need help / advice on auto top off systems

TOURKID · 05/30/2006, 06:38 PM

hey all

well i left for 3 days with a sitter and it all went pretty bad. I have to leave again, for a week. I have 2 weeks to prepare for the next trip.

advive was given to me that i should get a top off controller and Im totally clueless.

I looked here.. www.autotopoff.com but i dont know if i need a selonoid? and what else i would need

theres one on dr fosters to for about 80.00 but is this all I would need?

and bigger question

do I have to have an r/o uint to HAVE a top off? or can i use a 5 gal. bucket? I understand the 5 gal bucket would have to have water added to it. shouldent be a problem

some help? maybe even pictures?

TOURKID · 05/30/2006, 07:56 PM

ok so i think im ordering the JBJ A.T.O. - Automatic Top Off System

i need a pump. does a regular maxi jet work? or do they mean an air pump? i cant seem to find anything about what kind of pump ill need!! thanks

RobNJ · 05/30/2006, 08:29 PM

piggy backing, curious myself

ek9vboi · 05/30/2006, 08:40 PM

Maxi Jet should work fine. All it really does is control when to pump water into the tank and when to stop. You can use either reg. mixed salt water or even use it as a doser for other things such as calc. I am looking into it myself, not sure if I want to go all out and get a sump/fuge or not yet.

old salty · 05/30/2006, 08:43 PM

I use a JBJ ATO with a persistaltic pump. I would imagine you could use a small power head with the same results. The biggest reason that I do not use a power head is that you can overdose if the float valve sticks.

Anyways, I purchased a 44 gallon Brute trash can from Lowes, and that is my topoff reservoir. I throw a cup of lime in there and stir it for an hour or so. I haven't had any issues or complaints as of yet.

TOURKID · 05/30/2006, 08:51 PM

sounds good. so i can use a 5 gal. bucket for short stints then..... guess im going to go thru with the purchase. id rather give the 100 to the fish sitter.. to incompetent for that tho

goda · 05/30/2006, 09:13 PM

i use autotopoff.com with a solonid
you can use it with a small pump ( make sure it wont start a siphon tho)

or use a gravity feed from the bucker to your sump ( and use a solonoid inline)

adnup · 05/30/2006, 09:29 PM

I made mine like this: http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/auto_topoff.html
I bought a fountain pump off ebay for like $3 and its been working great for a year now. all for under $20

bertoni · 05/30/2006, 09:47 PM

I use a ReefFanatic dual switch with a peristaltic pump. The pump is a Master-Flex that I got used, but I think the Reef Filler products have gotten good reviews.. I think you'll be extremely happy with your autotopoff.

TOURKID · 05/31/2006, 06:06 AM

whats the difference with a peristaltic pump? I looked it up and found pics but i dont get it.

I just need the simplest way to do it, and it needs to work properly b4 i leave lol

going to place order today

TOURKID · 05/31/2006, 06:12 AM

ok. so i found this one, thats 40 dollars more and comes with a perastalic pump

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=AQ4513

this is what i waas going to get. any opinions?

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=JB5111

besl · 05/31/2006, 06:19 AM

I have the JBJ ATO unit - you can get them on line for roughly $80 if you shop around on the net. I have been using it for approx 4 months and I am very pleased with it - unit contains everything you need (control unit and 2 float switches) except the pump and water storage container. I use a MiniJet (I think it is the 404) that pumps around 75 - 100 gph - you don't need/want high flow for the top off. THE ATO unit has a fail safe circuit built in that won't let the unit run for longer than 3.5 minutes (roughly) - you can calculate the volume of water that would be sent to the sump during this fail safe mode and be sure the sump can hold it (a high rated ph may cause problems in this case).

Reefugee · 05/31/2006, 06:42 AM

You don't want to use mixed salt water for topping off. Your salinity will gradually increase. Topoff with with RODI water.

Quote:

Originally posted by ek9vboi
You can use either reg. mixed salt water or even use it as a doser for other things such as calc.

