I have a 12 gallon Aquapod that has an overflow compartment in the back. I would like to set up an auto top off system (the tank loses about 1 glass of fresh water every five days or so, but I suspect that this will go up a bit when I switch to Metal Halide lighting soon. Is there a reliable way I can set up an auto top off system? Thanks.
I lose about 32 oz per day (A large Coke cup from Mickey D's) from my 10 gallon with 70W MH over it. On warm days I have temperature problems and have to run a fan over it. When I do that I lose twice as much. I expect a higher wattage fixture would have a higher lose as well.
this water loss, is this with or without a lid/cover over the top of the tank?
I know with my 26 I lost maybe a gallon over a few days with a lid. But now that I don't have the lid I lose that gallon much faster. of course, I also have an uncovered sump/fuge too.
__________________ Tank setup 8-5-05
26 gal bowfront
I put it inside a medicine bottle (the bottle was drilled at the top for the switch, and drilled all around so that snails and such can't hang on it (can be mounted in display tank this way!).
You rig a 1 gallon bottle with screw cap (milk jug, maybe built out of PVC, etc.) so that there is one airline in and one out. The in connects to the air pump, and only protrudes into the container about an inch. The other line goes all the way to the bottom. When the air pump turn on, it pushes the water out! NOW...you can't have the reservoir higher than the tank, or the first time it turns on, the resevoir will siphon out. The float switch is wired inline into one side of the cord of the air pump.
This is a BASIC description. It is really hard to describe. I'll find the link for the one I made. I hope I've said some things that make sense.
It is really simple, works well, and is pretty fool-proof.
Jon, what you describe is pretty cool. the feed is sort of like what Rob did to start the drip in his Kalk video. Would have been nice to think of that when I was trying to figure out a DIY auto topoff. Instead I gave up and bought a JBJ auto topoff system.
But, when I get close to adding anything new to the tank I will use the method you mentioned to topoff the quarantine tank!
__________________ Tank setup 8-5-05
26 gal bowfront
yeah, it works really really well. Just make sure it can't start a siphon, and you're great! (the end that flows into the aquarium can't be under water, and the reservoir should be lower than the tank...other than that, you're great!
-Jon
How do you like the JBJ auto top off system? I am not a DIY guy at the moment (too many other balls in the air!) and would like to know if the JBJ system is a good system and what other components do I need? Thanks.
I actually really like it. It has a built-in buzzer, so when it turns the pump on (you plug your pump into it) you hear a noise to alert you. I think you can open the unit and desolder the buzzer to silence it.
It comes with two floats, there are like three different combinations you can use to setup the floats. I'm only using one float in my return. you can use two floats, one in the return and one in your top off bucket...that way the pump won't run if the top off bucket water level is too low. and then there's a way to setup both floats in the return for max and min levels. Of course, you could put the floats in your tank...I just have mine in the return.
I have an aquaclear 20 powerhead plugged into mine with some hose to the return section. I have the powerhead sitting in a 5 gal bucket. doesn't take long to top off once it kicks in. Granted, the JBJ runs somewhere around $100 I think.
__________________ Tank setup 8-5-05
26 gal bowfront
Version 1.0 I took the basic design for the auto-top-off from floatswitches.net and just tried to clean it up a little bit. The round switch is ON/OFF, the square switch is a momentary switch so you can fill at will. I have had two of these running for about 4 months now with no problems. Hope this can help someone out.
Here is a list of parts used to make it.
From Radio Shack
Mini Relay
Project Enclosure
Momentary Switch
SPST Push On-Push Off Switch
Screw-Cap Panel-Mount Fuse Holder
fuses
wire
Dual Mini Board with 213 Holes
Phono (RCA-Type)
Panel-Mount RCA Phono Jack
9-Volt Battery Holder
Fully Insulated 9V Battery Snap Connector
From Home Depot
GFCI Duplex Receptacle
power supply cord
From floatswitches.net
floatswitches
Water Pump
Water Container
(I use a 2 gal for the 15 gal nano and a 5 gal bucket for the 55gal tank which gives about 5-6 days on each tank)
I think in the next version I will add a third phono plug and float switch. This third switch will be placed in the top-off container in order to keep the pump from running dry (which happen to me luckily the battery died before it killed the pump).
Johnny, I really like how clean your design is. And I like the use of the RCA connectors for attaching the floats to the system, not to mention the fuse and power buttons. The electrical outlet was a nice idea too! I'm guessing the 9v is the only power that is actually going to the float, much safer than putting the float in-line on an extension cord. I take it the fuse is in-line on the AC cord....what rating/size are you using?
__________________ Tank setup 8-5-05
26 gal bowfront
Thanks!
You are correct the fuse is in-line on the AC side Im using a fast Acting 10amp 250volt fuse. You are also correct about the 9volt. If the electricians and electrical engineers will forgive me, here is a schematic of the topoff unit.
