fish, and top off question

[playa0069u]

ya but the way I said involves it being perfect and you dont have to guess about drips. here let me show you.

you have a bottle with a ruber cork in the top with two holes in it. you have rigid airline going to almost the bottom in one whole, and another piece just barely in the bottle but not in the water. the one in the water goes into the tank, and the other air pipe gets connected to a half inch pipe and is clamped at the desired water level in the sump. The water coming out obviously needs air to displace it, so it can only come come out if the water level goes below the half inch pipe. get it?

 

[CMcNeil]

playa my top off only fills what evaps out.nothing more,the float switch is the best way to do it.some days you use 1 gallon to top off and some you will use more.the switch just makes it easy.the way you are talking about,you would be adding fresh water to the tank whether you need it or not.

 

[playa0069u]

no because the water only comes in if the water level drops below the 1.5 inch pipe.

 

[CMcNeil]

yeah i think im confused a little on this.got any pics or drawings?

 

[playa0069u]

I couldnt find any.
water air
/ | | \
| | |
| | | bottle
| |

refugium/sump

airline water line
----------------- ||-||-----
|| |_water level
|
|
_________________|

best I could do for now maybe better later lol I gtg see ya

 

[playa0069u]

well that didnt come out huh lol

 

[playa0069u]

like that KIND of I was thinking a bottle with the hoses going in the top but it works the same way. The top hose doesnt touch the water in the bottle, and it the end is clamped to the tank at wherever you want the water level. the the bottom one goes in the tank. The water only comes out of the bottle if the air hole is uncovered, and the air hole is only uncovered if the water level goes down. get it? water level goes down, exposes the hose to the air, air goes in the bottle, water comes out, plugs up the hole as the water level rises, and the hole is plugged up so no air can displace the water coming out. So it stops comeing out. get it?

 

[playa0069u]

 

[playa0069u]

 

[playa0069u]

HERE THIS IS IT! http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t65554.html

 

[ReefArtist]

That will work - so now what's the question. That works on a vacuum system and as long as the water doesn't move much it will work (little wave action - more water). You were looking for cheap and that's the reason I talked about using a small connector at the tip - very cheap 99 cents or so. As I said I took the average and low balled. So if anything after a few days I might be half a gallon low but I've never been over and my salinity is always right on. Later when I rebuild my refugium I'm going to put a float switch on but until I do this system has worked great. Cheap and completely DIY - that is the way to go . I love the location of checkinhawks - behind his tank and not visible at all - very nice. Mine will be completely automated eventually - even the refill container.

 

[playa0069u]

I was wondering if anyone did this...

 

[ReefArtist]

The only problem I see would be if the seal broke - then all the water would be dumped into your tank - and the wave action thing. I haven't tried it but maybe someone else has.

 

[playa0069u]

There are absolutely NO waves at all in my refugium, and I am only going to use like a 2 gallon container so if it dumps in my 60 big deal