Connor February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 what would be a good automatic top off to get. I have a trip coming up and thought that it would be easier for the person taking care of my tank if I got one. Connor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmubeach February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 How long are you going for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesbuf February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 I would get one of these: http://www.autotopoff.com/products.html Spend the extra loot and get the double switch one. If the first float switch sticks or jams, the second one will stop the pump preventing an overflow. And make sure to get the snail guard as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetic1 February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 I would get one of these: http://www.autotopoff.com/products.html Spend the extra loot and get the double switch one. If the first float switch sticks or jams, the second one will stop the pump preventing an overflow. And make sure to get the snail guard as well. How sensitive are float valves? My sump level moves around due to the water flow splashing down there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Reefer February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 How sensitive are float valves? My sump level moves around due to the water flow splashing down there. Mine is pretty sensative. I have a lot of water returning into my sump which causes some up and down. I hear the float valve clicking on and off when it gets close. It stays at the same level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor February 24, 2008 Author Share February 24, 2008 a week over spring break. My whole family is going so im going to get one of my neighbors to feed my fish. But since i just put a new metal halide over my 29 gallon tank theres alot of evaporation and i dont think that my neighbor is going to remember how much water to add. Connor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Reefer February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 Adding a top off was one of the best things I've done to reduce maintanence. You can also dose with it. I'm using mine to dose kalk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerseller February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 Mine is pretty sensative. I have a lot of water returning into my sump which causes some up and down. I hear the float valve clicking on and off when it gets close. It stays at the same level. Cut a piece of big pvc pipe and mount it so it creates a "quiet" area around your float. You run several risks by not having this in place. Don't think it will stop stuff from forming on it, it will increase it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rioreef February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 Cut a piece of big pvc pipe and mount it so it creates a "quiet" area around your float. You run several risks by not having this in place. Don't think it will stop stuff from forming on it, it will increase it. Won't the "quiet" area will still be subject to any water movement (pressure) within that portion of the sump. The surface movement will be negated but it still may be affected by pressure. I have the www.autotopoff.com double setup and it work flawlessly. I add an extra measure of safety and only have it come on for two fifteen minute periods during the day. Regarding sensitivity of this unit: On mine, the floats are in the section of the main return pump. The return line has a oceanmotions diverter on it and as the device switches from on exit port to another. One of the return ports will 'push' water in the main tank towards the overflow (not directly). The result is I can see a slight rise during this time in the overflow chamber and drops slightly when the flow is directly to the opposite side of the tank. This in turn will increase slightly the water ending up in the sump resulting is a slight rise and fall in the return portion of the sump. So, during the fifteen minute periods when the float switch is active and has filled the area, the ever so slight movement of the float because of what I just described will cause the solenoid on the topoff water line (direct RO/DI input) to switch on/off. Not constantly, just for a little while until probably I get above 100% fill in this chamber and the float is no longer affected. Email autotopoff.com and ask them about your concerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxxr February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 (edited) what would be a good automatic top off to get. I have a trip coming up and thought that it would be easier for the person taking care of my tank if I got one. Connor I went with the one stop setup by Tunze. Yes, I could have saved some money, but this includes the pump, dual float switches, and all the tubing you need. After I priced it all out for different options, I decided that all the extra work was worth just getting this: On second thought, I'm not so sure I would do this now. I just looked the unit up. The price has increased significantly since my purchase. I tried putting in a link, but its too long to show up properly. The actual device is called TUNZE Osmolator Universal 3155. I know that BRK has them in stock most of the time. -Karl Edited February 24, 2008 by Boxxr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsarvis February 24, 2008 Share February 24, 2008 Cut a piece of big pvc pipe and mount it so it creates a "quiet" area around your float. You run several risks by not having this in place. Don't think it will stop stuff from forming on it, it will increase it. Chip, can you elaborate on the risks? I've been eyeing getting some sort of auto-top-off float switch thingy, but haven't gotten around to doing it... would like to know as much as possible before getting one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 (edited) I would get one of these: http://www.autotopoff.com/products.html Spend the extra loot and get the double switch one. If the first float switch sticks or jams, the second one will stop the pump preventing an overflow. And make sure to get the snail guard as well. Jamesbuf, Thanks. I've been planning an auto top off and this was the missing link. More to come. I'll post my experience. Edited March 1, 2008 by stevearlen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 (edited) I was going to post this on the Dedicated Tank Forum and call it Edited March 1, 2008 by stevearlen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 (edited) The new Auto Top Off Tank arrives: Movin' the tank: Edited March 1, 2008 by stevearlen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 Too hard to see with the little pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 Too hard to see with the little pictures I get error messgaes when I try to post anything over 100x100.... I get error messgaes when I try to post anything over 100x100.... just discovered this from dhoch: Easiest way is this: 1) Create a gallery a) Click the "My Controls" link at the top towards the right of every forum page b) Click the "Your Albums" link on the left hand side menu on the control panel page c) Click the "Create Album" link d) Fill in form and click button 2) Upload pictures to your gallery a) Click the "Gallery" link at the top of the wamas web pages b) IN the Wamas members gallery subheading list (Tanks, Coral, Clams, Fish, Anemones, Equipment, Hitchhikers) find the most applicable category for you picture and click it c) Click the new image button (towards the top right hand side) d) Give your image a caption (title), some text (main box), and then click the browse button just below the form this will allow you to browse to the picture that you want to add, select and click add, and then click the "Post image button" Repeat this process for any additional pictures you want to upload 3) You shortcut button to add pictures from your gallery to your message a) Start a reply or new message in the forum b) Click the button that looks like this: c) In the popup window that appears will be a list of all the images in your gallery, click the one you want and the code to insert it will be automatically added to your post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 bottom half tank shot with legacy top off in left rear: space for 5.5 gal auto top off to right of sump & in front of H2O alarm built by trust but verify: passed IV&V: Reusing old Eheim tube: Pump, short piece of hose, and tube: Top Off: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 1, 2008 Share March 1, 2008 Home: Installed: Back View: In action: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevearlen March 17, 2008 Share March 17, 2008 What happened to the sense of humor among WAMAS members? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest beatle March 18, 2008 Share March 18, 2008 Haha, great build, Steve. I hope you didn't move that tank yourself. If you ever need a hand, you can always call. I may not show up, but you can still call. On a more serious note, how has that pump fared. I had a tiny Rio pump on topoff duty and I blew it up in a month. I use an Aqualifter now. Cheap and silent. I think this is what they were made for (or water changes on a pico reef). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnguyen4007 March 18, 2008 Share March 18, 2008 Here's a link to an ATO that YBeNormal helped me build. It is still working beautifully without any hitch of whatsoever. http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17244 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite March 18, 2008 Share March 18, 2008 I'm going to have to make one of those simple DIY jug ATOs until I can afford something more high tech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highland Reefer March 18, 2008 Share March 18, 2008 Cut a piece of big pvc pipe and mount it so it creates a "quiet" area around your float. You run several risks by not having this in place. Don't think it will stop stuff from forming on it, it will increase it. I just installed a pvc pipe around mine and it works great. Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wreck March 18, 2008 Share March 18, 2008 I just installed an ATO from autotopoff.com and it works great. I got the dual float model with snail guards for $50. Wreck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveD March 18, 2008 Share March 18, 2008 (edited) When's the tank tour? Edited March 18, 2008 by SteveD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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