Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Building a Auto Topoff

  1. #1
    Apprentice dfisch1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Baton Rouge, La
    Posts
    87
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Building a Auto Topoff

    CAUTION: This project like many of my others deals with electricity. You should be comfortable working with electricity as well as have a working knowledge of home wiring before attempting this.
    This will help you to build an auto top off unit with snail guards. (Note: Some of the information here is from the Louisiana Reef Club DIY forums Redirecting...)

    Parts
    1 PVC box with two 1/2" outlets and cover plate
    8 1/2" PVC 90 elbows
    2 1/2" PVC Caps
    2 1 1/2" - 1/2" slip bushings
    2 1 1/2" Couplers
    2 1 1/2" Caps
    1/2" PVC pipe
    1 1/2" PVC pipe
    2 float switches
    1 1/4" Polypropylene Solenoid Valve
    (These Last two parts can be found on McMaster-Carr)

    Note: if you are using a water pump to top off form a separate container replace the Solenoid with a single outlet 15 amp receptacle and appropriate cover plate.

    Step One:
    Drill and tap the 1/2" caps to match the float switch threads.
    Teflon tape the treads and secure into the caps. (Do not glue. This would make switch replacement very hard.)

    Step Two:
    Cut eight pieces of 1/2" PVC 1.5 inches long.
    Glue two sets of two 90 elbows in such a manor that they face the same direction.
    Glue two sets of two 90 elbows in such a manor that they face opposite directions.
    Glue one piece of the PVC into one end of each of the four sets.

    Step Three:
    Glue the two sets of same direction elbows to the openings of the PVC box.
    This will provide a manor for the unit to be hung on the side of a sump/fuge.

    Step Four:
    Use a rotary tool with a sanding or grinding wheel to trim the inside of the reducer bushing so that 1/2" PVC will slide easy through the bushing.

    Step Five:
    Insert the exposed PVC from the opposing elbows into the open end of the same direction group. Do not glue! This will allow you to adjust the floats and make running the wiring easier later.
    Measure your situation in order to determine where you want to place the switches.
    Cut the 1/2" PVC to the desired length for the longer tube.
    Cut another piece of 1/2" PVC a few inches shorter then the other tube. This will act as a redundancy system.

    Step Six:
    Glue the caps to the tubes that you have just cut.

    Step Seven:
    Cut two pieces of 1 1/2" PVC 1.5" long.
    Glue the 1 1/2" caps to the 1 1/2" couplers using the PVC just cut to bridge them together.
    Drill several holes in the bushing and the couplers and caps in order to allow water to easely flow though them.

    Step Eight:
    Slip the bushing over the 1/2" pipe and cap pieces.
    Use a piece of string to thread the wires from the floats through the opposing elbow groups.
    Use the string to thread the wires through the same direction elbows into the PVC box.
    Slip fit all of the groups together so that they look like pic 5.

    Step Nine:
    Drill a hole in the plate of the box just large enough for the solenoid threads to fit through.
    Use a nut used for attaching electrical conduit to electrical boxes to secure the solenoid to the face plate.
    Drill a hole in the PVC box large enough to fit an electrical plug through. Ones used for laps are fine. Mine came from an old heater that broke.

    Step Ten:
    Connect one switch to the power supply.
    Connect that switch to switch two.
    Connect switch two to the solenoid.
    and Connect the solenoid to the other end of the power supply.
    Wire nut them together and wrap in electrical tape.

    Step Eleven:
    Place the over on the box.
    Slip the guards onto the bushings.
    Screw in two 1/4" quick connects to the solenoid.
    Place on the sump/fuge.
    Connect to water supply and plumb into sump/fuge.
    Plug into wall and let the water flow.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    When you think you know everything they give you a Bachelor's,
    When you realize that you know nothing they give you a Master's,
    When you realize you know nothing but it is ok because they don't ether then you get a Doctoral.

  2. #2
    Our Brotha Down Unda
    V's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Terra Australis
    Posts
    6,773
    Blog Entries
    15
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 29 Times in 28 Posts
    sweet effort on face value, i dont have time to study it at this point, but will definately check your creation out in more detail. nice work bud, DIY through & through it seems



    Vquilibrium Productions

  3. #3
    Apprentice dfisch1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Baton Rouge, La
    Posts
    87
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    When I get some more time and money I will try to make a DIY fluidized media filter, and possibly a Ca reactor.
    When you think you know everything they give you a Bachelor's,
    When you realize that you know nothing they give you a Master's,
    When you realize you know nothing but it is ok because they don't ether then you get a Doctoral.

  4. #4
    Apprentice dfisch1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Baton Rouge, La
    Posts
    87
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    To show how this thing is supposed to work I have pics.

    One: This is a full of the Fuge itself. As you can see the water level is just fine.

    Two: This is a better pic of the setup. I ran a piece of 1/4" tubing from the container to the solenoid, and a second from the solenoid to the fuge. All you have to do is get a siphon started by letting the solenoid open and just sucking a little water through.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    When you think you know everything they give you a Bachelor's,
    When you realize that you know nothing they give you a Master's,
    When you realize you know nothing but it is ok because they don't ether then you get a Doctoral.

  5. #5
    Grand Master Reefer CarmieJo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    14,980
    Blog Entries
    4
    Thanks
    69
    Thanked 179 Times in 166 Posts
    You are great with DIY!
    Carmie


    Only disasters happen fast!





    Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
    Carmie's Cube


    Show people you value their advice! Click the STAR icon at the bottom of the post to add to their reputation.

  6. #6
    Curious Reefer
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    If the floats are redundant (hooked up in serried) and both have to drop and close the circuit for the solenoid to allow water flow. Why wouldn’t you simply wire the floats to your supply pump directly? The floats would close and pump inside your reservoir would pump in the water then turn off when the floats go up? Your setup looks impressive so it can only assume I am missing something. I am just a FNG tiring to get a clue  Thanks

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Our aquaculture building finally arrived!!!
    By Amphibious in forum General Marine Discussions
    Replies: 403
    Last Post: 07-12-2010, 07:00 AM
  2. DIY Auto Top Off System for a Nano
    By AquaEd in forum DIY Projects
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 04-22-2009, 02:44 AM
  3. auto top off
    By texasfootball21 in forum DIY Projects
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 09-07-2007, 05:59 PM
  4. auto top off
    By dadonoflaw in forum Misc
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 01-08-2007, 09:48 PM
  5. I need an auto top off
    By vanmo92 in forum Misc
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 08-21-2006, 08:40 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •