How does a top-off unit work?

peanut1181

peanut1181

Member
Simple question for you knowledgeable hobbyists... how does a top-off unit work? Explain the mechanics of the thing to me, please? Recommend one if you don't mind. Thank you.
Gray
 
j21kickster

j21kickster

Active Member
it depends on what king of top off. if it is just for evopeorated water in a FO tank or supplemental dosing in a reef tank, if it is just fro replacing evoporated water you simply install a float switch which is plugged into a pump which is in a fresh water container or tank that pumps fresh water to the tank when the SW level drops to a specific point b/c of evoporation. thus preventing high salinity levels. if it is for trace elements, Kalk, other additives this is a topic w/ different dynamics. if you want to know that, i will explain upon your request.
 
peanut1181

peanut1181

Member
j21kickster,
Please explain about the different top off systems... How does the float switch work? Does it just cause the pump to come on and put more water into the tank when it reaches a certain low level, then auto shut off when the float switches rises back up to an appropriate level? I'm guessing that is it... makes sense i think. If you could, please explain about dosing pumps and such... do they work on a set schedule and do the dosing at the same time everyday if i so choose? Don't really understand... Why would I need one of these anyway, unless I went outta town or something. Couldn't I just save the money and not be so lazy and dose the thing myself? I dunno, help me out here, i'm reaching. Thanks.
Gray
 
j21kickster

j21kickster

Active Member
Yes that is exactly how it works, and no you dont need one. It just makes it so you dont have to do it by hand. As far as dosing topoff systems there are many out there and again they arent needed. Depleted nutrients(most often in reef tanks)can be added back to the tank through a drip top off method. Fresh water is mixed in a vat with the correct amount of supplements needed to raise the levels back to where they should be. Kalkwasser is something that people commonly use in drip top off methods. Once you find out how much water your tank looses in a day you adjust a valve to drip that same amout back into the tank , drip by drip.
This might all sound confusing but it is really simple. Unless you are working with a big tank i thing that just pouring freshwater back into the tank is easy enough. And suppliments for reef tanks can be dosed in the liquid form which is added to the tank all at once insted of a little bit at a time.
If you re only going to have fish in your tank you dont really need to mess with this, just replace evoporated water whit freshwater.
 
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