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*** List commands & info at http://www.topica.com/lists/reefkeepers *** I finally finished my semi-automated water top system. If you are interested, here are the details: 1. two 30 gallon trash cans side-by-side that are set on up on frame about 1 foot off the ground side-by-side. Bulkheads in the bottom then ball valves. The two connect to a T which leads to a Quiet One pump this leads to a ball valve then to a section of garden hose (the water hose allows output to either can or the water top-off system). I have it set up so that I can isolate and circulate to either can. One can is connected directly to the RO/DI unit--fresh water. The other is normally filled with salt water and is circulated on the loop with the pump (great for mixing up saltwater). Fortuitously, the water reaches 80 F after circulating through the pump overnight. 2. The fresh water can is automatically filled from the RO/DO unit. When the level drops in the freshwater trash can, an electronic float switch opens a solenoid on the upstream side of the RO/DI unit. Therefore when the can is topped off, the solenoid closes and there is no pressure on the Ro/DI unit. As a back up (for a failing solenoid valve), I have the water entering above the float switch through a Kent Marine float valve. Therefore if the solenoid fails the float switch will prevent an overflow. 3. Water top off system--three 5 gallon square plastic water jugs that are hooked up in series. These are turned on their sides so the opening is on the bottom edge. The lids (3 inches in diameter) screw on and have a rubber gasket to form a water tight seal. The lids have a smaller NPT thread hole (1") that I have connected to PVC. All three of the containers have small hole drilled in the top (when filled) as an air release for filling. Where all the containers hook together, I have a T fitting that connects to a 1/8" line that runs over to the sump (80+ gallons). The water enters the sump via a Kent Marine float valve. The 15 gallons of water reservoir feeds to the sump via gravity. If the float valve fails, I only end up dumping at most 15 gallons of water into my tank. My whole system contains about 250 gallons of water, so 15 gallons would not be that big of a deal. Furthermore the waterline has a pinch clamp on it so that if the valve failed, the water would drip slowly into the sump and not dump all at once. 4. I fill the water reservoir from either the fresh water 30 gallon can or the salt water can. The latter will be about 1-2 gallons per week to make up for water coming out with the skimmer. The nice thing about the 30 can fresh water can is that I empty 15 gallons out at a time, so the water will not sit around for a long period of time. Both trash cans are covered. 5. I am still in the process of determining the exact rate of evaporation, but it seems to be about 4-5 gallons per day. I was hoping for it to be 2-3 gallons, so it would last for a week. So I might have to add another 5 gallon container to the system. cheers-- Ken, Tonya, Tehya, and Rachel Stockman Oh, Oscar and Kevlar too _______________________________________________________ Follow the U.S. presidential race on our Politics list! http://www.topica.com/lists/politics
