what are you using for auto top off.

[killingseed]

i am looking at differnt ways to do the auto top off of evap. so i thought i ask all you locals and see what way you are doing it.

i have looked at the following way
1. controls for it, some are not bad in pricing
2. floats cheep easy way out.
3. ro switch/controls seems insteresting and not price off the wall
4. dosing controls can seem high price for evap top off unless dosing kalk or somthing i guess


which way are you doing it if you are? what do you think about the ways i have listed .

thanks for you input

[killingseed]

just to let you all know i am thinking about the float way or using the ro switch on a gravity fed system.

right now i have 10gl i fill once a week and use a air line and air valve to drop the water down , but it wall that good , could use some upgrading for better control over the water entering the sump

[killingseed]

i was thinking about using one of these setup if anyone has any info or help on the subjet comments are welcome.

http://www.c-horsesystems.com/clevel.htm

http://www.aquariumwaterfilters.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=25&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=6

http://www.fishbowl-innovations.com/product/solenoid

[hEcToR1520]

i go to the chinese people with the water store on george dieter by the big 8 and haul my two 5 gallon jugs twice a month back home

[jmait769]

OK Well I know you have seen my setup a few times but I really like the <a href="http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_dosing_pumps_top_off_tunze_osmolator.asp?CartId="target="_blank"> Tunze Osmolator</a>. I have mine feeding a Kalk reactor from <a href="http://www.reeftek.com/Nilsen_Reactor.htm"target="_blank"> ReefTek</a>. I have made a reservoir that holds a little more than 5 gallons of RO/DI water. I fill this via gravity from a 15 gallon tank that my RO/DI filter feeds about every three or four days.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n172/jmait769/TopOffTank.jpg

The Tunze uses an optical eye and only adds about a half a cup at a time. It uses a float switch as a back-up and also has an audible alarm if that switch is activated. The pump is 12v and shuts itself off if it runs dry in the tank. So far this is the best piece of equipment I have bought after the AC Jr. I’ve had this running for three months now and no problems.

Of the three you listed I like the third one for the price and simplicity. I’m using those float switches on my return pump to shut it down if the water level rises to high in the tank or to low in the sump. They work great. Automating the daily top-off ritual will really make your life a lot easier and the tank is more stable.

Jay

[Biggie]

Only toruble with the float switches is they build up calcium and stick then your prone to a flood of epic proportions.
Best to run them in series wired together to have a fail safe. Im researching the best way to do the same thing except on a 500 gal system.
Looking at various solutions. I might just go with a dosing pump hooked to a float switch and be done with it. That way I can also put it on a timer so I have 3 variables to overcome to prevent flooding.
Id feel safer knowing I had some battery backup to the system as well incase a prolonged power outage occured in my absence. No longer a Florida specific problem I hear!
Also, you can fine tune this way with the float switch so your consistent on levels verse the dosing pump alone just randomly pumping away a set amount at a set time regardless of the evap rate.
Ill be watching for other ingenuity on this topic for ideas as well.:D

[killingseed]

jmait769

I fill this via gravity from a 15 gallon tank that my RO/DI filter feeds about every three or four days.


is this part automated?

ya i like the Tunze Osmolator specs but i dont think i'll get that price by the wife.

well after emailing them i found out that the ro swtich doesnt work unless there is presure behide the switch. i dont want to hook the ro unit to the tank like that.

[jmait769]

killingseed - I’m using a 15 gallon tank I got from USPlastic that is hooked up to the RO/DI unit. This is not completed yet. I plan on using a float switch with a solenoid and a Kent valve for backup to turn on/off the RO/DI unit.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n172/jmait769/15Tank.jpg

Like you I do not trust having a line tied into the sump from the RO/DI. I just siphon water from the blue tank into the tank in front of the sump.

Jay

[killingseed]

is that a shut off switch on the ro unit?
if so does it shut off the waste and clean water at the same time?
one of those other things i am looking in to.

i am filling a 32 gl trash can on wheels with my ro and then wheel it over to the reserve water tank or add to sump if needed. but have flooded a room not paying attention. grrrr

[jmait769]

Yes that is the auto shut-off switch for the RO/DI unit which does shut everything off.

