Tired of lugging back breaking buckets of water to do RO/DI top off and water changes? I am too! That is why I am going to automate the entire process. I was pretty excited about it an thought I would share it with all of you guys. I tried to make the system as failsafe as possible, but if I missed anything, let me know in this thread. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to do this essential part of maintaining a saltwater tank.
Here is what you will need. You can buy from anyone, or use any brand you choose. I used these links as example so you would see what I am talking about.
2- Rubbermaid Brute Trash Cans
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti...408&semkeyword=44+gallon+gray+brute+trash+can
1- RO/DI Float Top Off System
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ksid=p3907.m29&_trkparms=algo=LVI&its=I&otn=1
1- JBJ Auto Top Off System
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13959
4- MaxiJet 1200 Powerheads
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+4609&pcatid=4609
4- ½†to ½†push to connect union fittings
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va..._name=26485&product_id=26291&variant_id=58296
8- ½†to ½†push to connect 90 degree fittings
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va..._name=26485&product_id=26296&variant_id=58260
A roll of ½†tubing.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va...ory_name=120&product_id=7832&variant_id=58005
1- Disc Jockey Light Controller
http://www.pssl.com/!qkZjh3cE2Z1!2nzrERDioA!/American-DJ-4-Channel-Power-Center1
First we will deal with RO/DI top off.
Install the float top in the first brute container. Use the one you plan on storing your RO/DI water in. This will ensure that your RO system will refill the reservoir any time you pull water from it.
Second install the JBJ Auto Top off system in the sump, set the sensors to the desired level of water you wish to maintain. Install a maxijet pump in the RO reservoir but make sure you set it at a level where too much water will not go in your tank in case of a top off failure. If the top off were to get stuck on this way, only your predetermined maximum amount of water will go in the sump, then when the pump runs dry, the JBJ safety feature will shut it off. Plug the JBJ into the first channel of the DJ controller because you will want to be able to turn it off for water changes. Otherwise when you are draining water out for the water change, it will kick on and dump RO water in the sump rather than
saltwater. Label channel one as auto top off. Now run the plumbing, the ½†union will fit right on the spout of the Maxijet powerhead. Run your tubing to sump, use the two 90 fittings so you can make it hang on the edge of the sump. This should complete the safe auto top off system.
Next we need to fill the salt reservoir. Place a MaxiJet at the bottom of the RO reservoir, plumb it with hose, a union and 2- 90 degree fitting over to the second brute container that will be the saltwater reservoir. Plug the MaxiJet into channel 2 on the DJ light controller. Label channel to as RO to Salt.
Now you can plumb saltwater reservoir to the sump, pretty much the same as RO to Salt. Pump, hose, fittings, you know the drill. Now plug that into channel 3 on the DJ light controller. Label channel three Saltwater to Sump.
Lastly we do the exact same thing again, except this time we set a pump in the sump and plumb it to the drain. I plan on just running it into my utility sink, but if you have a floor drain, that will work too. Plug the pump into the fourth channel on DJ light controller. Label channel four sump to drain.
Now there is some setup you will have to do. For your first change, you will have to establish the amount of water you will change on a regular basis. I recommend just draining the tank with gallon or five gallon buckets down to the amount you usually change. Mark the sump or display with the water level that you will drain to from now on when you do a change. Make sure to dump the amount you take out into the salt reservoir so you can also mark this, that way you know the exact amount of saltwater to make in the reservoir from now on. In setup, I also recommend you put a heater and a powerhead in the salt reservoir so you can bring your premixed saltwater up to temperature and proper salinity.
Obviously if you want to change the order of the installation, and labels you use on the DJ light controller, that is fine. This is just more of a guide, rather than a step by step instructional.
Now to do a water change, it is this easy.
Step one- fill salt reservoir from the RO reservoir.
After saltwater has reached proper temp, PH and salinity.
Step two- turn off JBJ top off.
Step three- drain down to mark on sump or display.
Step four- refill tank.
