

1. Silicone will not make a watertight seal when used on plastic or acrylic. A better method of attaching the airline tubing would be to drill a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the airline tubing in the lid, cut the airline tubing at an angle and pull it thought the hole with a pair of pliers.

2. Water in two containers connected by a tube (as you've suggested) will always try to find equilibrium. There is a name for this law of physics but it escapes me at the moment. This means the water in the jug will flow non stop without concern for evaporation. As suggested, the way to slow this is by using some sort of valve to reduce the flow rate. The problem with IV type drippers for top ups is...

3. Evaporation occurs at different rates while the dripper system is constant. Two things that effect variations in evaporation rates the most are light photo periods and room temps (which go up and down if you have a programmable thermostat).

Kent sells a float valve for simple auto top offs that retails for about $30. That (and a bracket to hold it in the sump) will solve all of your problems if you're still pursuing that route.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

This is a great and cheap auto-top off. I wouldnt trust that one at all...

http://www.aquahub.com/store/product27.html