I’m basically using jdieck’s idea on using two float switches.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/18470floats2.jpg

One to activate the RO/DI when it gets low and one to stop the RO water when it gets high. The switch will activate a solenoid like this http://www.autotopoff.com/products/S/thumbnails/S02_JPG.jpg and allow the water to flow thru the Kent valve. The Kent valve will act as a “last resort” mechanical means of shutting off the RO/DI if the float switches/solenoid should fail.

My plan is to run a line like the yellow one in jdieck’s picture over to the 5 gallon holding tank and just use a valve to fill it when needed.

I wanted to use a 55 gallon drum but it will not fit in the space I have!

Jay

[Salty Sam]

Jay, you are awesome dude!

[killingseed]

ok. is there a thread where jdieck talks about it? and where the specs of for that? i'm doing some searching but if you have a link for the thread it might help he, so i dont have to pm jdieck

[killingseed]

just thought i share the info i got from jdieck’s after emailing him.
thanks again jdieck.

Hi John:

May be this thread can help you, The float switches I got from Premium Aquatics, the electronic parts including adapter and relay from Radioshack, The solenoid valve from mcmaster.com and the float valve you can get from your RO/DI supplier.

Since the drawing I repaced the auto switch with a non retentive push button. The difference is that with the switch in manual the water level always stay at the high float switch level, with the non retentive switch when the button is pushed the tank start filling even if the water has not reached the bottom float but when it reaches the top level switch it will reset and nor refill until the water reaches the bottom float.
By the way, although it does for a nice DIY projet for a float with all the features of the most expensive units and can handle a pump or a solenoid up to 10 Amps I really did not saved much money over commercial units you can get for about $90.00

Regarding the RO/DI is you have a reservoir tank you want auto filled you can only use the float valve only (usually they do not fail in clean water) but if your RO/DI do not have an ASOV (Auto Shut Off Valve) you may need to get one so when the float closes the back pressure on the product line actuates the ASOV which shuts off the waste.

[killingseed]

one more missing part of the msg.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=977249&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

[jmait769]

Thanks Sam but really the credit should go to RC as there is so much info here that you just have to weed thru it!

Killingseed – try the following thread for some input from jdieck:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=977249

He really likes to help other Reefers so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a PM. I think he wrote in a thread that he needed to start a DIY thread on his auto top-off so I don’t think there is one. I have learned a lot from him and he has an awesome website where you can even check the parameters of his tank. Here is his website:

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/index.html

HTH

Jay

[jmait769]

Oops I was a little slow. That is great information!

Jay

[killingseed]

i need some more time to read some more of this stuff, but i think i will work on the ro unit first and solve some problems i am having there , i am going to order this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14690&N=2004+113776

if anything it will start me in a good direction and stop the flooding that i have been having.

[killingseed]

got that kit in, Pure-flo II from coralife, beleave i have it setup need to finish filling the container up to the float so can test it shutting off and checking for leaks.seems to still leak from the hose connected to the float. i may have to just remove and reconect.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/autoshutoffkit.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/floatinbucket.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/ro.jpg

[Salty Sam]

Looking good Killingseed.

[killingseed]

anyone know if that auto shut off value for the RO unit , should it be shutting off the weaste line as well?
i filled it to the brim and it didnt seem to shut off the weaste. seems i have a couple more leaks as well i need to work on.

also i didnt use the check value that came with it, you can see it in my first image. 90o elbo check value. however, i did buy a john guess (or what ever) check value for like 8 or 9 dallors. i used that one much easy i order it knowing the autocheck value was needed and didnt know that it came with one. didnt think it matter whcih one i used and didnt want to remove the elbo from the membrain. the john guess is very easy to work with , slide it in and give a slight tug. you can see it in my third image in the middle of the blue line.

[killingseed]

well just just to share, i just ordered this kit for my top off solution. hope it works out well anything got to be better the the air drip line i have now.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/product27.html

and after having some time to play with the float kit for my ro unit, i planning on order a ro switch to shut the main feed to the ro unit, but the for the next project. how ever i did add a "T" and a couple ball values to the RO so i can dispense drinking water from the ro water line.

[killingseed]

ok here are some pics of my auto top off kit from aquahub

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/P1010291.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/P1010293.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n238/killingseed/P1010294.jpg