Please HELP...Going out of town

jden092901 · 01/12/2008, 11:57 PM

Hey everyone...I need some help! My wife and I are going out of town for a week or so for a medical procedure. My friend is going to come over everynight to top it off and dose my tank. I have a 30 gallon tank, not drilled and no sump. I was wondering if there is anyway I can make or get a water top off system. I would rather him not have to come here EVERY night to top off my tank. Any help would be wonderful!

Thanks,

Josh

FBNitro · 01/13/2008, 12:33 AM

I can't post the link here because Reef Central blocks links to nano reef dot com... so just fix this url up:

http://www.nano-reef [dot] com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65554

Should work fine to use a water jug instead of the official sun tea jug.

jden092901 · 01/13/2008, 12:41 AM

Thank you...the link doesnt work...I tried to copy it, but couldnt get the page up.

FBNitro · 01/13/2008, 12:48 AM

Replace the [dot] with a real dot... and remove the spaces on either side of the dot also...

FBNitro · 01/13/2008, 12:52 AM

Tried sending it to you via email also (hope you don't mind)... hopefully that doesn't get munched up by reefcentral also.

jden092901 · 01/13/2008, 01:11 AM

ok...sorry...i feel dumb. I thought about something..if I got a litter bottle, or a canister of some type and hung it above my tank, dripping so much per hour, that would work also, wouldnt it?

FBNitro · 01/13/2008, 01:22 AM

Yes, but you might have to worry about splash. Drip in and a drop goes out... evens out in the end.

Also it would probably take a while to get the drip rate correct. I'm not sure when you leave, so you may not have enough time to monitor a continuous drip system.

Another way to do it is to get a pop bottle (or something else with a good seal) and put 2 x 1/4 inch hoses into it through a pair of holes drilled in the lid and silicone those into place. Have one of the hoses running through all the way to the bottom, and the other just sit at the top. Hook top hose up to an air pump and hang the bottom over the edge of the tank (above the water line). Put the air pump on a fine resolution digital timer and every 12-24 hours turn the air pump on for 2-5 minutes (you'll have to figure out how long based on your evap rate). The air pressure will force the water which will top off your system. If you got a water container big enough you could do the entire week...

Norward · 01/13/2008, 09:53 AM

I have left my 29g for a week three times this year, using an automatic feeder and no top-off without any problems. It is possible that my set-up doesn't experience the amount of evaporation that yours does.

01/12/2008, 11:57 PM	#1
jden092901 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 367	Please HELP...Going out of town Hey everyone...I need some help! My wife and I are going out of town for a week or so for a medical procedure. My friend is going to come over everynight to top it off and dose my tank. I have a 30 gallon tank, not drilled and no sump. I was wondering if there is anyway I can make or get a water top off system. I would rather him not have to come here EVERY night to top off my tank. Any help would be wonderful! Thanks, Josh __________________ 120 Gallon Reef 40 Gallon breeder sump/fuge ASM G3 skimmer Mag 12 return pump Sea swirls and 2 Koralia 4's Filter sock 200 lbs live rock 140 lbs live sand Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef

01/13/2008, 12:41 AM	#3
jden092901 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 367	Thank you...the link doesnt work...I tried to copy it, but couldnt get the page up. __________________ 120 Gallon Reef 40 Gallon breeder sump/fuge ASM G3 skimmer Mag 12 return pump Sea swirls and 2 Koralia 4's Filter sock 200 lbs live rock 140 lbs live sand Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef

01/13/2008, 01:11 AM	#6
jden092901 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 367	ok...sorry...i feel dumb. I thought about something..if I got a litter bottle, or a canister of some type and hung it above my tank, dripping so much per hour, that would work also, wouldnt it? __________________ 120 Gallon Reef 40 Gallon breeder sump/fuge ASM G3 skimmer Mag 12 return pump Sea swirls and 2 Koralia 4's Filter sock 200 lbs live rock 140 lbs live sand Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef

01/13/2008, 01:22 AM	#7
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	Yes, but you might have to worry about splash. Drip in and a drop goes out... evens out in the end. Also it would probably take a while to get the drip rate correct. I'm not sure when you leave, so you may not have enough time to monitor a continuous drip system. Another way to do it is to get a pop bottle (or something else with a good seal) and put 2 x 1/4 inch hoses into it through a pair of holes drilled in the lid and silicone those into place. Have one of the hoses running through all the way to the bottom, and the other just sit at the top. Hook top hose up to an air pump and hang the bottom over the edge of the tank (above the water line). Put the air pump on a fine resolution digital timer and every 12-24 hours turn the air pump on for 2-5 minutes (you'll have to figure out how long based on your evap rate). The air pressure will force the water which will top off your system. If you got a water container big enough you could do the entire week... Last edited by FBNitro; 01/13/2008 at 01:34 AM.

01/13/2008, 09:53 AM	#8
Norward Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Little Rock Posts: 407	I have left my 29g for a week three times this year, using an automatic feeder and no top-off without any problems. It is possible that my set-up doesn't experience the amount of evaporation that yours does. Last edited by Norward; 01/13/2008 at 10:05 AM.

01/13/2008, 12:33 AM	#2
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	I can't post the link here because Reef Central blocks links to nano reef dot com... so just fix this url up: http://www.nano-reef [dot] com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65554 Should work fine to use a water jug instead of the official sun tea jug.

01/13/2008, 12:48 AM	#4
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	Replace the [dot] with a real dot... and remove the spaces on either side of the dot also...

01/13/2008, 12:52 AM	#5
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	Tried sending it to you via email also (hope you don't mind)... hopefully that doesn't get munched up by reefcentral also.