tell me what you think DIY auto water change system

[Mchava]

Okay so here is my plans for an automatic water changing system. Im planning on using 2 aqualifter20 pumps on to remove water and one to add. What I did was time how long it took that ALpump to empty out 1gal container. It took 25min for one gallon. So I was planning on seting them both up with my ACjr unit for control. Have them each on for 25 min. First the output pump, then the input pump. Im still planning on what kind of water storage unit to use for the new saltwater. So do you folks think this will work. Iam planing on doing it once ever day. So it would be about 7g water change per week. Well hope this works out. Let me know if you guy/gals think of anything else that I might have forgothen.
Mario

 

[Mchava]

heres a ruff drawing off it

 

[yuhsuen]

well...you're assuming that both aqualifters will pump the same amount of water over a given period. IMO no two pumps are built exactly alike and there'll be variations in performance. It might be small in difference and if you're only doing periodic water changes like once every 2 weeks, the small difference should be easy to pickup if you watch the water level carefully.

I wonder if you can program the Aquacontroller to turn on a pump to pump water out to a container (such as a garbage can), with a float switch that trips once the container fills, the pump shuts off and the controller turns on another pump in the new salt water container with the same volume. That way, the auto water change is based on volume only and not volume basd on a function of time.

It's a good thought, I'm gonna think about and see if I can do it with my jr also

 

[bassnman11]

Do you also have a topoff system for fresh water for evaporation? Looks like it should work fine. I use a similar setup for topoff with one aqualifter.

 

[Mchava]

I guess I would have to time the send AL pump and see how long that would take to empty the same container. Then label each one and set the acjr accorting to that.

yes I also have a top off but mine if gravity fed and its only a 10g coantiner. Its hooked up to a kent float valve that is cleaned everweek.

 

[laverda]

Isnt that going to foul up your auto top off system? Their really is not any reason you can't have both pumps going at the same time. The difference is pretty insignificant.

 

[IsaaX]

I'd be concerned about the AL that's pulling the waste water failing and not knowing about it, then having new salt water pumped in increasing the salinity. IME those pumps aren't very reliable. I stock them two deep in my garage. I use them for my ATO.

I know it would be much more expensive, but would you consider using peristaltic pumps for this?

 

[®eefer]

You could try this...
3 Aqualifters & 3 float switches all connected to the AC (or save your DC plugs for better things and just use cheap timers.
#1 is for your fresh water top off, it is always on, except for say 2hrs at night.
While #1 is off, you turn on #2 which is connected to your dumping tank (there is a float switch in there that stops when it is full). On the 2nd hour, you have #3 turn on which is also hooked up to a float switch in your sump (next to your top off switch). #3 pumps in fresh salt mix. Now the fresh top off turns back on, and you can empty your waste water when ever you want. If you wanted to get even more technical, you could have the waste container empty into a drain with another AL pump on a timer. These pumps can run for hours with no water so just set the timer for a little bit longer than it takes to drain it.
Does that make sense?

 

[laverda]

cooltank, good solution!

 

[®eefer]

Thanks, I am thinking about adding something like this to my top off system. I even have a convenient drain to complete the process, which would actually eliminate the need for a waste container and another FS. It wouldn’t be as accurate as to the amount being exported, but hey it’s only a water change, and with the float switches, the refill would always be accurate.

Anything that makes my tank easier to take care of is easily worth $20 of equipment.

 

[slavearm]

I would definately go with float switches. I think the ACJr still has the digital inputs right? You could even hook them up there so the controller would know the water levels et.c