looking for simple system DIY auto top off

[sx230]

looking for simple system DIY auto top off for my 46g tank i seen a recent thread with simple, system having trouble finding it

 

[Pbrown3701]

do you want gravity fed or pump/pressure fed?

 

[Radiography14]

dr foster and smith has a aqua medic pump hooked to a nice suto top off system for 110.00 bucks. very nice stuff. that is what i am going with . i am going to use it as a automatic top off while i am away on vacation.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

aquahub has a very cheap but reliable ATO it is the same one i have been using for 2 years

 

[sx230]

looking for gravity fed

 

[adnup]

Not gravity but it works, all for under $20
http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/auto_topoff.html

 

[coolfish5]

Again aquahub has some nice diy articles for building the topoff.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html

It would concern me using 120v right in the sump with small gague wire. And I think the use of a relay to take the load off the switch and to something set to handle more current may be appropriate as well, bit a relay and 12v adapter will add a little more cost.

John

 

[sx230]

thank you guys i might just go with Aqua Medic SP 3000 Dosing Pump kit just whant to get some reviews on product

 

[acdraindrps]

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=17525&cat=0&page=1

 

[RandyStacyE]

A gravity fed ATO is as simple as it gets. All you need is an elivated reservoir plumbed to a float valve. DONE

A reservoir can be just about any container that you have room for. I have been using this float valve for years without incident:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...usplastic&category_name=6109&product_id=12596

They list the same float valve, but with different receptacles depending on how you want to plumb it. I like to use John Guest fittings because they are super simple.

US Plastic has a very good Tech Support department too.

 

[Butchdawg14]

Randy so if i purchase one of those things what else do i need.....container and tubing????

how do you mount it on your tank??

sorry im new to this..

 

[RandyStacyE]

Yes ... I forgot about tubing

If this goes in your sump you could plumb it through the sump. The float valve is actually a bulkhead fitting/float valve.

 

[Butchdawg14]

i have a 6 gal........sump??? where would i put the float valve

 

[RandyStacyE]

If the sump is glass then it should have a plastic trip around the top. You could cut a piece of acrylic, cut out the appropriate diameter hole and plumb through it using PVC:

The float valve can be screwed into the bottom of the PVC. It's just a few bucks in PVC and a few cheap fittings. I'm sure that there are 1,000 other ways to do it.

It's just a matter of figuring out a way to fasten the float valve in a specific location. What's cool about the float valve that I listed earlier is that it is adjustable ... it can be mounted horizontally or vertically.

If the sump is glass I suppose you could drill it (if it is not tempered glass) and install the float in the hole.