water level and temp

[TotalKhaos]

I guess I'm going to need an auto top off system - the tank loses enough water in just 24 hours that if I do not top off every morning My return starts trying to suck air. ANy recommondations for a cheap and easy top off system?

My real problem is temp. The temp in my house is always between 68 to 70 degrees, I run a large fan in the canopy to keep the MH's as cool as possible. The back of the canopy is open. But I constantly have to open the canopy and stand up, drop a bag of ice in the sump or some other quick fix to keep the temp down.

This morning the tanks temp was 82.3!! I am aiming for 78! Any thoughts? My 90g was never difficult to keep cool.

thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[pepe.king.prawn]

that seems odd that your tank temp was that high in the morning. Check your heaters to make sure they're working properly. A lot of people have problems with mag drive pumps heating up their water, but I run one on my 125g and have had none of the such. For topoffs, consider a float valve if you're on a budget, or a float switch connectde to a dosing pump if you want to add kalk, or a powerhead if you want to just add DI topoff. I even met one guy that had an ultrasonic sensor to detect when the water level in the sump was low!

 

[TotalKhaos]

doh, I just checked my heater and it was ON! I have it set at 78 but the tank temp is 82 and it was still heating!

I have a spare heater that I will use instead - Hopefully that solves the problem. Frustrating - the heater was new, I didnt even think about it not functioning properly.

Float valve eh? Ok Thanks, I'll check into that.

 

[Reefugee]

TK -

if you use float valve, make sure you build-in some safety shutoff system. You can build one yourself for pretty cheap. I think float valves are around $5-$6. You can get the relay, project box, etc from Rat Shack (aka Radio Shack). THe whole project shouldn't cost more than $30. I love my auto topoff system! I hate manually topping off my tank, and don't know why it took me so long to get my arse in gear to build one.

If you really don't want to build one, talk to Rich. He has built some really nice pressure sensored auto topoff system. Defintely worth looking at.

Minh

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I use an Aqua Lifter pump and a float valve for my system and it works great. The setup that Rich was putting together with an Aqua Lifter would work great also. I really like the aqua lifter as it will pump both air and water (no possibility of burn out). Also I have used one for pumping Kalkwasser with no problems also. I just run vinegar through it about once ever three or four months. It is also very inexpensive (about $12 a Marine Depot.)

Here are the links to the items that I use on Marine Depot's site.
Tom Aquatics Aqua Lifterââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬ÂDosing Pump
Inexpensive Float Switch

-- EDIT --

I have to agree with Minh that some sort of safety device is very important. On my auto top off I only use a 5 gallon tank to store the top off water for a 120 gallon system. In this way even if the switch should stick on I will only put at most 5 gallons of additional RO/DI water into the tank. This would not overflow the sump nor would it have that much of a negative impact on the specific gravity of the tank. I also check the float valve each time if fill the top off tank. Automating routine chores and setting a tank up for greater stability is really great, but it doesnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t eliminate the need for routine maintenance.

 

[Wee-Reef Master]

Hey TK,

Talk to Rich. He seems to have it wired and also builds these really cool pressure sensor controlled systems. Good luck!

 

[Justin74]

Great tips everyone Although I am sooo where you use to be Minh.Sitting on my procrastinating arse big time :rolleye1:

-Justin

 

[TotalKhaos]

I know I will procrastinate about the auto top off for at least 2 weeks before I DO anything. With that in mind, I SHOULD talk to Rich.

 

[robertloop]

Glad to hear your heater is toasting up things... BTW... 83 F is not bad. My tank gets to 84~85 often in the summer. You would be suprised to see what the temps get to in the wild.