Auto top off

[Anonymous]

Who has auto top off?


You can talk about it if you want, but I'm just wondering how many of us here have or don't have auto top off of some kind.

 

[Anonymous]

My tank loses 4 gallons per day, so of course I have an auto-top off.

 

[pwj1286]

By auto top off...can you consider a kalkwasser drip system a top off, if I put in 1 gallon a day? Nothing fancy.
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definition of a recession

 

[Anonymous]

Auto here. Makes reefing so much less of a chore.

 

[Anonymous]

Auto is smooth sailing... UNLESS THE STUPID FLOAT SWITCH STICKS *&#*(&^*&^$*!!!!!! But I like it.

 

[Len]

wow, i'm surprised there's no "no" votes My top off is semi-automatic. I use a LM3 dosing pump, but it draws from a resevoir that I have manually fill.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a similar setup to Len. I fill a 15G reservior that a LiterMeter III feeds from and goes to a Kalk reactor to my sump.
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Ferrari 360 GTC

 

[fyrefysh]

I voted "yes" 'cause I automatically do it myself when the water is below desired level.

 

[Anonymous]

I voted "yes" 'cause I automatically do it myself when the water is below desired level.

:lol:

I usually do it in the morning when I'm half asleep, so it feels automatic.


Can anyone suggest a cheap set up for me that won't be visible outside the stand? My tank is in my living room and I can't put a container outside of the stand. Anyone have an auto that works under their stand above the sump?

 

[fyrefysh]

I would suggest one with two sensors, this way it will be more fail safe if one freezes up. I wonder if you could run a few in a series? I don't know, I've always been to scared to try one, but if I ever do, my utility room is right on the other side of the wall along with my RO unit.

 

[Anonymous]

autotopoff.com sells a nice two switch unit.

 

[fyrefysh]

Which one do you use Righty?

 

[Rob Top]

this design
http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/diagram_of_setup.htm

These parts
http://www.autotopoff.com/

 

[Anonymous]

Your poll is flawed


So I didn't answer it.


I have a 20 gallon that has an auto top off which then is used to auto top off my sump...

 

[cjsrch]

yes.. autotopoff.com altho im a safty freek so i use 2 single switch systems instead of 1 dual switch


dual switches still contail one relay and if hte relay sticks your screwed.. but hasnt happend yet

altho i do recomend a pressure storage tank if you hook directly to a ro unit to prevent rapin on of cycling that causes a loud vibrating noise in the solonoid .


very sensitive switch so the slow driping of an ro usualy put s the switch in the middle of on off. pressure system adds slightly to much water so its dosnt do this

 

[FragMaster]

Manny:
Buy one of these off of ebay for $5.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/LIQUID-LEVEL-FLOAT- ... dZViewItem





Then go to home depot and buy a 1 inch pvc pipe cap (Ithink it is a 1 inch cap? LOL!) or us a large pill bottle to use for a snail gaurd like this or this:




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DO not use anything larger than a maxi jet 1200 with it.
I have never had a float stick on me due to snails!
Youhave toclean the slide poll the float sits on once every two weeks though to make sure it is free'd up or you'll have a flood headed your way in your future!

 

[Anonymous]

I feel like a guy who has been running a good tank for a few years and just figured out what a skimmer is. :lol:

You all use auto to off and I schlep water in a large pitcher to my sump every day.

[determination] I must have auto top off :x [/determination]


Thanks all.

 

[FragMaster]

Ahhh.. do things at your own pace and in what way works best for you.
The only reason I do it is because I own my own business, sell coral on the side,and I am constanlty on the go to and fromt he airport as well as shipping companies, and new customers for my full time business LOL! If not then I wouldnt have problem filling it everyday.
The main factor in doing this is convienience yes, but it also makes your tank a lot more stable.

 

[Anonymous]

I feel like a guy who has been running a good tank for a few years and just figured out what a skimmer is. :lol:

You all use auto to off and I schlep water in a large pitcher to my sump every day.

[determination] I must have auto top off :x [/determination]


Thanks all.

If you are using tap water, or if you are using RO/DI from one of those pressurized canisters for drinking water and you can run a line to your sump there are even easier options out there....

 

[Anonymous]

I feel like a guy who has been running a good tank for a few years and just figured out what a skimmer is. :lol:

You all use auto to off and I schlep water in a large pitcher to my sump every day.

[determination] I must have auto top off :x [/determination]


Thanks all.

If you are using tap water, or if you are using RO/DI from one of those pressurized canisters for drinking water and you can run a line to your sump there are even easier options out there....

I have the RO unit with canister under my kitchen sink. Can't run a line accross my living room.

I think I might just clear out the cabinet under the tank, put in a 5 gallon water coller jug, pop in a very small pump, wire it to the float switch, and run the line directly into the sump. Even if the float switch failed, it would only dump a max of a gallon or two on the floor because the sump would absorb the first couple of gallons before water even started to spill. Also, if it failed the other way, my wife would notice beacause when the pump starts sucking air it makes a terrible noise you can hear all over my apartment.

I think this is doable with a minimum of effort on my part.


More importantly, this means I can set up a tank at work, since the only thing stopping me was that a gravity feed auto top off would be impossible to set up on my desk properly. I didn't even know float switches that small existed. :lol: