Anyone running an auto water changer?

[Chad]

So it drives the SO bonkers for me to mix water, have a couple 5 gallon buckets of water sit on the floor near the tank for a couple days, get my stuff out, do the deed, put everything away and repeat next week...

 

As a result, I have been thinking about coughing up the dough for all three parts of a litermeter 3 (ironic name?) to do the water change and I go to weekly or biweekly salt mixing instead of the current process.

 

Anyone have the system (or a similar one), and have gripes, comments, praises or recommendations?

[Origami]

I think that Justin (ctenophore) does continuous/frequent-small automated water changes using some peristaltic pumps that he bought as part of a group buy that I ran a year or so ago.

[Chad]

Thanks Tom, I think I'll throw him a PM.

[scott711]

I do automatic water changes every night. I have a 55 gallon drum that has premixed SW in it. Each night I have a pump pump water from the sump into my laundry basin and then the pump in the drum pumps the SW back into the sump. The SW in the drum last almost a month (water change is ~2 gallons daily)

[Chad]

Scott, what equipment do you use? Do you have an ATO as well? What do you use to automate it? How long have you used it for and do you have to take action to ensure your salinity is stable in the long term?

 

Sorry for the barrage of questions, thanks!!

 

 

[scott711]

No worries. It is all done using my controller (an apex in my case, but most will do it). I do have an ATO, but when the water change is happening it is programmed to turn off. I have one mag pump in my sump that turns on for 1 minute a night. After it turns off, the pump in my drum turns on (another mag pump) for one minute. I had to play with it a little in the beginning to make sure of each pump pumped the same amount of water. ~ once a month I fill the drum with RO/DI water put salt in it and let it mix for a day or so. Real easy. I have done this for almost a year and have not had any issues. Hope that helps.

[Chad]

It does, Scott, thank you!

[ctenophore]

Didn't see this thread when I replied to the PM, so I'll post my response for all:

 

Hey Chad,

 

I use a CP masterflex dual head dosing pump, back from the group buy we did on ebay. One tube moves water from the sump to the drain, the other moves from SW reservoir to sump. It is synchronous, so no salinity changes. It runs 30mL/min which works out to about 350 gal/month. Of course I haven't run it in 2 months as I am low on salt and need to get more

 

It is very easy to use, just turn it on and forget, at least until the reservoir is empty.

 

Justin

[Chad]

Thanks for the response, Justin!!

 

Hey another question, but with the pressure switches that you are using, can you get them in a NO switch? I would think that the WC could be done based on a high and low switch (or an NC and NO switch run once a day), a couple of pumps and a controller like Scott does...

 

Man, right now I am wishing that I had already invested in the controller that has been on my list of things to buy since I first looked into the aquadyne octopus...

 

Do you all think that I should go for a standalone system like the Litermeter/Profilux or go with a controller and all of the parts that are associated with that? At the moment, a controller adds functions that I am sure I would use and enjoy, but nothing that makes maintaining my system (or making the SO happy) simpler.

[ctenophore]

The first few we made had a selector for NC/NO, but we dropped that due to complexity as we want to keep the cost down. I may have a few of those left if you're interested. Alternatively, I can just make one for you that is NO.

 

However, I do like the simplicity of my dual head pump system. Only one motor to fail, and if it does, both directions of water flow stop so less risk of flooding or running dry. That pump costs $1600 new, but we found them on ebay for $135. If you can get equally lucky, that would be the way to go.

 

The high/lo NC & NO switches will work too, but since they will cause the sump level to oscillate while active, a timer is best as you said. They have about a 3/8" sensitivity so when the timer shuts off the system you will have +/- 3/8" water level for your ATO to either replace or let evaporate down. Not a big deal either way, and statistically will average out over time. IMO the automation of continuous clean water is worth a tiny salinity change.

[extreme_tooth_decay]

I remember Dan (dandy7200) was doing them a while back. Not sure if he is doing them with his new tank, but you might send him a PM. He had a nice system, but I think he was using a floor drain which could be an issue if you don't have one.

[Chad]

Justin, thank you very much for the offer, but let me get back to you on that... I need to decide how I want to make it happen. If I go with a readymade setup like litermeter (still highest on my list because of all their stellar reviews), I wont need it, but otherwise I will surely take you up on that offer.

 

tooth, thanks for the lead, I will send him a PM. I do have easy access to a floor drain, my tank is on the other side of the wall from my mechanical room which has a drain that leads to the main grey water line... Layout-wise, I am good, I just need to figure out what to use to drive the system.

 

Hmmm, maybe I'll write up my thoughts and up it up for a vote.

 

 

[Chad]

Well, I decided against the vote. As I was doing my writeup for a vote, I came to the conclusion that a purpose-built auto water changer will always have a use on one of my tanks, so that is what I am going to go with. Now to decide which one, I am leaning heavily toward the Litermeter, but the standalone Profilux and BM dosers are in the running as well. I like that the Litermeter integrates level switches into the individual pumps.

[Chad]

Well, I pulled the trigger on it.

 

I ordered a litermeter 3 today... I think I will have all of the odds and ends together for the install next weeked. I just need to find 14 more 90 degree JG fittings, a couple of 20H tanks and I will be good.

 

 

I think I will have a ceremony this weekend when I do my last manual water change to a bugle playing taps in the background.