Any way to make a homemade water top off system?

[basssnake]

Anyone have a way to make a auto top off system? I will have a 180 gallon tank, 100 gallon sump, and a 45 gallon refugium. any ideas???

[cbusreefer]

some say not to do it, because of possible flooding, but I've run a float valve in my sump for a few years. I just screw some leftover pvc into the top of my stand and installed the valve into it. The valve is hooked directly to my ro/di so whenever the water level evaps, the valve opens and refills my sump. I have the water level maked and I must say, i'm surprised at how consistant the float is.

[coralfragger101]

Directly connecting the RO/DI filter to the sump via a float valve is not a good idea for several reasons.

#1 - The constant On/Off of the filter isn't good for it.
#2 - Your water will be ladden with TDS from TDS creep.

Basssnake: I remember you. You remember me?

[aprosody]

DIY Auto Top Off (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=661601) <---- there is one, I am currently building that idea.

[saltydragon]

with the cost of a 180 tank...
i would suggest investing some cash on a good ATO from autotopoff.com or aquahub.com or a JBJ ATO

you spent a good amount of money on a large tank...dont skimp on a good ATO for the system

[One Dumm Hikk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13113038#post13113038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by basssnake
Anyone have a way to make a auto top off system? I will have a 180 gallon tank, 100 gallon sump, and a 45 gallon refugium. any ideas???

Walk in your bathroom.
Stand in front of your toilet facing the wall.
Sit down.
Remove the lid from the tank.
Stare in the tank for 10 minutes.
Put lid back on.
Go outside.
Cuss me like a dog for 10 minutes at the simplicity of it all.

OK, its simple. Its easier to order a float valve and plumb it to a water container. Just don't put the float valve from your RO/DI unit in the sump. Mine (in my RO/DI water can) got a hole in it, float filled with water, wouldn't turn the water off.

[coralfragger101]

I would agree. A reservoir that uses gravity to feed and a simple float valve in the sump works great. All my ATO's are like this. I've NEVER had one stick.

[customcolor]

check out page 6 and 7 of my build forum for my ato that never gets stuck or has never failed in the past year that i set it up.
<BR>
page 6 (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1144204&perpage=25&pagenumber=6) <BR>

short vid on page 7 too :)<BR>

[Mike Murphy]

I just set up my 125 with a float valve that is fed from a 10 gallon tank. So I have to fill the 10 gallon tank up once in awhile... it beats every day for the 125. My float valve is in the sump and adjusted so that even during shut down and start up there is no sudden dump of fresh water but when you have a tank that small and even if it had a problem with the valve once it is empty I doubt it would dillute the display that much.

http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/marine1954/?special_track=nav_tab_my_albums

[basssnake]

Well, i really would like to keep it simple if there is such a solution. I am not the handiest man around(i can build a few things, it just seems that i am still not sure how to go about this). anymore suggestions or comments?

[dngspot]

This is hooked up to my RO/DI system and is working fine.
http://wichitaaquariumclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599

[ben&bobbi]

on our 180, we have a float switch, aqualifter ($14) and a 14g dog food container ($11 at wal-mart). lasts about 1-1.5 weeks.

here is the switch - http://www.autotopoff.com/products/SS1/index.htm

container sits next to the tank, aqualifter sits on top of that, water pumps up into the display tank over flow. aqualifter is connected to the float switch. it adds the water slowly, keeps it constant.

why not a larger storage container? if my switch gets stuck (it has once, but i also never clean it) i have enough room in the sump to hold it.

However, if the tank shuts down and the top off sticks, i will have some water in the stand!

[danceswithfish]

Didn't like the float valve plan?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1447337