Help me design an auto top off

[iaJim]

First off, realize that I am gone for 8 weeks in the winter. I have wonderful neighbors that do top off and feeding and make sure all is well. I want to make the job a little easier. I would like to put a 50 gallon barrel in the basement and fill it up w/ RODI water. They could refill the barrel as needed. My tank is on the first floor, so we are talking about a nine foot lift from the bottom of the barrel to the sump under my tank, a 58 gallon RR. I would have about a 25' lateral run.

Right now I buy 100 gallons of distilled water (to get the bottles mostly) and they replenish the water with that daily. I lose about a gallon and a half a day.

What would you use? I could cut the lateral run down considerably if I have to, but I can't see where that part makes a lot of difference.

I can't spend a fortune on this, but I want reliability too. I have 10 months to get this built, so I can spread the expense over several months.

What would you do?

(Also posted on the Greater Iowa Reef Society Reef Central board.)

 

[oldsaltman]

I would start with an RO/DI filter, and build my ATO from there. There are as many ways to make an ATO as there are people who post here. You may first want to do some searching and research to see all the options and then pick what you think will work for you.

 

[iaJim]

I already have the RODI. I have looked at a few options, but just want some opinions. I guess I'm looking for someone who has done something similar so I don't have to reinvent the ATO.

 

[cabrego]

So far I am happy with my solution.

I am using an AC JR to periodically pump water from a reservoir into my sump. It takes a little tweaking to get the rate at which to top off the sump, depending on what kind of pump you use.

I am using a very low flow pump, so I have it set to run for 1 minute every 2 hours.

 

[iaJim]

What sort of lift are you using? I would think that you could still use a float switch with the AC JR as a safety precaution. Do you ever have to manually add water?

 

[oldsaltman]

I use a holding tank for my fresh water. I have my RO/DI running into that through a float valve. I manually turn my RO on to fill my holding tank, and if I forget to turn it off then the float valve stops the RO. Mine is a 44g brute, and has a powerhead mounted in the bottom that is connected to a bulkhead. I have three float valves in my sump, one for the low turn on level and then two upper float valves for the high level and the emergency cutoff. The float valves work off a 12vdc relay and cheap power adapter. Mine has been working for several years in my 55g with no issues. I now have my 90g running and am using the same system for it.

 

[oldsaltman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14706265#post14706265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cabrego
So far I am happy with my solution.

I am using an AC JR to periodically pump water from a reservoir into my sump. It takes a little tweaking to get the rate at which to top off the sump, depending on what kind of pump you use.

I am using a very low flow pump, so I have it set to run for 1 minute every 2 hours.

That might work well for a few days, but I wouldn't leave my tank for 8 weeks with it.

 

[sikpupy]

Simple.....

12v transformer
12 car realy
2 float switchs

run switches in series to transformer to turn relay on/off. If your really scared, use 3-4 float switches for redundancy.

have AC spliced into relay to turn on/off pump


Works like a charm.


Also put one of tem setups on the ro/di unit with a 24volt transformer and a water sprinkler valve to turn on/off water to the ro/di

You can thank me later

 

[mg426]

Just buy one of these www.autotopoff.com They already figured it out,built it and one can be had for less than 50 bucks. I dont think I could build one for less than that.

 

[oldsaltman]

It never fails that someone offers up a place to buy something, but I like to DIY. You can buy everything you need for your setup from here or there, but it sure is nice when you can DIY.

 

[mg426]

I like to build stuff too, I built the room my tank lives in,Hung the drywall, ran the electric, Did the plumbing. DIYed my MH lights. Built my own sump and refugium, Its got nice baffles that I Made on a Milling Machine at work. ALL i was aying was that I bet you would have a hard time buying the components seperately for less than the MFGD ATO.

 

[iaJim]

What pump would you couple with either solution?

 

[mg426]

I use an MJ 600 (i think thats the mode,l its pretty darn old)

 

[r-balljunkie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14706799#post14706799 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mg426
I like to build stuff too, I built the room my tank lives in,Hung the drywall, ran the electric, Did the plumbing. DIYed my MH lights. Built my own sump and refugium, Its got nice baffles that I Made on a Milling Machine at work. ALL i was aying was that I bet you would have a hard time buying the components seperately for less than the MFGD ATO.

+1.

get the double switch model, extra safety. it is quite hard to replicate pricing, end of the day, you save 20 bux, spend weeks getting components together, go thru a couple of sump overflows, etc.


GL

c

 

[sikpupy]

I got my switches for $6 each, relay was another $6. Have fun with those $50 units