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DIY Auto Topup.

raynaz

By raynaz,
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raynaz Newbie

raynaz

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Hi all seniors,

I would like to start one but am not sure how to go about on building it :unsure: . It will be great that a "BOM" (Bill of Materials) to be provided so that I know where to get them....

Just for the record...how much do I need to spent on DIY this gadget?

:bow::bow::bow:

:thanks:

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kelstorm Newbie

kelstorm

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Are you a SAF regular? BOM is term use frequently in SAF. :lol:

Not really lah.. manufacturing industry also use that term :)

Let us work together to preserve the world for our children to inherit by being responsible to our surroundings. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, bubbles and memories.

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nakazoru Newbie

nakazoru

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Hi all seniors,

I would like to start one but am not sure how to go about on building it :unsure: . It will be great that a "BOM" (Bill of Materials) to be provided so that I know where to get them....

Just for the record...how much do I need to spent on DIY this gadget?

:bow::bow::bow:

:thanks:

Depending on you design really.

If you use DI/RO direct from tap, then you need DI/RO unit + a solenoid valve, level switch...

If in a reservoir, a pump, a level switch...

Equipment:

30G Corner Tank with 10G Sump, 2 x 24W artinic T5, 1 x 24W 10K, 1x 24W 20K, 3" Grade 0 sand & Live rocks, Activated Carbon, Bio-home, 2 x Seio M620, Hailea 1/2HP Chiller, Redsea Pro Skimmer

Live Stock:

Turbo Snail x 1, Green Mandarin Dragonet X 2, Blue Tang X 2, True percular x 2, 1 x Algae Bleenie, Clarke clown x 2

Reef:

1 x 2" Blue maxima, Red/Brown/Purple Mushroom (Discosoma), Pink Ricordea yuma, A little colony Brown/Green common Zoanthus, Red/Pink/Green US Zoanthus, Eagle-eye Zoathus, 14 Branch Goniopora Pandoraensis, 1 Starburst Polyps, 3 + 2 Branch Frogspawn, 4 Blasto, palythoa, Cheato

RIPs (Since June 2005):

1. Sabae clown (KO by Clarke clown) 2. 1 branch melted frogspawn 4 branch 3. Golden maxima (Ripe the base off rock by me) 4. Algae Bleenie x 2 (Starvation) 5. Blue Maxima x 1, 2 x Maxima, 1 x frogspawn, rics (Overtemp...)

Old 30G Corner Tank.

Restarted 30G Corner Tank.

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dradttg Newbie

dradttg

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Hi all seniors,

I would like to start one but am not sure how to go about on building it :unsure: . It will be great that a "BOM" (Bill of Materials) to be provided so that I know where to get them....

Just for the record...how much do I need to spent on DIY this gadget?

:bow::bow::bow:

:thanks:

Do a search. The schematic was given a long time ago.

It is quite complicated and the price to DIY cost almost the same as a of the shelf.

Items you will need:

1) 2 float switch

2) Fuse

3) Circuit box

4) etc

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ervine Newbie

ervine

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It is quite complicated and the price to DIY cost almost the same as a of the shelf.

actually a bit cheaper I think.. I DIYed mine for $50 bucks?... I did up a schematic many years back... so far so good.. only problem is sometimes the flaot switch gets clogged up with algae and gets stuck... (that's when the backup comes into play)

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raynaz Newbie

raynaz

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actually a bit cheaper I think.. I DIYed mine for $50 bucks?... I did up a schematic many years back... so far so good.. only problem is sometimes the flaot switch gets clogged up with algae and gets stuck... (that's when the backup comes into play)

Hi Bro,

Care to share your schematic with me :D . I really hope to DIY though. Better pricing is secondary and sense of satisfactory is primary... ;)

Also please share the BOM list and where can I get them?

