Does Anyone Know Of A Saftey Device..?

Kaiden

Kaiden

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Hey Everyone!

I just got a Snail stuck into my overflow of my Refuge! It made the tank over floor onto the floor AHHHH! Well Now that I had clean up the mess and tear down my whole tank, I was wondering if there is a saftey device made for things like this. Maybe something that shuts of the main pump to the tank if the water level reaches level that is bad. Say if you put something into the sump below the top off valve so if the water goes below that the main pump shuts down? Anyhow thanks...
 
Interesting. I just had a snail take a ride through the overflow, but luckily, did not cause a problem.

1) Put some plastic Gutter Guard (get it at Home Depot or Lowes) in the overflow to keep snails out.

2) Yes, you can use a float switch to kill the return pump if the water level in the display gets too high or the sump level gets too low.
 
They are typically used for auto topoff. Pretty simple really. When water level goes down from evaporation, the float drops, a relay is kicked in and the pump tops off. Level rises and it shuts off. You could also use it to control the return pump.

Autotopoff.com has them among others.
 
It is a bit more complicated than that.

Is your fuge above the tank? Is it drilled? The best case scenario is to use a second bulkhead with an upturned elbow and strainer. This is an emergency overflow and does not flow unless the main one becomes clogged and the water level starts to rise.

For a "float switch fail safe"

You will need 2 float switches and a relay. You will need to familiarize yourself with "latching relay" circuits. The "safety" mechanisim would be 2 float switches. The top one would turn off the circuit and the lower float would turn on the circuit.

Why 2 float switches needed? Very simple, if you have a single float switch wired to the pump, you will fix one problem and create another. As the drain becomes clogged, the water will rise. Once the water rises and trips the float switch, the pump will turn off, allowing the water level to drop and turning the pump back on. When the pump comes back on, the float will rise and turn it back off. This cycle will repeat rapidly until the snail moves or the pump dies from starting and stopping so quickly. By using 2 float switches you can make the "start" and "stop" water leves further apart and at least slow the ON OFF cycles down a bit. ALSO NOTE that the lower float does not have to be a float switch. It could be a manual push button that needs to be pressed to restart the pump.

If this makes any sense, please feel free to ask questions. If it all sounds WAY TO COMPLICATED, then it is not likely something you want to undertake.
Bean
 
It doesn't need to be complex. The OP is looking for a safety device to keep water off the floor. Ideally, it would never or very rarely be used.

As I already stated, if snails area causing the problem, keep them out. I would not use eggcrate as the grate is kind of big and small snails could still get through. Gutter Guard is a finer mesh. Snails will not get through.

Yes, a dual float switch with latching relays is a nice way to do it, but not necessary. A simple float switch will kill the pump. Even if there is some pump cycling, it still accomplishes the desired intent of keeping the tank from overflowing onto the floor.
RollOutGutterGuard_wht.jpg
 
Last edited:
I must agree with the simple approach. While a float switch can be made to serve in this role, it will be problematic as discussed. I can't say where, but I sell float switches and top-off systems and this is not the best solution. In my prop tank, I have some coarse screen across the 1-1/4" elbow that serves as the overflow. I have never had a problem since installing it. I did have a similar problem prior to installing it though.

Good Luck,
Trey
 
clogged overflow

clogged overflow

I think i would take a chance on having a pump burn up a year or 2 early than have my tank sit with no water movement for 10 + hours or maybe on vacation (fish corals carpet) ( pump ) pump would cost less. plus i have shop vaced my share of salt water from the carpet and floor no fun then comes the wife.
 
Re: clogged over flow

Re: clogged over flow

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7045518#post7045518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by baja_hammer2003
oceanus systems has a top off with pump protection and over flow protection seen a pic on there home page www.oceanussystems.com
Click to expand...

His pump protection is flawed. At least that is the way it appears from the physical layout of the system and the docs on the website. I sent him an email explaining why and asking for clarification... he ignored it! That tells me the "pump protection" circuit is a simple series float switch that is prone to the oscillation problem mentioned above. Every time the pump cuts off due to "low water" the plumbing will drain and turn the pump back on, causing the float to drop and the lowe water condition to occur. This will keep going in a "loop" until the pump dies or enough water evaporates to break the cycle.

Bean
 
I have a poseidon and i think it`s a great controller the pump protection circuit i hope will never be used if it does i have more problems than my pump oscillating a couple of times before it shuts down i don`t think you understand the controller.
 
I think the screen idea is great the snails will NOT get caught and that is the point right. Thanks for the info on the gutter screens very helpfull.
 
how about fiberglass screen that is also used for light acclimation.
to screen out snails, i think the gutter guard is still too coarse a mesh for small snails.
 
go to the LFS (if they drill tanks there) if they do drilll them there tell them you need the black plastic cover for the overflow they will have it
----I had to do this for an eel that liked to get in the overflow and what not
 
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