Question about auto Top off
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27673
Printed Date: July 18 2025 at 10:35am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Question about auto Top off
Posted By: snoyce
Subject: Question about auto Top off
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 9:25am
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Currently my RO/DI unit is in the basement by the water heater and I keep 5 gallon buckets of water made up to top off with. My Reef is 29 Gallon with a 20 gallon sump located upstairs basically directy on top of the basment room with the RO/DI unit. I am getting tired of going downstairs everyday to get just under a gallon of water and hauling it up to the tank to top off.
I was thinking of getting an auto top off like this one
http://www.aquahub.com/store/product26.html - http://www.aquahub.com/store/product26.html
but I want to put the reservoir in the basement by the RO/DI unit. I figure if the reservoir is on the basment floor I have 8ft ceilings in the basment and then the floor joists are another foot and then probably about 2 more feet to the top of the sump, so I need to overcome about 11 feet of head.
So the question is what pump should I use to overcome this. The aquarium pumps I have looked into that can overcome that much head seem way overkill and expensive just to pump top off water. Like the Mag 9 or one of the external Gen-x or little giant pumps, I don't need that much flow for top off water. What pumps are affordable and can overcome this kind of head?
So here is my Idea, can I used a flojet or shurflo pump like the kinds used in RV's or Boats, or to pump soda in beverage equipment? I know these are used for potable water applications, but do you think there is anything that would be bad for topoff water? from what I can tell on the spec sheets of most they list the wetted parts as polypropylene and santoprene or some have EPDM and a few list 316 stainless steal
http://www.flojet.com/files/f100_050c_11-06.pdf - http://www.flojet.com/files/f100_050c_11-06.pdf
http://www.shurflo.com/pdf/rv/product_data_sheets/pds-2088-453-144.pdf - http://www.shurflo.com/pdf/rv/product_data_sheets/pds-2088-453-144.pdf
Can I just use a 12VDC wall wart and one of these 12 vdc pumps hookup up to the top off controller?
some of these kinds of pumps are cheap on eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Shurflo-water-pump-200-219-39-2-8-shurflo-RV-pump_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ006QQitemZ160276301292QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Shurflo-water-pump-200-219-39-2-8-shurflo-RV-pump_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50073QQihZ006QQitemZ160276301292QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Or I am I missing something, is there a cheap kind of pump I don't know about that can push water up 12ish feet even if the flow is real slow??
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Replies:
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 9:51am
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Yes you could just use one of the 12v RV pumps for your top-off but NO you can not use a cheap wall wart since the wall wart won't provide enough power for the pump. You'd need a pretty large DC power supply or you could use a car battery with a trickle charger attached to the battery to keep the charge up. All those options are more expensive then just using a mid sized mag drive pump (Mag 7 or 9 should work ~ $80). ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 10:10am
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I use a mag 7 with 1 of those floats that I got from AD and then ran a small line up to the tank and put the top off line and float in the sump when it gets low it turns on the pump and it keeps it within about a cup of where it needs to be. Fell free to PM me for more info or Ryan at AD knows what I did and can help. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 10:13am
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My float cost about 24 and then the pump and line. you could use any other pump it dosnt need to be a mag, mine risses 11ft and I was using a maxi 12 it just had a little hard time but worked ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: snoyce
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 11:47am
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Thanks for the replies, I know I am just being cheap but spending more on the top off pump than my return pump just rubs me wrong. One more quesiton just so I understand and give up and go with a mag pump.
If a wall wart will not work to power one of these 12vdc pump how about an old computer supply, I do have a couple of them laying around, I know I could Isolate the 12 volt off that. I guess I just want a better understanding on the electrical need, some of the pumps say 12vdc and then give an amp rating like 50psi at 3 amp, 60 psi at 5 amp, somthing like that, I think I understand that the wall wart would not work because most seem to be very low amp like 500ma or 1000ma, but what about the computer supply I have never seen the amp rating of the 12VDC that come off one of these.
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Posted By: Rioreefer
Date Posted: August 26 2008 at 12:37pm
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Why not buy a cheap Rio foe 20-30 and the tubing for 15+- and the float for about 24 thats a cheap ATO no battarys no funcky things to do they are wired and ready. ------------- I dont mean to brag but, yeah it's 6ft long. |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: August 27 2008 at 8:52am
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Do you already have a 12v pump? Buying a new one is going to be more expensive then buying a Mag7. Yeah the computer PS should work. I think most PS's nowadays are good for 10 amps across the 12v leads. http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply - http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply shows you how to mod the PS. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: john hill
Date Posted: August 29 2008 at 6:33pm
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just use a flote valve and run a r o line to your sump ------------- out with the large and in with the nano |
Posted By: KludgeGuru
Date Posted: August 30 2008 at 8:52am
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I would get a pressurized storage tank as you resourvior then you don't need a pump. Here is a 4 gallon bladder tank: http://cgi.ebay.com/RO-Water-Storage-Tank-Drinking-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ160186667543QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20684QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 - http://cgi.ebay.com/RO-Water-Storage-Tank-Drinking-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ160186667543QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20684QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 Here is a 14 gallon bladder tank: (This is what I use) http://cgi.ebay.com/14-Gal-RO-Water-Storage-Tank-Drinking-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ160275274007QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20684QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 - http://cgi.ebay.com/14-Gal-RO-Water-Storage-Tank-Drinking-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ160275274007QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20684QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 Here is a 20 gallon bladder tank: http://cgi.ebay.com/20-Gal-RO-Water-Storage-Tank-Drinking-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ160248553060QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20684QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 - http://cgi.ebay.com/20-Gal-RO-Water-Storage-Tank-Drinking-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ160248553060QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20684QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262 You can then use a float valve as your auto top off or the kit you mentioned would work too. -Rocks |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: August 30 2008 at 10:21am
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I agree with Climbrocks. That's the best solution. A mere 4 gal bladder tank could effectively top-off a 200 gal tank.
But if you want to do it for almost no additional cost where you only have to worry about it once a week you could use a Glug Jug. I have written it up somewhere. Let me know and I'll find it. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Cody Pearce
Date Posted: September 02 2008 at 11:59pm
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If I used one of those bladder tanks in line with my fridge would that give me crystal clear ice cubes?
------------- 90 gallon mixed reef My fish swim naked. |
Posted By: mikeden
Date Posted: September 03 2008 at 3:21pm
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Yes. I have mine split three ways, one of which goes to my fridge.
------------- 150G Reef |
Posted By: Cody Pearce
Date Posted: September 03 2008 at 8:55pm
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How long would a ten gallon tank last on average for a fridge? Can you lay them on their side to store them (I'm asking because I have a shelf next to my fridge that isn't that high, but is plenty wide)? Can you fill them without plumbing them straight from a RO unit? ------------- 90 gallon mixed reef My fish swim naked. |