:thanks:

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kelstorm Newbie

kelstorm

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actually a bit cheaper I think.. I DIYed mine for $50 bucks?... I did up a schematic many years back... so far so good.. only problem is sometimes the flaot switch gets clogged up with algae and gets stuck... (that's when the backup comes into play)

me not a technie, dun understand the schematics.. end up buying Tunze Osmolator.. :P

Let us work together to preserve the world for our children to inherit by being responsible to our surroundings. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, bubbles and memories.

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supremo Newbie

supremo

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hi bro, while i'm trying to dig up the schematic, just want to give you a high level idea of how the thing works.

basically, there are 2 main components:

1. float switch - this is like an ordinary switch but instead of toggling the thing on and off, there is a part which floats in the water, when the water level goes down the float goes down with it, when it reaches a certain point, the switch is turned on. if the water level goes up, the switch is turned off. if's used for water tanks mainly so you should be able to buy this in SLT, basement turn left is coming down the stairs from the main entrance.

2. relay - there are many type of relays, i think the diagram asks for a solid state relay. but no matter what type of relay, the concept is the same. the simplest you'll find would be one with 6 terminals. 2 would be the electronic switch and the other 2 is your normally on and normally off switch. I assume you know what a switch is, that it is used to break a current. there will be 2 circuits involved here. the DC circuit and the AC circuit. The electornic switch terminals are part of the DC circuit. when there is a DC electricity passing through it then the Normally Off switch is turned on. If there is no current, then the Normally Off switch is turned off. So imageine that the float swith is there to turn on/off the DC circuit which would supply electricity to the Electronic Terminal. The Normally Off terminals would then be switched on/off accordingly. Now this Normally Off terminals wil; be the switch of your AC circuit where you could connect your AC Pump.

duh...I know I know, when I was reading it myself it sounds blur :sick: but never mind, i think that's how it should work, if the schematic could be found then it'll probably make more sense.

if it confused you more, I apologize, purge from your memory and hope someone could do a better job :lol:

cheers!

1. Via-Aqua MultiSkimmer - $25.00

2. DIY Kalk Reactor - $25.00

3. Atman Protein Skimmer - $25.00

PM Me if interested.

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bloodlamb Newbie

bloodlamb

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For those not so confident about electricity it might be safer if you go all DC. Then you don't need a relay, just an adapter to supply 12/9V for the DC pump. The circuit is just a simple serial circuit.

The only DC pump I know is the Tunze Osmolator replacement pump (see www.reefdpot.com.sg). Or maybe a pump water using a battery power air pump?

I got a Tunze Osmolator very impressed with it. However I'm planning to diy another one using the above concept for another system of mine.

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raynaz Newbie

raynaz

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For those not so confident about electricity it might be safer if you go all DC. Then you don't need a relay, just an adapter to supply 12/9V for the DC pump. The circuit is just a simple serial circuit.

The only DC pump I know is the Tunze Osmolator replacement pump (see www.reefdpot.com.sg). Or maybe a pump water using a battery power air pump?

I got a Tunze Osmolator very impressed with it. However I'm planning to diy another one using the above concept for another system of mine.

Hi Bro,

If you don't mind, care to share your diy plan with me? I needed one soon as I am planning to go for a break in late nov and the last thing i want to know is water run dry in my sump..... while i am away :o

:thanks:

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nakazoru Newbie

nakazoru

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For those not so confident about electricity it might be safer if you go all DC. Then you don't need a relay, just an adapter to supply 12/9V for the DC pump. The circuit is just a simple serial circuit.

The only DC pump I know is the Tunze Osmolator replacement pump (see www.reefdpot.com.sg). Or maybe a pump water using a battery power air pump?

I got a Tunze Osmolator very impressed with it. However I'm planning to diy another one using the above concept for another system of mine.

