Need help on ATO and Auto water changes

[rhwimmers]

I think its finally time to get an ATO and auto water change system setup...

I have a 125 with 55g sump

In the basement, somewhat below the tank is my HVAC room and my plan is to buy a RO/DI unit (my RO unit is in the kitchen and just no easy way to get that water to my storage tanks) and hook it up to the water line in the hvac room. I want to have that fill up a brute trash can with fresh RO water and then run tubing up to the sump for ATO. How can I accomplish this and make it as error-proof as possible (so I dont flood the HVAC room and dont overflow my sump!).
I DO have a full apex unit so think that can help, not sure what else I need other than some flow switches and something that can pump the water up about 10'?

For the auto water change, wondering if maybe I just fill up my resevoir with fresh RO, then turn off the RO unit and make a salt mix for a day or two, then do the water change - OR if I should get another brute for this purpose? Pros/Cons?
One thing about the HVAC room is there IS a drain that then goes to my sump pump for the house and shoots that water out - so I can use this to dispose of the used water. I know there will be some manual portions to the water change like putting the tube in the display tank to siphon the water down into the hvac drain but at least I wont have buckets and spills and mess up where the display tank is! Also, its usually a "strategic" guessing game on taking water out and putting it back in to get the same amount out as I did in - if I can get some ideas on how to better perfect that it would help too! I know my brute is a 36 gallon, and I take my tank dimensions and figure out how many inches ~36 gallons would be...But there are a lot of variables here (like the 36 not being 100% full, rock and coral that displace some water etc)..
Thanks for any advice!

 

[kriv4o]

Shouldn't be hard to do. For starterts you would need your RO/DI of course. I would definitely do two separate containers for RO/DI and SW that way you are prepared if you need an emergency WC and still have the ability to make more SW if needed and have a back up clean water for top offs and such.
Then of course you would have to find a pump that would be able to pump from your basement to your sump.
While getting your RO/DI unit look into auto shut off valve. A priceless little device that would save your basement from flooding and would make sure you always have a full container of RO/DI water(aka automates your water filtration).
Tie all that to one of the many ATO units available(a simple search on the forums here should help you with that) and your done with the top off part of your plan.
Now the auto WC is another story. This totally depends on your budget and how automated you want it to be. The easiest and most expensive option(I believe) is getting a genesis auto water change unit:
http://www.genesisreefsystems.com/categories.php?cat=7
Comes with almost everything necessary for totally automated water changes. You will have to get two pumps that are fit with the flow requirements of the unit. And that is about it.

Another option that is less automated is to plumb your system in a way that by flip of a valve a portion of your sump is being pumped out or siphoned out and by another flip of a valve and/or a switch you pump fresh SW to replace what you pumped out of your sump.
Obviously the second option will be less expensive and more labor involving but once again what you choose is totally up to you and your budget.
Good luck and happy reefing