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  #1  
Old 04/11/2005, 08:59 AM
"F" is 4 Fish "F" is 4 Fish is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: minneapolis, mn
Posts: 159
auto top off

where can i find cheap auto top off systems?
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DUDE! Where's my Tank!?
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  #2  
Old 04/11/2005, 09:33 AM
lawdog lawdog is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Rootstown, Ohio
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This is what I did. Get a ten gallon tank or a 5 gallon bucket for that matter or anyother suitable holding container. Buy a mini jet pump either the 400 or 600 model works either one costs around $12 bucks, and then buy a nice plastic float switch from floatswitches.net each is six bucks. Splice the float switch in line with the pump lead wire fillup holding tank drop pump with a tube attached to pump the water into tank/sump and put float switch in tank/sump and set at the correct level so it just floats.

Works like a charm, going strong for the last year with no issues. 10 gallons will last for 5 days on my tank. easy and cheap.
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  #3  
Old 04/11/2005, 10:26 AM
"F" is 4 Fish "F" is 4 Fish is offline
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Location: minneapolis, mn
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the problem is i dont know much about wiring thing so i didnt want to try it out. might just waste my time and money. can you or anyone draw a diagram for me to look at to sort of get a general idea of the wiring.
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DUDE! Where's my Tank!?
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  #4  
Old 04/11/2005, 11:01 AM
Jagermeister Jagermeister is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 841
If you're worried about wiring, this is basically what lawdog made but it's already built for you.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=UL1111
  #5  
Old 04/11/2005, 11:01 AM
Randall_James Randall_James is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,619
I got this timer from HomeDepot ($19 Intermatic DT17 7Day Digital Programmable) and I set it up to run 1 minute per hour during the night pumping in a kalwasser mix. I hooked it to one of the "Toms" water pumps ($14 at LFS) and has worked like a charm. Just adjust the minutes to compensate for amount needed.

I just started using a 2 liter bottle so that I could not overflow the thank. I have 3 float switches but decided to try and make this work without them (simplicity). I now have 3 float switches I do not need.

EDIT: I already know how much my tank evaporates each day. I top off with Kalwasser at night to keep PH up. With my jug a ways from the tank, it only adds about 2ounces per minute.

I am going to get a second timer to top off during day with straight RO/DI to keep level just a bit more stable. Guess this is my twin dosing system
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Last edited by Randall_James; 04/11/2005 at 11:13 AM.
  #6  
Old 04/11/2005, 03:02 PM
dannieboiz dannieboiz is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NorCal
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what are you doing with those float switches? Wanna send me one ? FOr a fee of course.
  #7  
Old 04/11/2005, 03:05 PM
Randall_James Randall_James is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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sure, they came from floatswitches.net what ever he charged and postage. Priority is 3.95 and media mail maybe half that?
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