top-off

[stevestank]

I'm interested in a top-off system that works well, reliable, etc... Any suggestions? My plan is to place a 5 gallon bucket of RO water above my sump and toss in a little pump to top off my sump. I suppose there's plenty of ideas... just looking for a simple one.

 

[mike660r]

I use a reef fanatic top off device. I have had it for 3 years now and it has never let me down. I have a 30 gal rubbermaid tub with a Kent float valve in it connected to my RO unit. I have a hose connected to a aqua medic dosing pump going to that 30 gal tub. The aqua medic pulls water from the 30 gal tub and pushes it to my kalk reactor. From there it drips into my sump. The reef fanatic level sensors are in the sump. So as the water level in the sump drops the aqua medic pump is activated and runs till the level is back to where it needs to be. You are more than welcome to take a peek at it if you want. Just let me know.

Mike C.

 

[MJAnderson]

I use this:

http://www.spectrapure.com/St_alc_p3.htm

It's not a float device so (i'm told) there is less of a chance of it getting stuck or having snails interfere. Works on air pressure. I use an Aquamedic pump as well for top off but I also use this to top off using Kalk water at night only.

 

[stevestank]

Hey thanks Mike. I'm looking at the Tsunami AT1.
http://www.bluelineaquatics.com/products/topoff_system/index.html

My sump will be 29 gallons for a 75 gallon topless tank. I figure I'll have about a gallon evap per day. A 5 gallon bucket of kalkwasser mix with a pump elevated an inch off the bottom of water plugged into the Tsunami seems like a quick and dirty 60 dollar solution. Anyone have an idea that seems to be quick, dirty, and cheap as opposed to the above? I'd like to be able to take the family out for long weekends and not worry about the reef.

 

[stevestank]

Thanks to both Mikes. It seems the spectrapure is the same sort of system as the blueline product. Where did you get yours?

 

[MJAnderson]

Got mine used from RC.

 

[Thurge]

FYI my Spectrapure lost its ability to maintain its airpressure and ran the 5gal bucket dry. I swaped it for an Autotopoff.com unit I got at one of the Fraswaps and won't go back. It has two floats so that if it gets stuck on, it will hit the second float and turn it off.

 

[MJAnderson]

Thurge,

That's discouraging! How sensitive is the Autotopoff.com unit to changes in water level?

I guess it will always have some risk. I researched before I bought and heard stories of the double floats failing as well. Mine is on a timer for extra protection so it can't do too much damage.

 

[stevestank]

top off

top off

I'll have 5 gallons of kalk for my top-off container. My sump should be able to handle that if the float sticks and emties the entire bucket into the sump. The only danger is... if the top off pressure switch fails at the same time the pump fails. Both the tank water at the overflow and the 5 gallons of kalkwasser solution will dump into my sump. that'll be a bad day.

 

[Thurge]

VERY.
I had to move it to a place in the sump with some surface agitation. Before it was in a spot that the surface didn't ripple at all and it would like half trigger. As the water level droped it was catching the solonoide at the exact trigger point. Now with just a little rippling to the surface it keeps the level pretty much dead on.