My new DIY Auto top off

[wattsupdoc]

I just set up a new ATO on my tanks. This is really cheap.Cost including the 1/4 in poly from my kitchen RO unit was less than 15 bucks to do both tanks. I used some outdoor irrigationequipment made by MISTER LANDSCAPER, found at Lowes.2 adjustable drippers, 2 on/off valves (ball valves) A couple T connectors for the poly tube, and 50 feet of poly. It works on a drip rate type ATO. I believe that 1 drop every three seconds will come close enough to my evaporation. But I'll play with it for a while till I get it dialed in. As lond as i dont replace more than I evaporate I'll be fine, every so often adding a little more to compensate. Heres some pics. Let me know what you think.

 

[seannmelly]

is this gravity fed?

 

[wattsupdoc]

No this is feed right off my RO. No containers or valves or switches to go wrong, just the relative pressure from my RO wich will fluctuate some but should be manageable. Simple and sweet...plus it's CHEAP!

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
I believe that 1 drop every three seconds will come close enough to my evaporation. But I'll play with it for a while till I get it dialed in.
wattsupdoc, how much do you evaporate a day? Sounds like something I can try to get done tomorrow, tired of doing it manually. I evaporate about 2 - 3 gallons a day on a 135 gallon.....

 

[gnorman]

yeah, i have crazy evap on my 150 gallon.... and i buy my RODI water from my FLS. 50 cents a gallon but it adds up, but dont have to go with a hassel of a unit and all.... anyways, that auto top off is freaken sweet. i love it, i love how simple it is and i bet it will work just fine. wish i could feed from a unit but just no space and i have no sinks/phosates near my tank.
once again, great job. looks really nice

 

[wattsupdoc]

Evaporating about a gallon a day. So adjust you're drip rate up some. If you have a measuring glass and do some math you can figure you're drip rate out to be close enough to where you may have to add a gallon or so every now and then, but you could just open it up and let it fill right at you're vavle or even add another T and a valve so you dont have to mess up you're adjustment. It is so easy, if you're ro's under you'rs stand it'll take about 10 min.

 

[wattsupdoc]

A person could do this right off their tap if they have well water and use that. Not recomending to use the well water but I know some do.

 

[gnorman]

na i think ill stick with RODI.. its my fist tank and i want to try to do everything the "best way" so to say. i dont want any screw ups. again, your auto is very nice. hope it works out for u.
i get so tired of putting 5 gallons in every 2-3 days

 

[wattsupdoc]

Gnorman i wasnt meaning you'rself, just throwing it out there.Thanks, I'm sure it'll work out just fine after all the medical industry uses the same principal in their IV bags. Where I got my idea from.

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by GNorman
yeah, i have crazy evap on my 150 gallon.... and i buy my RODI water from my FLS. 50 cents a gallon but it adds up, but dont have to go with a hassel of a unit and all.... anyways, that auto top off is freaken sweet. i love it, i love how simple it is and i bet it will work just fine. wish i could feed from a unit but just no space and i have no sinks/phosates near my tank.
once again, great job. looks really nice
I don't have my unit next to my tank....I placed it in my sub-basement and connected it to my washer cold connection. Works fine. I right now I have it going to a 32 gallon dumpster that I use as my reserve....it is about 8 feet from my sump where I will run it too.
Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
Evaporating about a gallon a day. So adjust you're drip rate up some. If you have a measuring glass and do some math you can figure you're drip rate out to be close enough to where you may have to add a gallon or so every now and then, but you could just open it up and let it fill right at you're vavle or even add another T and a valve so you dont have to mess up you're adjustment. It is so easy, if you're ro's under you'rs stand it'll take about 10 min.
My RO unit isn't directly under my tank, it is about an 8 foot run.....so it will take a little longer. I think I will make that trip to Lowe's tomorrow get what I need, measure it and see if I can get it to work out. Thanks for the idea watts

 

[wattsupdoc]

Ok I'm gonna have to adjust it to drip faster i believe. The drip rate may not be so easy to use with that much evaporation. you may have more of a drizzle but it can be tuned in i believe.Just get a measuring cup and a good watch and do some math and it'll work out.

For those who may be interested, here is the calculation for determining the drip rate. This is according to my sister who is an RN and is the calculation used for the IV drips. I'll be using this for my IV drip doser i have when i get my usage nailed down.
15 drops = 1 ML
3785.4 Drops in a gallon
Amount x drops to equal 1 ML

[hr]
Time
SO....
3785.4 x 15 ======= 56781

[hr]
========

[hr]
60 x 24 (minxhours)=== 1440
About 39.4 drops per minute
Or about 1 drop per 1.5 second
It's gonna be interesting now

Got it dialed in to about 36 to 40 drops per minute!

 

[wattsupdoc]

No topping off necessary today and water levels are really close to where they were!

I've been tinkering with it some to though.I'll let it go for a few days without messing with it and see how it goes.

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
No topping off necessary today and water levels are really close to where they were!

I've been tinkering with it some to though.I'll let it go for a few days without messing with it and see how it goes.

Good stuff...I ran to to Lowe's and picked up what you listed.....i'll let you know how it goes...

 

[hurt]

I am definitely not trying to highjack this thread, the only reaon I post this is if you want to match your evaporation rate exactly, and never have to worry about adjusting your drip, all you need is a float valve and a tank. You could go buy a 10g, take it to a glass shop and have them drill a small hole for the float valve at the bottom of this tank. Then just sit the bottom of this tank @ the top of your sump. This is a picture of mine. I had mine custom made out of acrylic @ a LFS here because I didn't have enough room for a 10g behind my tank. I believe the grand total for this project was $32, it works perfectly, and has made my life much easier. If I would have used a 10g it would have cost me $15. The ball valve just sits down in my return pump chamber and it matches my evap rate perfectly. All I have to do is fill it up with Kalk/H2O every 2-3 days. I can also use the other two salt buckets for a combinded volume of 15g when I leave my place for a week or more.

 

[wattsupdoc]

This was my previous ATO. It was a gravity fed ATO and worked great. But space is a commodity for me.
The drip rate wont have to be constantly adjusted. Once it's dialed in. And I wont have to fill containers either. It will match my evaporation in real time and not by taking a cup or 2 at a time. Adding a gallon or so when ever it get low enough.

 

[wattsupdoc]

I havent tinkered with it any since yesterday and my water levels are still where they were.

Allmost exactly!

 

[bronco300]

thats awesome doc, i JUST about did that with my new RO, buts its a room over in the laundry room, and i was told i couldnt,

lol looks great!! what RO system do you have?

 

[wattsupdoc]

I have one of those off the big (000PS) site. Not sure what brand. It's in the kitchen under the sink, so I had to do some crawling under the house to feed 'em. I like this cause of the sheer simplicity of it.

Both tanks are using this.

 

[maelv]

Hurt, I like yor idea....but I had already done the wattsupdoc set up.
Watts...I set it up and let it run...came home...and realized I had too much dripping out (the sump filled up more than it should have..lol...but not overspilling thank god). So I will turn it off let it evaporate some then try to get it at the right drip...thanks for the idea...

 

[wattsupdoc]

Day 3 and still no topping off! No adjusting so far!