100gal Build: New Pics

[StirCrazy]

sucks to hear about this, but is there a possibility of setting it up with a manual float valve some how so that if the water is full and no top off is needed, it can't get to the tank? might have to use a PSI relief valve in conjunction which will relieve to a drain if the float is closed and the proflux wants to pump.

Steve

[sphelps]

The top off will be certainly be reconfigured to prevent such failures in the future. Such things have always seemed unnecessary in the past and profilux staff has confirmed many times in the past the use of additional safety is not required.

[Myka]

Ugh...that's about as "worst case scenario" as you can get. Sorry to hear about it.

[sphelps]

So I did some planning today for a new ATO system and would like some feedback.

I've added salinity control which really is just something I wanted to add anyway. I've used this saturated salt method before with success on other systems. This will allow for automatic water changes if I add later.

Note some features may be disabled or modified for vacations depending on length and given circumstances.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by sphelps

So I did some planning today for a new ATO system and would like some feedback.

I've added salinity control which really is just something I wanted to add anyway. I've used this saturated salt method before with success on other systems. This will allow for automatic water changes if I add later.

Note some features may be disabled or modified for vacations depending on length and given circumstances.

I like the mechanical float, but I tend to like a mechanical failsafe on electronic stuff I have never heard about the saturated salt mixture thing befor, is there anything that I can read to explain what it does and how it works?

Steve

[sphelps]

The float does work with a solenoid and timer to control how long it can activate for and when. I could have added another electronic float but that just seemed pretty pointless as the tank also has a overflow drain so worst case involving that mechanical float is I waste a little water.

The saturated solution method is just something I came up with a few years ago and I experimented with it on a couple tanks I was caring for. I never looked much into it to see if others have done it so I can't suggest any links. The idea is for auto water changes but rather than storing a large container of say 100 gallons or constantly having to refill and mix up a smaller container this method utilizes your controllers salinity probe if available and uses up very little space. You use a container around 20 gallons as the example above and you add a full box of salt. You obviously end up with supersaturation but with proper settings controlling display tank salinity, the controller will switch between the two top off containers to keep tank salinity constant. You can then program a pump to remove water from the sump directly to a drain and the two top offs keeps salinity constant. Best of all, all that's needed is every so often is to add another bucket of salt when you notice little to no undissolved salt. The key is setting an alarm when tank salinity drops too low which will turn off the pump that removes water encase you forget to add more salt from time to time.

The only concern I had before I tried it was relating to solubility of various elements in the salt causing a constant imbalance. However, I constantly measured a system over a year and saw no noticeable fluctuation of measurable elements. It's probably not much different than only mixing a small portion of a salt container per water change which is common practice.

[StirCrazy]

ya, looks good, just make sure you add cleaning the mechanical float valve to your schedule. I used to clean mine once a month, or right be for I would go away anywhere.

as for the saturated salt, neat idea. I had wondered about that but was worried about chemicals falling out of solution at a saturated level. have you had any issues with that?

Steve

[sphelps]

I was originally worried about the same thing as I mentioned before but didn't notice any measurable issues. I think even if there is an issue, a build up in the saturated solution container can be prevented by allowing it to run out of salt every once in a while which insures everything from the salt mix is eventually added.

[gregzz4]

What about using just sodium chloride for the saturated tank ?
Then you can still maintain your params with other methods

[sphelps]

So it's official, the tank is coming down and will be sold within a couple months. If anyone is interested in the tank itself let me know, otherwise I'll post it for sale once it's out and ready to go.