How do you auto top off?

[Cozen89]

I'm looking for ideas on the most cost efficient (CHEAP!) reliable way to set up an auto top off for my sump. I don't have a ton of room about the sump so fitting a 5 gallon jub above the sump and dripping in isn't really an option.

I was thinking of a small pump (hopefully submersible) I can put in a 5 gallon bucket of RO and attach a tube and valve and top off with a drip or a float valve.

If you can tell me what you use for top off, about how much it would cost, and where I can get the parts that would be great. Pics are always good as well =)

Thanks.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Use a kent float valve inside your sump

 

[Cozen89]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10255096#post10255096 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by northbay-reefer
Use a kent float valve inside your sump

and connect it to what kind of pump?

 

[Keith Le]

Tsunami ATO1 and an Aqualifter, this should be under $80.00 for both.
-K

 

[dswong01]

For the DIY you can get float switches from here http://www.floatswitches.net/ and this design http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1046038 with a maxi jet pump for under $50

 

[Cozen89]

thanks for the suggestions. I'm not too great on the DIY especially with electrical. I don't want to F that up.

There isn't just some small little pump that I can put in a 5 gallon bucket and attach a simple float valve to pump into my sump for under 80 bucks?

oh, and no drilling my sump either. It's glass =(

 

[Keith Le]

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17526&cat=0&page=1

Here's a link for the Tsunami ATO, you can get an aqualifter from just about any LFS for around $20. You could also pick up the Tsunami from Ken at Amazon in San Jose but I'm not sure how much he sells them for.

No plumbing require, just some airline hose.

-K

 

[Cozen89]

Thanks, that seems nice and easy. I'm gonna look around a bit more and see if I can find an even cheaper solution. But if not I'll go with that. Yeah, I'm a cheap ***. Film students don't make much money...

 

[Cozen89]

Does that Tsunami pump protector just turn off if the pump is running dry? Or does it have something to help keep the water level around the same? Didn't have much of a description on that site.

 

[brianbigoats]

JBJ auto top off and Aqua Lifter pump

 

[Cozen89]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10255865#post10255865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brianbigoats
JBJ auto top off and Aqua Lifter pump

got a link to the JBJ?

nevermind I found it on marinedpot for $100.

 

[fishnfst]

Super cheap would be the aqualifter and a timer.. Let your tank evaporate for a day then see how much water it takes to top off.. Take your aqualifter pump put the intake tube into your ro reservoir then plug it in. Let your stop watch run and see how long it takes to pump enough ro water to top off your sump.. Once duration is determined you can set a timer to go off for xxx amount of minutes every day.. That would be the super cheap method.. $12 for the aqualifter and however much for a timer..

 

[northbay-reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10255124#post10255124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cozen89
and connect it to what kind of pump?

Connect it to your water reservoir and use gravity feed ... its the cheapest solution. I have use this for years and it works fine

 

[Nukeproof]

LiterMeter III for me. It's one of the best investment I made. I just set figure out how much my evaporation is and set it a little below that so I could add my 2 parts. I never have to worry about any float switch. It used to go through my Kalk reactor before my seal started to leak on my reactor.

 

[chem-e]

I do something similar to Nukeproof's setup. I use a peristaltic pump with a container that holds about 4 days worth of kalk water. I have it set up on a timer to slowly add enough water to replace what was evaporated late at night. It works nice as I've been gone for a few days and I come home without any problems.

 

[Nukeproof]

I went on a 2 week vacation last April and I just have my friend come over twice a week to throw in a little bit of water and feed the fish.

 

[doliver]

I use the double switch sump unit from autotopoff.com, along with a MJ400 pump in a 5g bucket of RO water. I have to refill the reservoir about once a week.

 

[Cozen89]

gravity feed isn't an option. I said earlier that I can't fit a resevoir above my sump. I wish I could, but I can't =/.

That double switch sump unit looks kind of interesting. So it will turn the pump on and off according to the bobber right? Is there any additiional parts needed for that? Tubes etc or it all comes with it?

 

[hawaiianwargod]

LitermeterIII for me as well...no issues whatsoever!

 

[kaihonu82]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10258294#post10258294 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doliver
I use the double switch sump unit from autotopoff.com....

Thanks for dropping that link. I wasn't aware of it. I'm slowly gathering materials for my sump and this has a lot of what I was looking for!