DIY "contiuous" water change system?
- Thread starter jumpfreak26
- Start date
my system already does this...
it uses 1 pump, 4 ball valves, and a single additional tank equal to your water change volume.
as with any system to replenish and dump the water, it needs to be plumbed to a drain, and it needs a source of fresh water(probably your top off resevior if large enough, or directly from RO/DI). key to it is, that single pump also handles your draining needs, gravity not even required.
it doesnt get turned off, though if you turn off the pump and close the valves, it is essentially "off". I suppose useful for maintnence.
ATO is not affected by my system at all. though I pump the top off water into the change tank to use the remote volume of water to "absorb" the fresh water, mix it a bit more with salt before it could ever contact the display.
whats more is my single pump also allows me to mix the salt/water.
my involvement is only required to trigger the drain, refill, and addition of salt. the first 2 are a matter of flipping a switch; but they are not things I think Id want to leave to a timer or float valve, easier to do it myself.
unbreakable
D:
yes. there will be two seperate resevoirs with two different ATO systems.
System 1 is regular freshwater ATO that you would use daily
System 2 is for a waterchange and can dump new saltwater back in
The flip of a switch can trigger one system to shut off and another system to turn on
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we could make it more complicated by doing what you said and having a 3rd option where it shuts down everything
also you could add the 4th System where it doesnt involve a waterchange pump (from the sump) to be on but dumps back new saltwater from the resevoir to top off in cases where we remove saltwater from the display tank, like when people acclimate livestock
so that would include like 4 different "modes" or systems, whatever you want to call them
OAD
Premium Member
Areze, how can you tell me your system is as autonomous as can be when it relies on you to control ball valves and flip switches. Not trying to get mad, hateful, etc just saying we are trying to conceptualize a fully automatic system that relies on you add salt to a vat. That is the only intervention I am looking for.
guess thats a matter of opinion. it could be replaced with solenoids and multiple pumps along with a complicated controller, resulting in a less foolproof system that costs an arm and a leg.
I simply choose not to. my primary goal was to not be draining the display tank to source the volume of water I wanted to change, there isnt enough water in the sump either, so I needed an additional water source. most peoples water changes involves a sink/toilet, 5g buckets, syphoning, and a level of skill to mix enough salt water to match what they take out. that was my primary goal, to remove all of that. gaining 50gallons of volume onto my system, gradually mixing the fresh salt water to the existing water, doing 50 gallons worth for less than 150$ out of pocket... that is all things not nescessarily required of an automated water change, and maybe the dollar value is limiting... but the simplicity is what matters. it may not be perfect, but its realistic, its a setup I actaully created. I am not going to buy 5 float sensors and start creating a circuit board, just wont happen, not my skill set; and I have a feeling Im not alone.
so yeah, the thing that makes my system great is that any slop with 2 hands and room for an additional tank can have my setup.
I simply choose not to. my primary goal was to not be draining the display tank to source the volume of water I wanted to change, there isnt enough water in the sump either, so I needed an additional water source. most peoples water changes involves a sink/toilet, 5g buckets, syphoning, and a level of skill to mix enough salt water to match what they take out. that was my primary goal, to remove all of that. gaining 50gallons of volume onto my system, gradually mixing the fresh salt water to the existing water, doing 50 gallons worth for less than 150$ out of pocket... that is all things not nescessarily required of an automated water change, and maybe the dollar value is limiting... but the simplicity is what matters. it may not be perfect, but its realistic, its a setup I actaully created. I am not going to buy 5 float sensors and start creating a circuit board, just wont happen, not my skill set; and I have a feeling Im not alone.
so yeah, the thing that makes my system great is that any slop with 2 hands and room for an additional tank can have my setup.
Im seeing float valves dependent and independent on each other.
end of the day, I dont see what yours does that mine doesnt. your waste bin has to get emptied someday. that is identical between your system, my system, and any other tank of water getting pumped to a drain.
you can use a seperate pump and a controller, or you can do it manually. I chose manually, saves money. I could throw a 2nd pump in the tank and let it drain it once every 7 days till a low line float valve opens up, but again, I choose not to for money consideration.
as for the source water, you have to get the fresh water in there same as me, you have to get the salt in there same as me. you choosing to add automation to that for a price is irrelevent. both systems are the same.
difference is you actively add and remove water alternating, I simply let it mix continuously. my system replaces all of your floats with an overflow basicly; simple systems to maintain a water level.
end of the day, I dont see what yours does that mine doesnt. your waste bin has to get emptied someday. that is identical between your system, my system, and any other tank of water getting pumped to a drain.
you can use a seperate pump and a controller, or you can do it manually. I chose manually, saves money. I could throw a 2nd pump in the tank and let it drain it once every 7 days till a low line float valve opens up, but again, I choose not to for money consideration.
as for the source water, you have to get the fresh water in there same as me, you have to get the salt in there same as me. you choosing to add automation to that for a price is irrelevent. both systems are the same.
difference is you actively add and remove water alternating, I simply let it mix continuously. my system replaces all of your floats with an overflow basicly; simple systems to maintain a water level.
OAD
Premium Member
Difference is we are going for an autonomous system. I am expanding its capabilities and reducing the number of floatswitches. The new system will draw from a SW mixing reservoir (all you do is add the necessary salt or maintain the necessary salinity) to waterchange or as Nietzsche mentioned ATO utilizing SW. This is if you have an RO/DI or else the system needs to be revised. Essentially everyone who has a basic understanding of electrical flow and a little bit of skill can custom tailor the system. The dump could simply pour into a drain or sink.
thats fine, I just have a feeling you wont be seeing too many people going through so much trouble to simplify something.
doesnt appeal to me anyway. looks complicated and every float valve is a chance for a failure. I like robust systems, a stand pipe overflow and valves cant fail. Id rather turn the valve myself for that peice of mind.
but hey, go ahead and build it. I have a feeling its something that will be discussed on a webforum but never take shape.
doesnt appeal to me anyway. looks complicated and every float valve is a chance for a failure. I like robust systems, a stand pipe overflow and valves cant fail. Id rather turn the valve myself for that peice of mind.
but hey, go ahead and build it. I have a feeling its something that will be discussed on a webforum but never take shape.
unbreakable
D:
it should be simple. i dont think its going to be any different from people using ATO.. everyone knows they can get stuck or whatever but people take their chances with them. i have two ATO for my aquariums and i havent had them fail
The fact is there will never be a system that is autonomous. There will always be a significant human interaction with the system to ensure proper operation as well as some kind of maintenance to support operation. Furthermore, the more autonomous the system becomes the more likely it is to fail. One of my fundamental (and most important) requirement is that it should reliable.
In theory, some of these complicated psuedo-autonomous system my work short term, but they will eventually fail.
OAD
Premium Member
There may be correlation, but certainly not causation. I think I previously mentioned (if I haven't, excuse me) that the system should be only reliant on a steady water source, electricity, and salt. I am going to design such a system for fun but I would not build one because there would be no reason for me to run one on a Nano: that would be to impractical.
I wouldn't call any of these concepts designs. They are fun to talk about and conceptualize. but the bottom line is still the same.
They will not work for an extended period of time. I
The only one I know of is the ocean. Which is a system too that will fail one day.
am sure some very good systems exist, but they still require some kind of human intervention even if it is to replace AT0's or pumps every year or what have you.
They will not work for an extended period of time. I
The only one I know of is the ocean. Which is a system too that will fail one day.
am sure some very good systems exist, but they still require some kind of human intervention even if it is to replace AT0's or pumps every year or what have you.
OAD
Premium Member
This piece of electronics is working just fine: http://www.centennialbulb.org/