How abt this, which will do without a pump...

post-9-1129867534.gif

Equipment:

30G Corner Tank with 10G Sump, 2 x 24W artinic T5, 1 x 24W 10K, 1x 24W 20K, 3" Grade 0 sand & Live rocks, Activated Carbon, Bio-home, 2 x Seio M620, Hailea 1/2HP Chiller, Redsea Pro Skimmer

Live Stock:

Turbo Snail x 1, Green Mandarin Dragonet X 2, Blue Tang X 2, True percular x 2, 1 x Algae Bleenie, Clarke clown x 2

Reef:

1 x 2" Blue maxima, Red/Brown/Purple Mushroom (Discosoma), Pink Ricordea yuma, A little colony Brown/Green common Zoanthus, Red/Pink/Green US Zoanthus, Eagle-eye Zoathus, 14 Branch Goniopora Pandoraensis, 1 Starburst Polyps, 3 + 2 Branch Frogspawn, 4 Blasto, palythoa, Cheato

RIPs (Since June 2005):

1. Sabae clown (KO by Clarke clown) 2. 1 branch melted frogspawn 4 branch 3. Golden maxima (Ripe the base off rock by me) 4. Algae Bleenie x 2 (Starvation) 5. Blue Maxima x 1, 2 x Maxima, 1 x frogspawn, rics (Overtemp...)

Old 30G Corner Tank.

Restarted 30G Corner Tank.

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nakazoru Newbie

nakazoru

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Won't the solenoid valve be exposed to humidity as it needs to be situated at the bottom of the reservoir to act as a gate?

:thanks:

Humidity??? I confused here...

Ya, it is at the bottom of the reservior, pressure will push the water thru when the valve open. Since it is a water valve, it will be stainless steel.

Equipment:

30G Corner Tank with 10G Sump, 2 x 24W artinic T5, 1 x 24W 10K, 1x 24W 20K, 3" Grade 0 sand & Live rocks, Activated Carbon, Bio-home, 2 x Seio M620, Hailea 1/2HP Chiller, Redsea Pro Skimmer

Live Stock:

Turbo Snail x 1, Green Mandarin Dragonet X 2, Blue Tang X 2, True percular x 2, 1 x Algae Bleenie, Clarke clown x 2

Reef:

1 x 2" Blue maxima, Red/Brown/Purple Mushroom (Discosoma), Pink Ricordea yuma, A little colony Brown/Green common Zoanthus, Red/Pink/Green US Zoanthus, Eagle-eye Zoathus, 14 Branch Goniopora Pandoraensis, 1 Starburst Polyps, 3 + 2 Branch Frogspawn, 4 Blasto, palythoa, Cheato

RIPs (Since June 2005):

1. Sabae clown (KO by Clarke clown) 2. 1 branch melted frogspawn 4 branch 3. Golden maxima (Ripe the base off rock by me) 4. Algae Bleenie x 2 (Starvation) 5. Blue Maxima x 1, 2 x Maxima, 1 x frogspawn, rics (Overtemp...)

Old 30G Corner Tank.

Restarted 30G Corner Tank.

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bloodlamb Newbie

bloodlamb

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Hi Bro,

If you don't mind, care to share your diy plan with me? I needed one soon as I am planning to go for a break in late nov and the last thing i want to know is water run dry in my sump..... while i am away :o

:thanks:

I will attach the plans below. This is for the simplest design using the 9/12V Tunze replacement metering pump. Look for the other plans which uses a relay if you want to use an AC pump.

My actual design will probably add another switch to force top up. It is just a very simple series circuit. Two float switch for safety. Just brought two float switchs at Jutech at Basement of sim lim square @ $18 each.

Any knows of other cheap DC pumps around?

post-9-1129888074.ibf

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May&Bruce Newbie

May&Bruce

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Try to enclose the float switch (like in a plastic jar with holes in it) to stop shrimps, snails, long nose hawkfish etc, from climbing onto the switch and starting the top-up pump. That happened to me once and filled the tank right to the top!

Real reefs don't have glass bottoms....(...think about it)

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