Auto top off
- Thread starter nitroxdiver009
- Start date
Joboo
Member
eruss said:
What about the backup float included in the osmolator setup? The Osmolator actually has 2 fail safes. The backup float that turns the pump off and the 10 min cut-off feature. If you setup the backup float so that it is slighty higher than the sensor the amount of water entering the systme in the event of failure is minimal.
Joboo said:
What you say is true Joboo, and another good reason to get the Osmolator. But what Nitrox is describing is an instance where a clogged return causes the sump level to decrease. In this case the float-switch would never come in to play. Best way to guard against this IMO is to limit the amount of top-off water available to the pump.
RGibson said:
I don't want to be argumentative but I beg to differ.
By putting your pump on a timer you are defeating one of the purposes of having an automatic top-off in the first place. My Osmolator will add water when my sump level drops as little as 1 centimeter. By doing so it keeps my salinity stable; and coupled with my kalk reactor, allows safe and even dosing. Shutting it off with a timer would negate these advantages. Limiting the reservior size is still my best option.
O'Coralman
In Memoriam
agree again
agree again
eruss...this is getting out of hand...people are going to talk...'cause I totally agree with you again...limit the top-off and make sure the sump can handle the water volume. iIhave virtually if not totally eliminated overflow problems. No matter if I loose siphon or power. My systems rise to a point and stop..........now what is an osmolater
? Steve:dance:
agree again
eruss...this is getting out of hand...people are going to talk...'cause I totally agree with you again...limit the top-off and make sure the sump can handle the water volume. iIhave virtually if not totally eliminated overflow problems. No matter if I loose siphon or power. My systems rise to a point and stop..........now what is an osmolater
? Steve:dance:
I have used float switches for many years with no troubles.
I use one for my top off with a slow pump (3 gallons per day). That way, if it ever did stick on (which it never has), there would be no big problem, even if I were away for a week or more.
FWIW, the bigger the float switch taht you use, the less likely that something undesirable will impact it.
I use this one (bottom in picture; LV-1201):
http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=LV1100_1200&Nav=grek12
I use one for my top off with a slow pump (3 gallons per day). That way, if it ever did stick on (which it never has), there would be no big problem, even if I were away for a week or more.
FWIW, the bigger the float switch taht you use, the less likely that something undesirable will impact it.
I use this one (bottom in picture; LV-1201):
http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=LV1100_1200&Nav=grek12
In the link above, it lists for about $90 now.
Joboo
Member
eruss said:
Ah!!! Didn't get that part. What I did to prevent this was place a float from autotopoff.com in my overflow and connected it to the external switch on my aquacontroller. If the level in my overflow reaches a certain height it closes the loop and my aquacontroller turns my return pump off. If you don't use an AQ then you can purchase the soleniod from Autotopoff which will essential do the same thing(turn off return pump).
RGibson said:
I don't disagree with your statement, and I don't mean to imply that your idea doesn't have merit. Based on your last post, using a timer to let the dosing pump run a bit every hour would admittedly have little if any negative impact on system stability over leaving power on to it continously. Especially with the typical home display of less than 100 gallons.But having said that...I don't agree with leaving your system alone for a week at a time. A few days maybe, but not a week. Even a small reef constitutes a sizeable investment in life, time, money, and all the automation in the world won't help in a power outage, if a circuit-breaker trips, if a leak appears, etc., etc..
But this is getting into a whole other realm...leave it to say I prefer to limit my resevior and replenish it every few days (this can be automated too), or have someone do it for me if I'm away.
O'Coralman
In Memoriam
here we go again
here we go again
....great minds do think alike. I would , if I were gone for a week(only in extreme case scene)...someone else would feed, add suppl.,top-off...just general check of system. I am training several friends and LFS guys would help, oh and lets not forget the wife(she likes the coral...but would hate to see all that $$$ spent die-off...she is a banker). Top-off otherwise is done by me
....my work does not, for the most part keep me away...in fact I am home for lunch....can post at work too ....so who needs all that top-off jazz
...Steve:dance:
here we go again
....great minds do think alike. I would , if I were gone for a week(only in extreme case scene)...someone else would feed, add suppl.,top-off...just general check of system. I am training several friends and LFS guys would help, oh and lets not forget the wife(she likes the coral...but would hate to see all that $$$ spent die-off...she is a banker). Top-off otherwise is done by me
....my work does not, for the most part keep me away...in fact I am home for lunch....can post at work too ....so who needs all that top-off jazz ...Steve:dance:fmuakkassa
Member
I have been using the Tunze Osmolator for over a year now and it is one of the best investment I made. I have a 30 g reservoir (Rubber Maid) that I fill with RO water every 2 weeks or so. Never had a problem with it. Left on vacation from 1-2 weeks with no problems. (I always have someone or my LFS check on the system when I'm gone). Before the Tunze I was adding 1.5 to 2 gallons of water a day or when busy about 5 gallons at a time (not good for small osmolar changes). My salinity does not budge.
My next automation is to fill my reservoir automatically with RO water. That's where solenoids, float switches etc. come into play and where flooding is a potential problem in case of malfunction. Any ideas?
My next automation is to fill my reservoir automatically with RO water. That's where solenoids, float switches etc. come into play and where flooding is a potential problem in case of malfunction. Any ideas?
fmuakkassa
Member
cesarjimen
New member
Hello everyone, I agree that the most important thing is to limit the reservoir amount that a potential sump float failure could pump into the sump.
IMO the best way to solve this is to connect the RO to a garden hose timer that will only let the reservoir be filled during a specific time each week.
By doing this, you limit the reservoir amount and automate the RO to fill the reservoir once a week (or a different timeframe if you need it), that way you wont have to manually turn the RO on.
In the event of a float failure this would happen:
1. The reservoir is completely pumped into de sump. The reservoir volume calculation is critical since I think that the volume should be such that if it's completely pumped into the sump, the aquarium shouldn't suffer to a life endangering state.
2. The pump would run dry and break (at $15 who cares?)
3. At some point in the week you should notice something went wrong and fix it. In the meantime the tank is fine.
There are a couple of timers on the Home Depot website.
I would appreciate your feedback since I am going to set up an Auto Top Off soon using the Osmolator and this approach.
Thanks.
IMO the best way to solve this is to connect the RO to a garden hose timer that will only let the reservoir be filled during a specific time each week.
By doing this, you limit the reservoir amount and automate the RO to fill the reservoir once a week (or a different timeframe if you need it), that way you wont have to manually turn the RO on.
In the event of a float failure this would happen:
1. The reservoir is completely pumped into de sump. The reservoir volume calculation is critical since I think that the volume should be such that if it's completely pumped into the sump, the aquarium shouldn't suffer to a life endangering state.
2. The pump would run dry and break (at $15 who cares?)
3. At some point in the week you should notice something went wrong and fix it. In the meantime the tank is fine.
There are a couple of timers on the Home Depot website.
I would appreciate your feedback since I am going to set up an Auto Top Off soon using the Osmolator and this approach.
Thanks.
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