Top off Systems

[angnak]

I am looking into doing a top off system and was wondering if I i can see some pictures from everyone so I can get some idea on how I want to accomplish this.

Thanks

[EdgeKrusher]

This is what I'm using.

http://ambuscaded.com/edge/DIYkd.htm

[Brucey]

I'm using the aquamedic aquaniveau

http://www.aqua-medic.de/index0.html

Very good peice of kit

Brucey

[dwall174]

My tank is mounted into a wall so the back is open & I have a lot of room. Anyway I have a 20gal RO/DI storage tank that gravity feeds to a float in the sump. I also have this tank plumbed so that all I have to do is turn a couple of valves to do a 20gal water change!

[dwall174]

Here's a close up of the valves & top of sump.

[dwall174]

Valve 1 Main valve, Controls water to my sumps float valve, & water change valve (valve #3)
Valve 2 Storage tank drain, Used to drain the storage/water change tank for cleaning.
Valve 3 Water change, Used along with main valve to drain new water from storage tank into the sump.
Valve 4 Sump overflow, Runs to floor drain incase of sump overflow
Valve 5 Sump drain, Drains sump to its minimum operating level of 3”

To do a water change I fill the 20gal storage tank up with RO/DI water. Once the storage tank is full I close off the main valve #1 , then mix my salt with the RO/DI water. I have a small powerhead & heater in the storage tank so after the newly mixed salt has aerated & heated overnight & I have checked that it matches my tanks water it’s ready to be transferred to the sump. Now this is the hard part LOL. I open up valve 5 which drains the sump to 3” (which is still enough to keep my pumps & heater running) after the sump has drained I close valve 5! Then open valves 1 & 3 which transfers the new water to the sump thanks to good old gravity. This just happens to be my sumps running level also! Then I close valve #3, refill the storage tank with RO/DI water & I’m all set for my top-off.

[Maxx]

Good set Dwall....I like the systems you guys have been posting up...
I went w/ the LiterMeter 3 dosing pump to use for topoff on my system. I havent gotten it hooked up yet, so I cant really give a feed back on its performance, but I have yet to hear anything bad about them. The way this system works is you set the dosing pump up to add water at a set rate every day...and it does. No muss, no fuss.....
The advantage in my eyes is that it will only dose/add what it's programmed to add, nothing more...so ya dont have to worry about overfilling and stuck float valves etc....
The disadvantage is that you have to program it....
Which means that you have to do some manual work on your own at first to determine what evaporation rates on your tank will be prior to getting it dialed in right...but after that....
I have also heard great thingsa about the Tunze Osmo-regulator....
Nick