Auto Water change Idea

[Harry_Y]

I originally wrote this as a reply in a thread on a sponsors forum.
I'm posting it here since it may be useful to someone looking to
glean an idea on hot to make something like this your yourself.

So take from it what you like and have fun with it.

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I got thinking about this and realized it is actually pretty
simple to do using only pumps and timers.

It is basically two pails that would use 2 pumps on a timer timers to fill to the
point of overflowing (they would overflow into the sump and SW mixing barrel)

And then another two pumps to Drain the pails
one into the sump and the other down the drain


So here is what I have come up with:

Requires

Two pails (approx 1 gallon each)
Four Maxi-Jet 600 Power Heads
X feet Tubing/hose to fit output of Maxi-Jets
Four Hose clamps to secure tubing to Maxi-Jet
Two timers

-

Basically you would put 1 pail over the top of the sump
and the other over the top of the SW mixing barrel

Each pail would have a Maxi-Jet with a hose attached to it to drain the bucket

The other two Maxi-Jet s would go one into the sump
and the other in the SW mixing barrel to fill the pails


The two Maxi-Jets in the pails would plug into timer 1

And the two in the sump and the SW mixing barrel would plug into timer 2
-

Operation

Step 1: The timer for the Maxi-Jets the sump and the SW mixing
barrel starts and runs for a few minutes to fill the pails to overflowing

Step 2: A few minutes later the timer for the Maxi-Jets the sump
and the SW mixing barrel stops.

Step 3: The timer for the Maxi-Jets in the pails start draining the old
waste saltwater down the drain and the new saltwater into the sump.

Step 4: A few minutes later the timer for the Maxi-Jets in the pails stops.

-



Notes:

Use a stop watch to figure out how long it takes to Fill and empty the pails
so you can set the timers, This is not critical and better to run longer than
needed to ensure the containers are fully filled and drained.

Setup the timers to run as needed to get the required changes
in 1 gallon increments (I’d space these throughout the 24hr day)


Maxi-Jet seem pretty forgiving on being ran almost dry
(I have had the one in my top off bucket run almost dry will no ill effects).

I would probably use covered pails and drill and pipe in a drain
line instead of just letting it over flow (less splashing and mess).

The Maxi-Jet 600s seem to be a good fit for this project.
I use a Maxi-Jet now as my top off I have used both
and either should work the 600’s should cost less.