Auto top off

I use 2 floats and a junction box with a short extension cord wired in a series , 1 float is low level other is to prevent an over flow . A rubber maid tote to hold the water and a maxi jet pump . Total cost about $60 . I switch the neutral not the line side of voltage. Never had an issue when I go out of town . If you need help let me know . Kurt 801-637-6113

Aloha,

I use a very simple and failure proof way to do top-off while on vacation, but before you go and leave the tank for a week, here is some sage advice, learned from countless hobbyists who came home to a disaster:

Ask an experienced hobbyist to come check on your tank every other day or two.

No fail vacation top-off
1. Fill a bucket with the amount of RO water you expect the tank to need and place it on a stable chair or ladder next to and above the tank or sump.
2. Secure a length of air line tubing near the bottom of the bucket(I use a stiff tube from an undergravel filter airline to extend to the bottom).
3. Lead the output end of the tubing to a secure position over the tank/sump. (large spring clamps are very secure)
4. Start the siphon and tie a knot (or use a standard plastic air valve) in the end of the tubing and adjust the knot tightness until the drops are just the right speed to keep the tank water at a constant level or slightly less. This will take some attention over a day or so to get it right.
5. Instruct the tank sitter/experienced hobbyist on how it's set up and to add more water if the drip doesn't keep up. They can also top off the top-off bucket if 5 gal of water won't last the entire vacation.

It is so very comforting to know that I have someone watching my tank that knows exactly what to watch out for and what to do if a problem arises. (Thanks Jake)

Have fun,
Mark



Edited by Mark Peterson - October 05 2013 at 9:41am

Float switches can fail and setting up complicated apparatus just before going on vacation is a recipe for disaster. I've seen it dozens of times and had it happen to me.

If you use a float with a gravity fed ATO, with a small sized top off container you really can't wreak havoc on your tank.  I'd use a container that, if the float failed, it was small enough not to overflow the sump.  Then you just need to get someone to add water to your top off container while you are away.

Any top off has the potential to fail. While I've used the drip method Mark is so passionately pushing for years past, it has very limited reliability. I often had to make adjustments every couple of days. Either too much or too little water depending on the weather and rate of evaporation.. A couple of times I came home from vacation to a near disasterous low water level in our sump. When we upgrading to the 270G, I installed a gravity feed Eshopps float valve attached to a 30G drum. Water level has not fluctuated in over 1.5 yrs. as long as I remembered to fill the drum up every 6-10 days.

Edited by DLindquist - October 05 2013 at 1:08pm

I didn't read above, but the last thing i would do is set up an auto top off before vacation. Just have someone come over. Or even chance the evaporation and let it go. But don't set up something the week you leave. Has ended badly for many people.

Adam

I'm with Adam. Never change anything two weeks before you leave!!!

As far as Ato go, I made all of my own with parts from autotopoff.com. Easy & cheap!

Again, thanks for all the helpful advice. I will be setting up an ATO, but I will rely on the tried and true ... have someone physically come over and add water to the tank.

I bought mine from Grainger. I use 2 so if it some how gets to high of a level (such as gunked up or a snail on it) the second one will turn it off. Also my water tote I never fill more than my sump could hold if it did happen to pump all the water into the sump. Not sure what Eric sells but the ones at Grainger have a clip to remove the float from the shaft they slide on and if you flip the float over it changes the contacts from a normally open to a normally closed or vice versa. So my low level is a normally closed and high level is a normally closed also .

Remind me who Erik and Grainger are?