Sk8r · 05/31/2006, 08:27 AM

An old lidded salt bucket is ideal for your topoff water. Your water should be fresh water (same as you use for topping off ordinarily) and you can add some buffer to it to keep your alk from falling while you're gone. BUFFER DOSAGE: figure your daily demand for alkalinity buffer and your daily demand for topoff water and lace the topoff water with enough buffer to satisy that demand in the volume of water you expect to go out daily. It is not the dosage given on the buffer jar.

I use a 900 maxijet and a half inch hose running back to my sump.

The system you're getting may solve the following problem with a valve, but this is the brute-force way of solving it if it doesn't---
The one real poser for me was the siphon created when a full hose is sitting in the sump and the pump is sitting in a full bucket of water: you can end up with a siphon action you don't want!!! ANSWER: drill a hole in your half inch hose INSIDE the lidded bucket but ABOVE the bucket waterline at its highest. The hose will spray like crazy when turned on, hence the lid with a notch in the bucket rim to let the hose out, and keep the spray in the bucket---but the siphon will break quickly when the pump stops running, thanks to that hole letting in air, and your water levels will be ok. HTH.

TOURKID · 05/31/2006, 09:06 AM

ok i have a maxi 600 laying around ill use that

mike89t · 05/31/2006, 09:39 AM

I created a gravity fed Auto-topoff system.

Basically I have a 10G plastic holding tank that is connected to a float valve which is located in the return section of my Sump. When the return sections water level gets low enough the float valve opens up an tops it off. The 10G tank holds enough water to top off my 150 system for about 5 days before I need to fill it again.

Here is a shot that shows my Holding tank (white plastic box in top of picture) and my float valve (Black Kent Marine float valve Bottom right of picture):

Here you can see how I mounted my float valve to one of the baffles in my sump:

I've been using this system for about 6 months now and it works great.

Just make sure your sump can handle the extra water in case your float valve gets stuck in the open position. It's never happened to me but it is something I planned for.

Here is the float valve I used:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=KM1675

Here is the bulkhead I used:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=RO5411

TOURKID · 05/31/2006, 09:40 AM

i dont have a sump unfortunatly.

old salty · 05/31/2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TOURKID
ok. so i found this one, thats 40 dollars more and comes with a perastalic pump

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=AQ4513

this is what i waas going to get. any opinions?

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=JB5111

Not bad, but there is no provision for a stuck float switch (not if but when it happens!!)

I have the same pump without all the extras. The JBJ ATO will come with everything else you need (except the tubing to and from the pump.) I use plain old aquarium air hose. It's cheap and easily replaceable.

bertoni · 05/31/2006, 01:49 PM

I agree that having only one float switch is a bit iffy. I went with two. Float valves aren't as reliable as float switches, from what I can tell.

I dose limewater as topoff, which adds both calcium and alkalinity, if you're interested in more automation there.

05/30/2006, 06:38 PM	#1
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	need help / advice on auto top off systems hey all well i left for 3 days with a sitter and it all went pretty bad. I have to leave again, for a week. I have 2 weeks to prepare for the next trip. advive was given to me that i should get a top off controller and Im totally clueless. I looked here.. www.autotopoff.com but i dont know if i need a selonoid? and what else i would need theres one on dr fosters to for about 80.00 but is this all I would need? and bigger question do I have to have an r/o uint to HAVE a top off? or can i use a 5 gal. bucket? I understand the 5 gal bucket would have to have water added to it. shouldent be a problem some help? maybe even pictures? __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/30/2006, 07:56 PM	#2
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	ok so i think im ordering the JBJ A.T.O. - Automatic Top Off System i need a pump. does a regular maxi jet work? or do they mean an air pump? i cant seem to find anything about what kind of pump ill need!! thanks __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/30/2006, 08:43 PM	#5
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I use a JBJ ATO with a persistaltic pump. I would imagine you could use a small power head with the same results. The biggest reason that I do not use a power head is that you can overdose if the float valve sticks. Anyways, I purchased a 44 gallon Brute trash can from Lowes, and that is my topoff reservoir. I throw a cup of lime in there and stir it for an hour or so. I haven't had any issues or complaints as of yet. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

