automatic water change question

[sowellj]

This is perhaps a bit off topic, but I figure most people here have designed a way that pumps are doing the work for their water changes. I posted this in the genearl forum and did not get any feedback and thought I would try here.

I am in the process of trying to automate water changes, i.e., just open/close valves. My original plan was to use my return pump to do this and just pump out the volume in the return section of the sump. However, this volume is only going to be ~ 15 gallons ... which is a bit low.

I guess I could desing a way to drain the display ... or do two sequential 15 gallon changes ...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

 

[dahenley]

have you thought of using a sprinkler system valve? its electric soyou can use a controller or timer of some sort. it will let the water out, but you will need a auto top off to add water after the drain. (if you have a fish room, you just point the old water to the drain kind of like a washing machine.

 

[Haffs09]

Depending on how you design plumbing, this might work for you...

I'm plumbing my tank to the basement. The display tank overflow goes to one of two 55 gal tanks that sit side by side to each other. The water overflows from the 55 gal to my 125 gal sump below it. The second 55 gal tank will hold RO/DI water for top off, etc... When it comes time for a water change, I'll add salt to the RO/DI tank. When the fresh saltwater is good to go, I'll throw a couple of valves which will divert the DT overflow to the fresh saltwater tank. Like the first tank, that too overflows to the sump. At my leisure I can drain the "dirty" tank to my laundry sink via syphon or if I want it to go a little faster, toss in a submersible pump. Essentially, it's an inline water change.

 

[sowellj]

thanks for the comments guys. Nothing is plumbed yet. My "house" is a bit untraditional ... remodeling an old school and cafeteria. Its made entirely of brick and cinderblock ... which should be fun to cut. Unfortunately, I can't use gravity to drain the 'dirty' water. Thus, I must pump it out. I suppose I could just rig something where I drop a submersible into the display. Other ideas welcome.

 

[dahenley]

if that is what you have to do, you could tee of your drain line. that way your auto top off will fill up the sump and remix in your tank. (from your drain, you could let it gravity feed to a drain in the floor or wall if there is one close, or keep a few 5 gal buckest and haul it if there is no drain around thats what i have to do.)

 

[Lightsluvr]

Re: automatic water change question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15367220#post15367220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sowellj
This is perhaps a bit off topic, but I figure most people here have designed a way that pumps are doing the work for their water changes. I posted this in the genearl forum and did not get any feedback and thought I would try here.

I am in the process of trying to automate water changes, i.e., just open/close valves. My original plan was to use my return pump to do this and just pump out the volume in the return section of the sump. However, this volume is only going to be ~ 15 gallons ... which is a bit low.

I guess I could desing a way to drain the display ... or do two sequential 15 gallon changes ...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

Here is the solution I am using.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1638966&perpage=25&pagenumber=27
RO/DI filter fills one tank. Saltwater is mixed in the second tank. A single pump transfers water between tanks, mixes SW, pumps SW to sump for water change. Same pump can pump RO/DI to ATO reservoir. Not my plan - check out the edandsandy large tank build thread for more details... it's a great system and you could shrink it down for the water capacity needed for your new system.

LL

 

[Fizz71]

I set mine up so that I change the water out "live". I have a drain in the sump I open up and pump the water from the mix tank straight to the return line.

This way water goes out as water goes in.

Yes...I'm sure I get SOME crossover of new water being drained, but I limit it the best I can by pumping the water to the tank first and draining from the sump. I'm actually going to redo some of it so that the water returns at the bottom of the sump and I already drain from the top so it would be even better.

 

[panaboy95]

the best systems i have seen are made with dual dosing pumps. one head pumps the water out of the tank and one head out of the fresh saltwater tank. most people that have this setup change water everyday. works pretty good. as long as the pumps are run off the same motor or are timed perfect.

 

[monotreme_man]

i use a relatively simple system.

i use an intermatic digital timer controlling two
outlets. each outlet controls an identical small pump;
one is in the sump partition leading to waste,
the other is in the mixed saltwater bin leading to the
refugium part of the sump.

the timer is on for 3 minutes a day, so i do
small daily changes. but you could do longer periods
less oftenk if you care.

 

[discocarp]

I use a litermeter with a water exchange module. I can tell you this has made my life an absolute breeze for my 265g. I change 5g every day and all I have to do is keep the vat of saltwater full.

 

[in_focus]

I ran across this website www.makoproseries.com and called them they are still under construction but very interesting ato water change system.

 

[RegalAngel]

Re: automatic water change question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15367220#post15367220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sowellj
This is perhaps a bit off topic, but I figure most people here have designed a way that pumps are doing the work for their water changes.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

Yes, my setup allows me to use a closed system pump (dual Marlins) to drain or fill my tank. I use manual on/off ball valves but you could use solenoids for valves #1 & #2 instead to automate this. I don't use the check valves but have ball valves instead.

The freshwater is connected to the same system to do top offs.

 

[in_focus]

The more i read and talked with owner of the mako pro series controller the better i like it for maintaining water levels in 2 seprate containers and doing automatic water changes plus alot more features. They do need to complete there website looks like a great product and my go that way turn key system and links to my ac pro. I would rather do 25 gallon water change per week than use a litermiter 5 gallons per day and really is it a true 5 gallons since you are removing the same water you put in?