Top off units

[Beckmola24]

What do y'all use to top off your tanks??? I was looking at several websites and have been looking at each of the top off units. Which ones are good and reliable?? What types of setups does everyone use??? This is my first larger tank and I'm really in the dark about a lot. Thanks in advance for any help!

~Becky~

 

[mattseattle]

I am just beginning my search for such a thing so I'll tag along.

This is what I'm looking at though.
TUNZE OSMOLATOR UNIVERSAL 3155 - auto top-off system

It's not the cheapest thing but seems very very reliable from all the threads I've read on it. Also Tunze has a great reputation for quality products and awesome customer service.

 

[reefer]

Don W helped me out with this one and it works great. Cost about $25.00. Get a floatswitch from Floatswitches.net and install in your sump. Wire it into an Aqualifter pump. You run rigid tubing like for an ice-maker from a water container to the pump and from the pump to the sump. It keeps the level in the sump to within about a 1/4".
I went one further and ran the water from the pump into the cork in a carboy and had a tube about 2" off the bottom of the carboy that comes out the cork and to the sump. The carboy is full of a kalk mix. When the pump comes on it pumps new water into the carboy which becomes presurized and then pumps the kalk mix into the sump. I am really happy with the price and how it works.

 

[reedman]

I use a medical feed pump (enteral pump) to feed my kalk reactor at a constant rate 24/7. Works OK, but I would get a peristaltic pump if I did it again. That way you can turn it on or off with a timer or controller (like a PH controller) to prevent the PH from going outside your target range.

 

[mattseattle]

Don W helped me out with this one and it works great. Cost about $25.00. Get a floatswitch from Floatswitches.net and install in your sump. Wire it into an Aqualifter pump. You run rigid tubing like for an ice-maker from a water container to the pump and from the pump to the sump. It keeps the level in the sump to within about a 1/4".
I went one further and ran the water from the pump into the cork in a carboy and had a tube about 2" off the bottom of the carboy that comes out the cork and to the sump. The carboy is full of a kalk mix. When the pump comes on it pumps new water into the carboy which becomes presurized and then pumps the kalk mix into the sump. I am really happy with the price and how it works.

yeah i looked into that as a solution. my issue with that though is what happens if the float switch sticks or something? i'd be afraid that it'd first off overflow the sump and second that the salinity in your tank would drop drastically.

i liked the tunze solution because it has 2 optical sensors that auto tops off when the level drops below the sensor and shuts off if the water reaches the top sensor. they are also optical so the failure rate is low. also the controller automatically shuts off the pump if the pump has been running for 10 minutes.

 

[reefer]

My sump has 15 gallons of free space. The container for my water supply is 15 gallons so even if the pump were to pump all 15 gallons into the sump worst case is the sump would be full. Yes at that point the salinity would be out of wack. The pump is real slow it probably only pumps about 1 gallon an hour with the head that I have on it.

yeah i looked into that as a solution. my issue with that though is what happens if the float switch sticks or something? i'd be afraid that it'd first off overflow the sump and second that the salinity in your tank would drop drastically.


i liked the tunze solution because it has 2 optical sensors that auto tops off when the level drops below the sensor and shuts off if the water reaches the top sensor. they are also optical so the failure rate is low. also the controller automatically shuts off the pump if the pump has been running for 10 minutes.

I could put a timer on the pump too. Not a bad idea for when I am on a trip for any length of time.

 

[reefer]

I use a medical feed pump (enteral pump) to feed my kalk reactor at a constant rate 24/7. Works OK, but I would get a peristaltic pump if I did it again. That way you can turn it on or off with a timer or controller (like a PH controller) to prevent the PH from going outside your target range.

Is that one of those triangular like pumps where the triangle turns around a supply tubing and forces liquid through the tube? My mom is on a feeding tube in a nursing home and thats what feeds her.

 

[reedman]

Yep. That's exactly what I am using. Works well for what it is.

 

[Beckmola24]

Does anyone use the Aquamedic Dosing pumps??? I know the float valve could possibly stick open, but with as slow as these pumps run, just by doing our daily equipment check we could catch something like that....IMO...Since I'm not really familiar with top offs, could these pumps be set with an automatic shutoff??? What would that entail to get the auto shutoff???

 

[bc_slc]

The reeffanatic top off is also a great choice for a very reasonable price. It can be configured to top off within an inch or so in the sump and has a backup float valve to prevent overflow in the sump. The two float valve it comes with can be used a bunch of different ways.

 

[Beckmola24]

bc slc, do you have a link to it???

 

[Scooterman]

I always forget to turn it off when I'm doing wc, usually I do get a salinity drop but then I have to adjust it back slowly.

 

[JHReef]

I use this big dumb guy to add water from 5 gal jugs (me).
I'm way too hands on to let a float switch and a pump determine my tank's destiny. But that's just me.

 

[Scooterman]

Problem with that JHReef, if your not home all day your water levels drop & then salinity drops,, my tank drink a few gallons a day enough to change things.

 

[JHReef]

Problem with that JHReef, if your not home all day your water levels drop & then salinity drops,, my tank drink a few gallons a day enough to change things.

OK, granted a system that loses that much volume either must be quite large, or has heat issues which cause excessive evaporation. If it's large like my 180, then a couple of gals added when you get home should work just fine, with minimal change of salinity. But on a smaller system, daily losses in the gallons could pose a potential threat to inhabitants and would warrant such a need. So which category do you fall under? Just curious as I see lots of people who have auto top off either have a critical need, or just want to keep salinity variances within .005.

 

[CarlaW]

I use this big dumb guy to add water from 5 gal jugs (me).
I'm way too hands on to let a float switch and a pump determine my tank's destiny. But that's just me.

Now I don't feel so bad!!! Isn't that what they make those salt buckets for anyways.

 

[Beckmola24]

That doesn't work for those of us that are out of town a lot. Does anyone have pictures of their top off units??? I'd like to see how they are set up. again does anyone have a link to that unit that has the double float valves??

 

[szidls]

Becky, Here is a link to the Reeffanatic units. I found this at Premium Aquatics.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RF-RFLC&Category_Code=Dosers
Scott

 

[gobyit]

I have s 16 gallon aquarium and about another 5 gallons in my sump, it doesn't take much for the salinity to change. I have found that all I need to do is add 1/2 gallon fresh water everyday. I am not sure if a float valve would be sensitive enough to register?? If I am wrong please correct me!!

 

[Scooterman]

Scott that is an awesome looking level controller, I'll have to look into getting one myself.