Automatic Water Changer: Part 1

Ok time for the watercharger update I've been teasing you all with! This is going to be a biggie so hang in there. I wanted to get as much information up as possible so it might help others set up something similar.

Let me start at the beginning...

My previous water-change routine went something like this...
Put 5g jug in sink and fill up with RO. Remember (= forget!) to set stopwatch for 2hrs so I don't waste a ton of water. Fill Rubbermaid trashcan with 20g of RO water and add salt. Let mix for 24hrs with pump and heater. Do water-change by manually siphoning out old water and adding new water -ie a lot of lugging of 5g jugs and potential for spillages(!)

This was all fine for my nano, but not really the most efficient procedure for a 144g. I started researching online and found some [URL="http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1711626"]inspiring threads[/URL] about water storage tanks and automatic water-changers. I knew I wanted in!!

I have a large cupboard next to the sink in the utility room which had just been used to store random tank related stuff -mostly 5g jugs. As you can see it wasn't a great use of the space:

[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/cupboard.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/inside-cupboard.jpg[/IMG]

I thought this would be a great place to put 2 water storage tanks; the only problem... it is quite far away from the aquarium! I needed some way to move the water from the storage tanks to the DT.

[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/plumbing-plan1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/plumbing-plan2.jpg[/IMG]

Lounge:
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/house-1.jpg[/IMG]

View from in gym into lounge:
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/house2.jpg[/IMG]

View from lounge into gym:
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/house3.jpg[/IMG]

I looked at the [URL="http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1861751"]RENEW Automatic Water Change System[/URL], but in the end the [URL="http://www.spectrapure.com/st_prec_p0.htm"]LiterMeter III[/URL] was a better fit for me due to the distance the water needed to travel. Both companies have excellent customer service! Well worth shooting them an email to see if they can figure out a system for you too.

I asked on the local reef club forum anyone knew a creative handyman/plumber. I struck it lucky when Grim, one of the members, offered his services!

With Grim and Scott at SpectraPures guidance, I ordered all sorts of goodies!

[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/WCer-stuff.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/WCer-stuff2.jpg[/IMG]

- [URL="http://www.spectrapure.com/st_prec_p0.htm"]SpectraPure LiterMeter 3[/URL]
- [URL="http://www.spectrapure.com/st_prec_p0.htm"]SpectraPure Water eXchange module[/URL]
- 2 x 55g water tanks (from eBay. I would have liked to go a little bigger, but any wider and they wouldn't have fit through the cupboards skinny doorway)
- Black Float Switch (didn't end up being needed)
- [URL="http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/auto-shut-off-kit-for-reverse-osmosis-systems.html"]Auto Shut Off Kit for Reverse Osmosis Systems[/URL]
- [URL="http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/dual-inline-tds-meter-dm-1-hm-digital.html"]Dual Inline TDS Meter[/URL]
- [URL="http://www.spectrapure.com/st_prec_p0.htm"]SpectraPure Top Off Controler[/URL]
- [URL="http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/1-4-mur-lok-polyethylene-ro-tubing.html"]1/4" Red and Blue RO Tubing[/URL]
- [URL="http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/panworld-40px-external-water-pump-480gph.html"]PanWorld 40PX External Water Pump[/URL]

Not pictured:
- [URL="http://www.spectrapure.com/st_prec_p0.htm"]SpectraPure Remote Pump[/URL] (forgot to put it in photo! Posted Image)
- Plumbing for water containers
- Black and White 1/4" RO Tubing (bought separately from Lowes)