Easy water level indicator

[sleepydoc]

So I've wanted to add a water level indicator to my DI & Mixing tubs for a while. I kept looking for a bulkhead to hook up to clear tubing or possibly a John Guest type fitting. I saw Gunsnroses's idea and was going to do that when I came upon something even easier (and obvious in hindsight) that eliminates the bulkhead - a unseal.

I used a uniseal, a 3/4 to 1/2" FPT PVC bushing and a nylon right angle hose barb fitting. All are readily available at the Orange Borg, or pretty much any hardware store, the total cost is about $10 and it's easy.

I'm sure someone has thought of this before but I haven't come across it and thought I'd share it in case it helps someone else.

 

[sleepydoc]

Here are the parts -
The bushing:
<a href="http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/p-testerman/media/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0420_zps0ed98172.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q660/p-testerman/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0420_zps0ed98172.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0420_zps0ed98172.jpg"/></a>
Nylon hose barb
<a href="http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/p-testerman/media/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0422_zpsd2ed1acb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q660/p-testerman/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0422_zpsd2ed1acb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0422_zpsd2ed1acb.jpg"/></a>
Everything together:
<a href="http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/p-testerman/media/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0419_zpsa41dd89e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q660/p-testerman/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0419_zpsa41dd89e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0419_zpsa41dd89e.jpg"/></a>

 

[sleepydoc]

I used pipe thread sealant on the nylon threads and also on the outside of the bushing to make it easier to push into the uniseal.



<a href="http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/p-testerman/media/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0426_zps96422162.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q660/p-testerman/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0426_zps96422162.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0426_zps96422162.jpg"/></a>

 

[sleepydoc]

Here's the finished Product:

<a href="http://s1352.photobucket.com/user/p-testerman/media/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0425_zps686c0ee9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1352.photobucket.com/albums/q660/p-testerman/Level%20Indicator/IMG_0425_zps686c0ee9.jpg" border="0" alt="Finished Project! photo IMG_0425_zps686c0ee9.jpg"/></a>

 

[perkint]

Nice and simple

Tim

 

[Mrramsey]

Nice. I just built one like it last weekend.

 

[Raptor72]

Would the nozzles be able to be pointed towards each other? I like the idea.

 

[sleepydoc]

Nice. I just built one like it last weekend.

I knew I couldn't have been the first to think of it!

Would the nozzles be able to be pointed towards each other? I like the idea.

Sure, but then you can't see the water level as easily when it's nearly empty or nearly full. I pointed them to the side to maximize the viewable area in the clear tubing.

 

[Mrramsey]

Here is mine. I really wanted to see the level just so I know when to refill. My low mark is 6 gallons and my ago holds 5 so I refill when it hits the 6 gal mark. I could have used smaller fittings but it works.

 

[billdogg]

Very nice. I have found an even simpler method however. I just look down into it from the top.

 

[Mrramsey]

Very nice. I have found an even simpler method however. I just look down into it from the top.

Sure if yours is on the floor. Mine is 4" from the ceiling so looking down was not an option.

 

[billdogg]

Stilts? :fun4:

 

[sleepydoc]

My problem was that my tubs are black and one of them is under a shelf, so I had to get a flashlight to see how much water was in the tub. I also wanted a reasonably accurate measure for adding salt.

Dark containers are nice to keep light out, but make the measuring more difficult.

 

[DaveWJunior]

Very nice. I have found an even simpler method however. I just look down into it from the top.

You can tell whether you have 12 gallons or 17 gallons by looking down into the barrel? I clearly need to up my reefing skill set.

 

[billdogg]

You can tell whether you have 12 gallons or 17 gallons by looking down into the barrel? I clearly need to up my reefing skill set.

Actually, yes I pretty much can. I've been using the same 55g barrel since the late 1980's. It takes exactly 1 50g bag + 2 12oz Jif jars of IO to bring it right to 1.025. I don't even bother to check. Just mix it for a day and go.

 

[karimwassef]

Here's mine. I use it on my 100 gallon surge container

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/9D4519DF-7FE7-4196-8D92-728286BEF4D5_zpsipn3fdll.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/9D4519DF-7FE7-4196-8D92-728286BEF4D5_zpsipn3fdll.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9D4519DF-7FE7-4196-8D92-728286BEF4D5_zpsipn3fdll.jpg"/></a>

I used a clear sleeve used for fluorescent bulbs. I used a clear piece of tape and a felt tip pen to transfer the measurement with a ruler. Then attached the tape to the tube.

This way I can see the water level and make adjustments to my surge to raise or lower it by fractions of an inch.

I have the surge off right now. One more idea I tried was putting a foam float in the tube to make reading the scale easier - maybe a fishing bob? I just tried a piece of foam but it kept getting stuck to the tube walls when the water level fell.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Here's mine. I use it on my 100 gallon surge container

One more idea I tried was putting a foam float in the tube to make reading the scale easier - maybe a fishing bob? I just tried a piece of foam but it kept getting stuck to the tube walls when the water level fell.

Nice. If you had a ball like a pingpong ball it would float real nice. Finding the right size ball would be the trick. Time to go to the toy store!

 

[karimwassef]

The tube is narrower than a ping pong ball, but you're right: it's about the right float. Hobby Lobby has spherical foam balls...

To the OP: can you see the level easily or do you need a brighter colored background, etc?

 

[Mrramsey]

I can see mine just fine just by walking by and glancing at it. I have it marked in 2 gallon increments.

 

[sleepydoc]

The tube is narrower than a ping pong ball, but you're right: it's about the right float. Hobby Lobby has spherical foam balls...

To the OP: can you see the level easily or do you need a brighter colored background, etc?

It actually shows pretty well just with the regular lighting. (You can see the level at the top line in the last picture) you might have a bit of trouble seeing it across the room (haven't tried) but as long as your reasonably close it's fine.