Diy top off system

[kajunsausage]

Ive been looking around and everywhere for cheap ways to make an auto top off system. I found this video by dubbsreefs on youtube. Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UmT2rV0iYE
So, im going to follow that idea in my conquest of making an auto top off system. He said that he bought his float valve on ----. His float valve had a cord with wires. The only float valve i can find anywhere is connected to airline tubing. Are those two float valves the same? Can they work with DubbsReefs diy idea? If not, then can you provide a link to a float valve that has a cord with wires.

 

[buckeyefs]

I was cringing while watching that - the kid makes me nervous. Someone apparently hasn't warned him about razor blades, and he hasn't laid his flesh open...yet.

 

[jstdv8]

others on here have mentioned that they have had float valve failure. so you might want to have a back up in there too that shuts the pump down if the water gets too high

 

[socal57che]

Do you have a way to do a drip? I placed a 6g reservoir on the 2nd floor and plumbed a line to my tank on the 1st floor. A quality drip valve and some airline were the only expense. I just fill the jug on the second floor when it gets low. That's about as cheap as I could find....and there is no float valve to fail. Setting the initial drip rate is a little tricky, but not too bad. Start slow and increase the rip rate until the level in the DT stays consistent.

 

[gill again68]

I guess you would call this a failure with a float valve. I had a snail in my sump get on the valve and hold it down keeping the pump on past the "full" level. I now have decided to put a guard around the float valve made from egg crate as well as have a fail safe switch in case the water gets to high.

 

[jackri]

I've had a snail do that too. Right now I top off out of a 5g bucket so my sump can handle a failure and my tank can run for about 2 days before the pump runs dry and my tanks never go that long without being checked on.
It's a good idea -- I'm not paying another 100.00 for a JBJ ATO again as I need a second ATO for my frag tank. For 100 bucks they should work better IMO -- needs a bubbler on under the float to keep it tripping it as it goes lame on it's own otherwise.

 

[spsnix]

I read someone trying that DIY and if failed. I wanted to try it myself, but I bought a JBJ and i didn't reall like it and then I found a used Tunze ATO and all I can say is "WOW" this ATO is insane. The sensor is so precise, the emergency float works well, the controller tells you what's working and what's not, the pump is extremely silent. If this ATO ever fails me for some reason, I'm definitely buying another one since it's well worth the money

 

[swalchemist]

The price for a good top off unit is nothing compared to the damage you can cause to your system with a cheap one IMO.

 

[spsnix]

Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
http:///forum/post/3212173
The price for a good top off unit is nothing compared to the damage you can cause to your system with a cheap one IMO.
+1 next time I need another ATO I'm definitely going with another Tunze ATO even if I have to pay the $200 for a new one since it's extremely a top of the line ATO

 

[ryancw01]

All those things seem like so much work. I have a Kent Marine float valve in my sump hooked right up to the RO/DI unit. Everyone always talks on here about flooding and failure with this set-up, but I have never had an issue with it at all and am going on 3 years with it set up this way. I do not keep any kind of snails in my sump though for obvious reasons and I just tap on it every few days to make sure it is all good. I feel like it is pretty fool-proof and when I go on vacation it is nice to know that when I come back there will not be any issues.

 

[gill again68]

I am not sure why I am going through so much trouble but I put a cage around my float switches now. Built from egg crate and I have "sized" the snails that wil be in the sump to make sure they cant get through. I think I must BEAT THE SNAILS!

 

[bryce.martin23]

Originally Posted by Ryancw01
http:///forum/post/3212548
All those things seem like so much work. I have a Kent Marine float valve in my sump hooked right up to the RO/DI unit. Everyone always talks on here about flooding and failure with this set-up, but I have never had an issue with it at all and am going on 3 years with it set up this way. I do not keep any kind of snails in my sump though for obvious reasons and I just tap on it every few days to make sure it is all good. I feel like it is pretty fool-proof and when I go on vacation it is nice to know that when I come back there will not be any issues.
+1 been doing the same thing for months now, ive got a line taped right into my water line straight to the RO/DI system then to a float valve that is dripping into my sump. Ive learned that you cant go cheap when wanting to set up a system. Save yourself the time and money and wait a bit longer and get a real unit, you wont regreat it. The DIY in my opinion just doesnt cut it.

 

[ryancw01]

Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3212992
I am not sure why I am going through so much trouble but I put a cage around my float switches now. Built from egg crate and I have "sized" the snails that wil be in the sump to make sure they cant get through. I think I must BEAT THE SNAILS!

That is funny...but now that I think about it, building a cage around it is a pretty good idea for people that want to keep snails in there to keep everything clean...