Top Off w. Surge

[SAT]

Roger,

My setup has an surge device (RCSD) which causes the water level to vary by about an inch every minute (stays at the minimum level for only a few seconds at a time). I'd like to set up an automated top-off system that would operate when the lowest level drops below a set point. I'd want to connect it to the refugium, which is a 75L Tencor acrylic aquarium, with the desired minimum water level about 3" below the top. Do you think an Osmoregulator could deal with this?

 

[rvitko]

This is an awful lot of variables for a system to contend with. It should be possible. I assume the refugium will stay constant? Will their be a sump with constant water level? In theory you could set the secondary safety switch at least 2" above the main sensor- to accomodate the 1" rise during the surge. The primary sensor would fill until the lowest level was touching the sensor- a high level being 1" over this would be 1" over the sensor. These sorts of setups get tricky because of all the ad ons like Refugiums and the cpacility for a pump or drain line to slow and the water level in one of these to be elevated. Unfortunately I will not be able to give you a definitive answer because of these variables.

 

[SAT]

Well, actually there isn't any place with a constant water level, thus the question. If the primary sensor is out of water for only a few seconds at a time, what happens?

The flow rate also affects the water level, but I think I can deal with that. The variability due to flow only amounts to a few gallons, which is no big deal in a 300G system. Less than about 5G won't even register on my refractometer.

 

[rvitko]

The pump turns on after a 3sec delay and turns off after an 8sec contact on the present programming.
It is extremely sensitive and designed to maintain water level to within a fraction of a millimeter.

 

[SAT]

OK, that should work. Thanks!