Advice on DIY water top up

[yongshun]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of doing a DIY water top up. Will be using the following:

1) 1 empty glass tank / container to put beside sump for distilled water

2) 1 atman super low flow pump

3) hose

4) check valve

The empty glass tank will be placed inside my cabinet, beside the sump. The distilled water will be pumped into the sump continuously from the empty glass tank, using the check valve to regulate the flow rate. Logically it seems to be able to work, but ne comments or potential problems?

I'm thinkin of doing this instead of using ATO...cheaper alternative

[m12345y]

while DIY is fun and sometimes cheap, think of reliability

[tunicate]

Just 1 question:

How will you stop the pump when there is sufficient water in the sump?

[tagie_tag]

Just 1 question:

How will you stop the pump when there is sufficient water in the sump?

ya. where u put ur device ? i interested oso. hope to c more on ur diy. top up

[Harlequinmania]

You can just use a simple float valve with a top up tank for the job. Madpetz is selling those as well ;

[yongshun]

while DIY is fun and sometimes cheap, think of reliability

haha tats y until now i haven do yet...

Just 1 question:

How will you stop the pump when there is sufficient water in the sump?

the flow rate is gonna be super low, controlled by a check valve...as water is evaporating at all times, the distilled water will be so slow that when sump water evaporates, the distilled water will flow in about juz in time to replace the evaporated water...muz trial and error for a while to gauge the flow of distilled water required...

ya. where u put ur device ? i interested oso. hope to c more on ur diy. top up

going to put inside my cabinet bside my sump...

[yongshun]

You can just use a simple float valve with a top up tank for the job. Madpetz is selling those as well

thks bro, will go check out...maybe its easier in this way

[ryanlio]

I Also had some plans in mind. But diff from yours. My control will b a toilet bowl type float valve as they are easily bought from hardware store. It will stop flow when water level is reached. Also will put a small flow pump, eheim 300 on timer for 10 mins, timing duration should b enough to topup any loss.

[Morpheous]

I diy 2 types before.

1st setup is the float valve (Toilet bowl style with ball), however the water container is on the sump.

Current is float switch connected to a pump and a relay. If u are interested, I can share with u the schemetics.

[nino]

maybe you can raise the level of the topup tank and add at toilet float valve

[Guest]

maybe you can raise the level of the topup tank and add at toilet float valve

For this method, there might be a risk of the valve getting choke and filling up the sump full too fast with the top up water. This can be disastrous if the salinity of the tank drop too fast , corals and fish might die.

[vinccc2009]

I am currently using

http://www.fish-street.com/image_show.php?item_id=463&type=super&vc=59ed4f18a1a594cc7e24c858949fbffb

[nino]

For this method, there might be a risk of the valve getting choke and filling up the sump full too fast with the top up water. This can be disastrous if the salinity of the tank drop too fast , corals and fish might die.

Add a ball valve to only allow water to drip slowly(maybe 1 drop per sec) and when sump tank had reach the level the float valve will stop the drip.

[nino]

Sorry forget to attact the picture

[Jameshong]

Sorry forget to attact the picture

Hi bro,

IMHO, most reefer's tank cabinet(sump area) do not have much height allowance for this type of setup unless the topup tank is placed outside the cabinet which is unsightly lor !

[Guest]

Sorry forget to attact the picture

Yes good idea

[finind]

You can just use a simple float valve with a top up tank for the job. Madpetz is selling those as well ;

how to use this?