Float switch experiences?

[kevindub]

Do float switches fail as often as I hear people complain about? I am thinking about setting up a float switch for my top off system. However I can't afford a flood on to my carpet. Is it a real concern? Is there anything I can do to prevent a float switch from malfunctioning?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I have been using the same float switch for top off water since 2001 and it has never failed or stuck on. I can see the potential there though.

Some people will have a second float switch that is up high, and they have it set up so that if your sump keeps getting topped off and the water level rises too much, the second float switch will connect and is set up to turn off the power to the top off pump.

Does anyone here have something like that? I know those set ups exist.

 

[Anonymous]

Laura,

Here is a pic from www.autotopoff.com of the set up you are talking about:

I love them. I have one for my auto top off, and have just added one to water change fill pump just in case I forget to turn it off. I used to build float switch systems myself, but now that autotopoff.com is on the scene, I find it more cost effective to buy them.




kevindub,
There is a difference between float valves and float switches, and IME float valves are more likely to fail. I only use them in rodi holding tanks, never in the reef tank or sump itself. There have been reports of float switches sticking, but a snail guard and a yearly or bi yearly vinegar soaking, I haven't experienced any problems. That

 

[Anonymous]

I have the Ultralife Float switch. I have to clean it every so often to make sure it doesn;t stick. I use it as the high water switch. My topoff is a fed my a LitreMeter III that the dosage matches the evaporation rate.

 

[EVO]

I've had a floater switch for more than a year... never fails but the only issue was the suction cup mounting has come off a few times. It did not result in a flood as I have it switching a small pump that draws water from a bucket to the side... I would worry if it was hooked up to a water supply. On the other hand it has done great things for the inverts as the salinity is maintained constantly.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a dual float switch arrangement. Got mine from oceanus systems. Instead of a pump mine runs a solenoid valve and I gravity feed the top off water.

 

[spaulr]

I got the same one laura posted from autotopoff. it works great and its hard to beat the price.

 

[Anonymous]

I've had a floater switch for more than a year... never fails but the only issue was the suction cup mounting has come off a few times. It did not result in a flood as I have it switching a small pump that draws water from a bucket to the side... I would worry if it was hooked up to a water supply. On the other hand it has done great things for the inverts as the salinity is maintained constantly.

I would never use a suction cup to hold up anything important in an aquarium. They are way more prone to fail than almost anything else in the hobby!

 

[bleedingthought]

I've had a floater switch for more than a year... never fails but the only issue was the suction cup mounting has come off a few times. It did not result in a flood as I have it switching a small pump that draws water from a bucket to the side... I would worry if it was hooked up to a water supply. On the other hand it has done great things for the inverts as the salinity is maintained constantly.

I would never use a suction cup to hold up anything important in an aquarium. They are way more prone to fail than almost anything else in the hobby!

I agree with "Laura".

 

[spaulr]

Work is interfering with my posting :lol: . I have the setup in the picture posted by Thales.

And I totally agree with Thales. It's worth a few more dollars to get a clean and no-nonsense setup now than a new floor, furniture, and corals later!!

 

[ChrisRD]

Just make sure your skimmer can't dump water out of the system if it overflows. I've known a few people (and heard of quite a few more) who have nuked their system when a large external skimmer freaked and dumped lots of water out of the system and the float switch topoff system just kept a toppin! :wink:

A major drop in salinity (freshwater topoff) or large pH spike (kalkwasser topoff) is the potential result in that scenario...

 

[Anonymous]

Good point Chris! I have a float switch on my skimmers external collection container. The most that the skimmer can skim out if it goes nuts is 5 gallons.

 

[trido]

Good point Chris! I have a float switch on my skimmers external collection container. The most that the skimmer can skim out if it goes nuts is 5 gallons.

Ditto.. I also have a dual top off float switch and similar skimmer shut off system. I only bought the double float switch after the single solenoid model I had caused me grief too many times. Come to think of it.... It is stuck causing problems in the 30G right now. I have my Kalk as 100% top off with this system. If it werent for the skimmer over flow fail safe I probably would have an empty tank right now.