Auto top off

rebekwl · 10-03-2007, 12:52 PM

My husband and I are going out o town from 11/20-11/27, to visit our family in VA. We have not yet set up an auto top off, but we need to get it done FAST so we can have it running for a bit before we leave to ensure that it is working properly. It's really scary leaving because we really don't have anyone to stop by and check out our tank while we're not there, and a week is a LOOOONG time for it to be alone!! We were thinking of getting a brute trashcan and setting it up with 2 float valves. We've never seen anyhting like this so we need all the advice we can get!! What would be the best way to go about it?

framerguy · 10-03-2007, 01:46 PM

Why two float valves? I have one float sensor in the sump that turns on a tiny pump in the resevoir. A hose runs from the pump to the sump, there is a valve on the hose that I can turn the flow down to a trickle. I would recommend keeping a finite amount of water in the res (ie;don't hook an RODI to it) so that if all the water is put in for whatever reason (ie; float switch hangs up) your system won't suffer by having water keep pouring in for days. If your gonna be gone for a week, I would put 10 gallons or less in the resevoir. Surely you don't have more than one gallon/day evap. If you do, then put enough water to cover it. I use a rubbermaid giftwrapping paper container as my resevoir. It's clear so I can see how much is in it, and it has a very small footprint. HTH

BigAl07 · 10-03-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by framerguy

Why two float valves?

I think this is why

Quote:

Originally Posted by framerguy

reason (ie; float switch hangs up)

Allen

fishnu · 10-03-2007, 02:20 PM

The apartment above me had a float valve go out on their clothes washer when we were all out at work. I am now awaiting my new ceiling.

Redundancy is a GOOD thing.

framerguy · 10-03-2007, 02:51 PM

How would you hook them up to work one pump?

rebekwl · 10-03-2007, 04:00 PM

Thanks for all the help guys!

Lcstorc has always recommended 2 float valves in case one gets stuck. That would be horrible, especially with us being out of town. I think we evaporate 1.5 or so gals a day, so I'd have to do the math to make sure there's enough water. I guess my biggest concern is having something misfunction and pouring 15 gallons of water into the tank at the same time. Where would I go about purchsing a float valve? I was also wondering how I would go about hooking 2 float valves up to 1 pump, sounds tricky!!

goldenmean · 10-03-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Where would I go about purchsing a float valve?

Why
AutoTopoff.com
of course.

framerguy · 10-03-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenmean

Why
AutoTopoff.com
of course.

Awesome! I've got to get me one of those double float switches.

Melanie · 10-03-2007, 06:03 PM

I got mine here. and I cannot imagine being without it now. It was IMO the second best purchase I made for my tank (good skimmer being first.)

It COMES with 2 float valves and there is nothing to build and it can be used in a few different ways. I use one valve in the sump to turn ON the ATO when the level decreases and the other valve in my top off water container to make sure it doesn't run dry and ruin my pump.

I <3 it! I highly recommend this ATO.

fishnu · 10-03-2007, 06:09 PM

Why do they have sensors at two different levels?

SaltySam · 10-03-2007, 06:23 PM

Here's another site if your DIY. auto top-off components

bluespotjawfish · 10-03-2007, 06:36 PM

I went with the Tunze Osmolator. Don't bother ordering their container though. I use a 13 gallon one on wheels that was sold at Petsmart for petfood.

Alarm in the sump to warn if it is flooding
Sensor that turns the pump on
A controller that only allows the pump to run a few minutes when the water is inidicating it is low
Replacement pumps are cheap
I would also recommend getting a check valve for it

Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Dosing Pumps/Top-Off > Electric Powered > Plug-in Units )

I agree that you probably don't want to hook it up to the RO/DI. You will need to think carefully about what you get because if I remember right your sump has very limited space. If you want to come look at mine you are welcome to stop by.

fishnu · 10-03-2007, 06:42 PM

Are these Margarita compatible?

BigAl07 · 10-03-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnu

Are these Margarita compatible?

Now THERE'S an idea!! And I even have a BUILT-IN Float valve

Allen

rebekwl · 10-05-2007, 03:05 PM

LOL, you guys are a trip! Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to show your posts to my hubby so he can figure it out. He's certainly more DIY enabled thatn I am!!

10-03-2007, 12:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 846 View Gallery Karma Komment	Auto top off My husband and I are going out o town from 11/20-11/27, to visit our family in VA. We have not yet set up an auto top off, but we need to get it done FAST so we can have it running for a bit before we leave to ensure that it is working properly. It's really scary leaving because we really don't have anyone to stop by and check out our tank while we're not there, and a week is a LOOOONG time for it to be alone!! We were thinking of getting a brute trashcan and setting it up with 2 float valves. We've never seen anyhting like this so we need all the advice we can get!! What would be the best way to go about it? __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

10-03-2007, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,326 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto top off Why two float valves? I have one float sensor in the sump that turns on a tiny pump in the resevoir. A hose runs from the pump to the sump, there is a valve on the hose that I can turn the flow down to a trickle. I would recommend keeping a finite amount of water in the res (ie;don't hook an RODI to it) so that if all the water is put in for whatever reason (ie; float switch hangs up) your system won't suffer by having water keep pouring in for days. If your gonna be gone for a week, I would put 10 gallons or less in the resevoir. Surely you don't have more than one gallon/day evap. If you do, then put enough water to cover it. I use a rubbermaid giftwrapping paper container as my resevoir. It's clear so I can see how much is in it, and it has a very small footprint. HTH __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 390gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 150g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

10-03-2007, 02:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
fishnu Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 998 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto top off The apartment above me had a float valve go out on their clothes washer when we were all out at work. I am now awaiting my new ceiling. Redundancy is a GOOD thing. __________________ *I'd rather be good slow than bad fast.* Fishnu, Lord of Fishes Mantis Shrimp Club My Tank Thread The Wisdom of Fishnu - Mistakes on the path. 75 Gal Refurbished and Refinished Dutch Aquariums System Tank drilled with 2 1.5" bulkheads and 30 Gal Sump / Refugium Combo; 90 Lbs Fiji LR; ASM G2; OR6500 Pump; 2 Koralia Nanos; 2 150W HQI 2 96W Actinics; Gamma 25w UV; Kent Maxxima Hi S 60GPD RO/DI. Amphiprion percula (OMEN); Sphaeramia nematoptera (CODY); stenopus hispidus (PIMP THE SHRIMP); Selected hermits and snails. Euphyllia divisa, Euphyllia glabrescens, Pink Acanthastrea (Lord?), Zoas, selected mushrooms (Rhodactis, Actinodiscus, Sarcophyton ...). Looking for mermaid. Last edited by fishnu : 10-03-2007 at 02:20 PM. Reason: i before e except after....

10-03-2007, 02:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,326 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto top off How would you hook them up to work one pump? __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 390gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 150g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

10-03-2007, 04:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 846 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto top off Thanks for all the help guys! Lcstorc has always recommended 2 float valves in case one gets stuck. That would be horrible, especially with us being out of town. I think we evaporate 1.5 or so gals a day, so I'd have to do the math to make sure there's enough water. I guess my biggest concern is having something misfunction and pouring 15 gallons of water into the tank at the same time. Where would I go about purchsing a float valve? I was also wondering how I would go about hooking 2 float valves up to 1 pump, sounds tricky!! __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

10-03-2007, 06:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto top off I got mine here. and I cannot imagine being without it now. It was IMO the second best purchase I made for my tank (good skimmer being first.) It COMES with 2 float valves and there is nothing to build and it can be used in a few different ways. I use one valve in the sump to turn ON the ATO when the level decreases and the other valve in my top off water container to make sure it doesn't run dry and ruin my pump. I <3 it! I highly recommend this ATO. __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

10-03-2007, 06:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
fishnu Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 998 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto top off Why do they have sensors at two different levels? __________________ *I'd rather be good slow than bad fast.* Fishnu, Lord of Fishes Mantis Shrimp Club My Tank Thread The Wisdom of Fishnu - Mistakes on the path. 75 Gal Refurbished and Refinished Dutch Aquariums System Tank drilled with 2 1.5" bulkheads and 30 Gal Sump / Refugium Combo; 90 Lbs Fiji LR; ASM G2; OR6500 Pump; 2 Koralia Nanos; 2 150W HQI 2 96W Actinics; Gamma 25w UV; Kent Maxxima Hi S 60GPD RO/DI. Amphiprion percula (OMEN); Sphaeramia nematoptera (CODY); stenopus hispidus (PIMP THE SHRIMP); Selected hermits and snails. Euphyllia divisa, Euphyllia glabrescens, Pink Acanthastrea (Lord?), Zoas, selected mushrooms (Rhodactis, Actinodiscus, Sarcophyton ...). Looking for mermaid.

