Auto top off controller without safety timer shutoff?

[Harry Muscle]

I'm in the planning stages for a 75G tank and it will be my first tank with a sump. Obviously my biggest fear with a sump is accidental flooding (of the main tank ... the sump will be in the basement near a drain).

I was wondering if anyone has every used an Auto Top Off system to add extra safety to a sump setup. The idea would be to place the float switch or optical sensor of the ATO system in the main tank at a level higher than the normal water level. If the pipe sending water from the main tank to the sump were to ever get clogged and the water level were to start rising in the main tank, the ATO would shut off the pump.

However, to make this work I need to find an ATO system that doesn't have a safety timer shutoff feature (or has the ability to disable this feature), since the ATO would be in constant top off mode until something goes wrong.

Obviously this could be done with something like the Apex system, but I'm curious to know if there's any ATO system out that that would fit the bill ... one ATO system would probably be significantly cheaper than an Apex setup.

Thanks,
Harry

 

[driftin]

I did that, but I didn't use a manufactured ATO system. I have a regular float switch at my display tank, hidden away out of sight and also away from crabs/snails. It's wired with 12VDC as the control into a relay. The 110VAC load side of the relay is wired in series with the power for my return pump. It's all part of an old school ladder logic relay thing I have setup for my tank... but basically, if the display over-fills, it lifts the float, opens the relay, interrupts the power to the return pump.

I added some additional wiring and switches - toggle switch so I can easily turn on/off the return pump without having to unplug it, and more applicable to this conversation I added a push button momentary switch with some other wiring to make this a latching relay. This way, if the display over fills and opens the relay, it stays tripped out until I reset it. Is it really necessary? Maybe not, but at least I'll know there was a problem and it keeps the pump from constantly restarting if something does go wrong.

This has saved me from a flooded living room a couple times. Always from my own stupidity, but at the end of the day... doesn't matter what caused the flood, does it?

These relays through grainger are somewhere in the $20-40 range, I don't remember exactly how much. Cheaper than an Apex, and cheaper than new flooring...

 

[Ron1966]

Im using the JBJ ATO which is controled by 2 floats. With the ATO in b mode the pump will not pump unless both float switches are on. Sort of a fail safe over a single float.

 

[dkeller_nc]

What Driftin described is the way to do it on the cheap. If you want one-stop shopping, AutoTopOff.com has all the parts you need. Specifically, they sell a packaged 120V relay kit for $20:

12v DIY Controller
This includes the parts necessary for assembling your own low voltage controller. Float switches are not included. You will receive a relay box with male and female power cords installed, 12v DC power supply, 12v DC relay, wirenuts, heat shrink tubing, box lid, screws and instructions.

All you need to do is add one of their float switches, and you're good to go.

But... if you're going to the trouble of setting up a remote sump, my guess is that you're an accomplished do it yourselfer. If that's the case, I'd get an Apex. At the bare minimum, you'll get goof-proof heating control, sump level control/auto-top-off capabilities, and the ability to control a build-your-own LED lighting system. It also gives you the capability of controlling the inevitably-required dosing pumps, and buying individual "dumb" pump modules and controlling them with the Apex is considerably cheaper than buying a stand-alone dosing system.

In the long run, the Apex may actually save you some money. Highly recommended.