So I bought an auto refiller

[Beldarr]

I bought the JBJ Auto Top-Off device and I am a bit confused about something.

The product suggests that I run the topoff water into my refugium. If my refugium water rises, the pump in the refugium is not going to pump harder just because i added water to it?

How does this all work exactly before i flood my house?

 

[thegrun]

Most of us pump the water into the return pump section, not the refugium where the added fresh water would affect the salinity, although slightly. Either way the added water would drain into the return pump section and not cause a flood. The float switch MUST be in the return pump section, it is the only place where evaporation changes the water level.

 

[snorvich]

Most of us pump the water into the return pump section, not the refugium where the added fresh water would affect the salinity, although slightly. Either way the added water would drain into the return pump section and not cause a flood. The float switch MUST be in the return pump section, it is the only place where evaporation changes the water level.

A very key point!!

 

[Sk8r]

I think they're assuming your fuge is in your sump, as a middle chamber, which is the case with mine. I happen to top off to the entry chamber, which is happenstance ---ie, where I could best secure the topoff line.

DO secure that line firmly. If it slips out and aims at the floor, all your topoff ends up on the floor. I use a sturdy aluminum clamp---any other metal kept around a marine tank will rust and fail ultimately, possibly while you're on vacation.

 

[ericarenee]

The point everyone above is making.. The ATO Sensor / switch float valve. Must be in a sump / refugium chamber that has the same water level as the Return pump. otherwise the sensor of float would not be triggered as water would not go down.. I assume you have your Fuge at the end of the tank or separate tank as it should be so you can slow the water flow thru it and the water level never changes.

 

[Beldarr]

These are all great ideas, but what I don't understand is that if I pump water into the refugium/sump...that wil raise the water in the sump not in the main tank. My pump that return water in the refugium/sump is at a constant flow, i have no way to make it pump faster if i add more water to catch up?

 

[Beldarr]

This is my Sump/Refugium

Maybe this will help someone explain to me how I can put more water on that and force it bank into the Display Tank without overflowing the Sump

 

[ZeeSparrow]

I was confused about this myself until my tank was set up. Then I understood... Evaporation causes the water level to go down, but this is only apparent in the sump. Specifically in the area of the sump where the return pump is located. Every other section of the sump and the display tank remain at the same level all the time.

Your ATO will allow you to keep the return section of the sump at the same level, too!

 

[gone fishin]

Right, your topping off water that has evaporated. Lets just assume you top off once a day. Over the course of the day you lose one gallon to evaporation so you add back one gallon to stay at the same volume. Your ATO will do this for you, usually more frequently than once a day creating a stable volume. Hope that helps good luck.

 

[ca1ore]

Any volume of water that sits 'upstream' of a baffle will be at a constant level determined by the height of that baffle (including the display where the overflow is simply another baffle). Consequently, evaporation, no matter where it occurs in the system, will be concentrated (will manifest) into the return chamber because there is no further baffle to dictate a constant height. Similarly, the addition of RODI controlled by your ATO can be added anywhere within the system - for the same reason.

 

[ericarenee]

the tank water level will not go low as the pump pushes water to the tank. The Over flow box on the back of the tank only takes water down to the sump that will over flow . So the evaporation happens in the tank and sump but as said above the water level drops in the Sump chamber your Return pump is in... that return pump keeps the tank full. the over flow box keeps the pump from over flowing water out of the top of your tank. instead it goes back to the sump and recirculates.