Step five- turn top off back on.
That’s it, I hope you find it helpful! Can’t wait to hear your comments and suggestions. As I get further in the process, I will post some pics of my system.
Here is what you will need. You can buy from anyone, or use any brand you choose. I used these links as example so you would see what I am talking about.
2- Rubbermaid Brute Trash Cans
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti...408&semkeyword=44+gallon+gray+brute+trash+can
1- RO/DI Float Top Off System
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ksid=p3907.m29&_trkparms=algo=LVI&its=I&otn=1
1- JBJ Auto Top Off System
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13959
4- MaxiJet 1200 Powerheads
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+4609&pcatid=4609
4- ½†to ½†push to connect union fittings
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va..._name=26485&product_id=26291&variant_id=58296
8- ½†to ½†push to connect 90 degree fittings
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va..._name=26485&product_id=26296&variant_id=58260
A roll of ½†tubing.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/va...ory_name=120&product_id=7832&variant_id=58005
1- Disc Jockey Light Controller
http://www.pssl.com/!qkZjh3cE2Z1!2nzrERDioA!/American-DJ-4-Channel-Power-Center1
First we will deal with RO/DI top off.
Install the float top in the first brute container. Use the one you plan on storing your RO/DI water in. This will ensure that your RO system will refill the reservoir any time you pull water from it.
Second install the JBJ Auto Top off system in the sump, set the sensors to the desired level of water you wish to maintain. Install a maxijet pump in the RO reservoir but make sure you set it at a level where too much water will not go in your tank in case of a top off failure. If the top off were to get stuck on this way, only your predetermined maximum amount of water will go in the sump, then when the pump runs dry, the JBJ safety feature will shut it off. Plug the JBJ into the first channel of the DJ controller because you will want to be able to turn it off for water changes. Otherwise when you are draining water out for the water change, it will kick on and dump RO water in the sump rather than
saltwater. Label channel one as auto top off. Now run the plumbing, the ½†union will fit right on the spout of the Maxijet powerhead. Run your tubing to sump, use the two 90 fittings so you can make it hang on the edge of the sump. This should complete the safe auto top off system.
Next we need to fill the salt reservoir. Place a MaxiJet at the bottom of the RO reservoir, plumb it with hose, a union and 2- 90 degree fitting over to the second brute container that will be the saltwater reservoir. Plug the MaxiJet into channel 2 on the DJ light controller. Label channel to as RO to Salt.
Now you can plumb saltwater reservoir to the sump, pretty much the same as RO to Salt. Pump, hose, fittings, you know the drill. Now plug that into channel 3 on the DJ light controller. Label channel three Saltwater to Sump.
Lastly we do the exact same thing again, except this time we set a pump in the sump and plumb it to the drain. I plan on just running it into my utility sink, but if you have a floor drain, that will work too. Plug the pump into the fourth channel on DJ light controller. Label channel four sump to drain.
Now there is some setup you will have to do. For your first change, you will have to establish the amount of water you will change on a regular basis. I recommend just draining the tank with gallon or five gallon buckets down to the amount you usually change. Mark the sump or display with the water level that you will drain to from now on when you do a change. Make sure to dump the amount you take out into the salt reservoir so you can also mark this, that way you know the exact amount of saltwater to make in the reservoir from now on. In setup, I also recommend you put a heater and a powerhead in the salt reservoir so you can bring your premixed saltwater up to temperature and proper salinity.
Obviously if you want to change the order of the installation, and labels you use on the DJ light controller, that is fine. This is just more of a guide, rather than a step by step instructional.
Now to do a water change, it is this easy.
Step one- fill salt reservoir from the RO reservoir.
After saltwater has reached proper temp, PH and salinity.
Step two- turn off JBJ top off.
Step three- drain down to mark on sump or display.
Step four- refill tank.
Step five- turn top off back on.
That’s it, I hope you find it helpful! Can’t wait to hear your comments and suggestions. As I get further in the process, I will post some pics of my system.