10-03-2007, 06:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
SaltySam Tubeworm Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: S.C. Posts: 39 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto top off Here's another site if your DIY. auto top-off components __________________ 90g AGA, Softies & LPS with a few SPS, Foxface, Purple Tang, Flameback, Pair of Percula Clowns, Yellow Watchman, Sixline wrasse, Mandrian, Teardrop Maxima and one rather large bristle worm.

10-03-2007, 06:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Tridacna maxima Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 4,135 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto top off I went with the Tunze Osmolator. Don't bother ordering their container though. I use a 13 gallon one on wheels that was sold at Petsmart for petfood. Alarm in the sump to warn if it is flooding Sensor that turns the pump on A controller that only allows the pump to run a few minutes when the water is inidicating it is low Replacement pumps are cheap I would also recommend getting a check valve for it Tunze Osmolator Universal 3155 (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Dosing Pumps/Top-Off > Electric Powered > Plug-in Units ) I agree that you probably don't want to hook it up to the RO/DI. You will need to think carefully about what you get because if I remember right your sump has very limited space. If you want to come look at mine you are welcome to stop by. __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

10-03-2007, 06:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
fishnu Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 998 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Auto top off Are these Margarita compatible? __________________ *I'd rather be good slow than bad fast.* Fishnu, Lord of Fishes Mantis Shrimp Club My Tank Thread The Wisdom of Fishnu - Mistakes on the path. 75 Gal Refurbished and Refinished Dutch Aquariums System Tank drilled with 2 1.5" bulkheads and 30 Gal Sump / Refugium Combo; 90 Lbs Fiji LR; ASM G2; OR6500 Pump; 2 Koralia Nanos; 2 150W HQI 2 96W Actinics; Gamma 25w UV; Kent Maxxima Hi S 60GPD RO/DI. Amphiprion percula (OMEN); Sphaeramia nematoptera (CODY); stenopus hispidus (PIMP THE SHRIMP); Selected hermits and snails. Euphyllia divisa, Euphyllia glabrescens, Pink Acanthastrea (Lord?), Zoas, selected mushrooms (Rhodactis, Actinodiscus, Sarcophyton ...). Looking for mermaid.

10-05-2007, 03:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
rebekwl Achilles Tang Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 846 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Auto top off LOL, you guys are a trip! Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to show your posts to my hubby so he can figure it out. He's certainly more DIY enabled thatn I am!! __________________ Rebekah Member of: Snails Are Stupid Society 90 Gallon Display w/ 2-3" LS & 100-120 lbs. LR. 20 Gal sump w/fuge that has 4" sand, LR and rubble, and Chaeto. CUC - Lots of assorted snails, 3 conchs, Serpent Starfish, Hermit Crabs, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 2 Sand Sifting Starfish (I think that's it). Fish - Bi-Color Blenny, Orange Spotted Prawn Goby, Scooter Blenny, Clarkii Clownfish, Yellow Watchman Goby, Fiji Devil Damsel, Tomini Tang, Sailfin Tang, Lawnmower Blenny, and Pink Skunk Clown. Corals/inverts - Pink Branching Hammer Coral, Green Branching Hammer Coral, Torch Coral, Frogspawn, Bubble Coral, Neon Green Fungia, Green Star Polyps, Cup Mushroom, Green Candy Cane, Kenya Tree, Pom Pom Xenia, Toadstool Leather, Finger Leather, Devil's Hand Leather, LOTS of shrooms (red, green, blue), Orange Sponge, Green Monti Plate, Brown Gorgonian, Blundell Buttons, Flower Pot, Zoanthids, Palys, Green BTA

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)