What are you guys doing for auto top-offs?

[Nocturnal]

I did a couple searches and have read what some people have done.
Do any of you have pics of the set up?
I am getting sick of filling the tank up every day. I was checking out the Tunze unit and that looks really nice. I may spring for that, but wanted to see what others have done.
Any reliability issues with what you have done?
Chances of overflow?

 

[NateHanson]

In my setup (no longer running), I finally settled on a gravity reservoir through a kalk reactor. I used a float valve in the sump to activate it, and an inline valve to reduce flow to a slow trickle. That way if the float valve stuck open, it would take weeks for my sump to overflow.

Whatever you do, I think it's important to have both a level-sensing component (float valve, switch, or photoelectric eye) AND a volume- or time-limiting component (such as a timer and solenoid valve, or a ball-valve).

The first is necessary for exactly tuning top-off to the evap rate under varying conditions, and the second is necessary to keep the first from overfilling if there is a leak in the saltwater plumbing, or an overflow from a blocked drain or something.

Nate

 

[MikeG]

do you have a basement sump or does it need to fit under the stand?

I have the same thing Nate did although without the ball valve. I will probably add one after the suggestion. I have a 24 gallon rubbermaid on top of a 2x4 frame to elevate it above the sump that empties into a 100 gallon rubbermaid sump through a kent float valve. I also have a float in the top off container that I can connect directly to my RO/DI to refill the container. This way I only turn it on when it needs to be filled and avoid the RO/DI constantly turning on and off.

 

[Nocturnal]

Thanks Nate. That is main reason I was looking into the Tunze unit. Looks like it has just about all of those features.

Mike, I do not have a basement sump. I will be putting a reservoir next to the stand with a pump in the reservoir (at least that's what I'm thinking of doing). Sump is in the stand so I do not think I can do gravity feeds

 

[MichaelJ]

I have the Tunze Unit.... very nice.... comes with alarm (that's saved me twice) .... well worth the money... no question about it.

Michael

 

[Avalanche1201]

I use a DIY kit from www.aquahub.com comes w/ two float valves and a snail gaurd (in case its in display a snail cant trigger the float switch) and a back up in case the main valve gets stuck on the back up float switch triggers the unit off.

I have a 5gal bucket below my desk pumping water up into the back of my AP 24...it goes through 6' of tubing so by the time it gets to the tank theres isn't a lot of water pressure so it doesn't splash all over

some bad pics of it can be seen here: http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=124983&view=findpost&p=1380566

 

[Mad Cow]

I use a JBJ ATO and an Aqualifter. Never had an issue.

 

[cknapp21]

I bought mine from here for $50. http://www.autotopoff.com/products/DS1/index.htm
I keep the RODI water in a 5 gal bucket (my reservoir) with a small pump in it and attached the hose to my sump so it feeds directly into it. This has saved me a lot of time...and the bucket makes sure if something did happen the most water I'd ever add was 5 gallons into a total volume of 130 gallons. I have to refill/swap my bucket out about every 3 days.

 

[Andy O]

Tunze -- I have had it for close to 2 years and been very happy with it.

 

[chew*]

ultralife float switch and aqualifter, My other tank had a plunger style float ( like a toilet ) gravity fed, neither have ever had an issue.....

 

[Sherri]

same as chew -- aqualifter ($20) float switch (cheap) tubing, 5 gallon bucket no complaints.

 

[NateHanson]

I wanted to automate mine as much as possible, to eliminate lugging 5g buckets around, and cut out another tank chore, so I had my 30g topoff reservoir fed by the RODI, just like MikeG.

 

[Reef55]

Tunze here... mine saved me last week.... I was floating a bag in my sump, and it moved over to the pump intake plumbing and plugged it up. My sump began to fill up, and when the water level rose to the backup float switch on the Tunze, an audio alarm sounded. I got to the tank in time before the sump overflowed.

 

[NateHanson]

Mark, is your sump not big enough to absorb the water in the plumbing if the return pump stops or is shut off? How do you shut off your return?

 

[Greg Hiller]

I use the air pressure activated level sensors (Championlighting) with a peristaltic pump to deliver kalkwasser. I have these on nearly every tank I have. I've never had one of the level sensors fail (some in operation for >9 years), and they are impervious to calcium build up, or encrusting critters. They run about $50-60 each.

There's a pretty good thread here from a while back on this topic as well:

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9095&highlight=timer

 

[Reef55]

Mark, is your sump not big enough to absorb the water in the plumbing if the return pump stops or is shut off? How do you shut off your return?

ehh Originally I had enough room... but after adding a RDSB and putting a phosban reactor in the sump, I no longer have enough room to handle all of the water that will drain into the sump when the return pump stops. However, if I am home to manually break the siphon earlier than the built-in siphon break, then I'm fine. Not ideal for certain

 

[JayM]

Worst case is Lance will get a saltwater puddle to play in

 

[Jennifer]

I have a complete diy setup with 3 float switches from aquahub.com. been in operation 6 mo now works great. Pics if needed

 

[jovreef]

I am going to be setting up a battery powered air pump top off this weekend

 

[this is me]

Tunze Osmolator for over 3 years. Can't live without it.