05/30/2006, 08:51 PM	#6
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	sounds good. so i can use a 5 gal. bucket for short stints then..... guess im going to go thru with the purchase. id rather give the 100 to the fish sitter.. to incompetent for that tho __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/30/2006, 09:29 PM	#8
adnup Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Hill, Florida Posts: 2,025	I made mine like this: http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/auto_topoff.html I bought a fountain pump off ebay for like $3 and its been working great for a year now. all for under $20 __________________ A HOUSE isn't a HOME without saltwater on the floor! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire, I-Tech 200 Skimmer, Snapper, Tunze

05/30/2006, 08:29 PM	#3
RobNJ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hasbrouck Heights, NJ Posts: 945	piggy backing, curious myself

05/30/2006, 08:40 PM	#4
ek9vboi Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South FL Posts: 3,027	Maxi Jet should work fine. All it really does is control when to pump water into the tank and when to stop. You can use either reg. mixed salt water or even use it as a doser for other things such as calc. I am looking into it myself, not sure if I want to go all out and get a sump/fuge or not yet.

05/30/2006, 09:13 PM	#7
goda Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: fortlauderdale florida area Posts: 1,874	i use autotopoff.com with a solonid you can use it with a small pump ( make sure it wont start a siphon tho) or use a gravity feed from the bucker to your sump ( and use a solonoid inline)

05/30/2006, 09:47 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I use a ReefFanatic dual switch with a peristaltic pump. The pump is a Master-Flex that I got used, but I think the Reef Filler products have gotten good reviews.. I think you'll be extremely happy with your autotopoff. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/31/2006, 06:06 AM	#10
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	whats the difference with a peristaltic pump? I looked it up and found pics but i dont get it. I just need the simplest way to do it, and it needs to work properly b4 i leave lol going to place order today __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/31/2006, 06:12 AM	#11
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	ok. so i found this one, thats 40 dollars more and comes with a perastalic pump http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=AQ4513 this is what i waas going to get. any opinions? http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=JB5111 __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/31/2006, 06:19 AM	#12
besl Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boston-burb, MA Posts: 800	I have the JBJ ATO unit - you can get them on line for roughly $80 if you shop around on the net. I have been using it for approx 4 months and I am very pleased with it - unit contains everything you need (control unit and 2 float switches) except the pump and water storage container. I use a MiniJet (I think it is the 404) that pumps around 75 - 100 gph - you don't need/want high flow for the top off. THE ATO unit has a fail safe circuit built in that won't let the unit run for longer than 3.5 minutes (roughly) - you can calculate the volume of water that would be sent to the sump during this fail safe mode and be sure the sump can hold it (a high rated ph may cause problems in this case). __________________ Why did kamakazi pilots wear helmets? Current Tank Info: 55 Gal, 260W CF, 60 lbs LR, CC base, 7 fish, 10 corals, Aquafuge - chaetomorpha & grape

05/31/2006, 08:27 AM	#14
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	An old lidded salt bucket is ideal for your topoff water. Your water should be fresh water (same as you use for topping off ordinarily) and you can add some buffer to it to keep your alk from falling while you're gone. BUFFER DOSAGE: figure your daily demand for alkalinity buffer and your daily demand for topoff water and lace the topoff water with enough buffer to satisy that demand in the volume of water you expect to go out daily. It is not the dosage given on the buffer jar. I use a 900 maxijet and a half inch hose running back to my sump. The system you're getting may solve the following problem with a valve, but this is the brute-force way of solving it if it doesn't--- The one real poser for me was the siphon created when a full hose is sitting in the sump and the pump is sitting in a full bucket of water: you can end up with a siphon action you don't want!!! ANSWER: drill a hole in your half inch hose INSIDE the lidded bucket but ABOVE the bucket waterline at its highest. The hose will spray like crazy when turned on, hence the lid with a notch in the bucket rim to let the hose out, and keep the spray in the bucket---but the siphon will break quickly when the pump stops running, thanks to that hole letting in air, and your water levels will be ok. HTH. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/31/2006, 09:06 AM	#15
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	ok i have a maxi 600 laying around ill use that __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/31/2006, 09:39 AM	#16
mike89t Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chandler, Az Posts: 1,889	I created a gravity fed Auto-topoff system. Basically I have a 10G plastic holding tank that is connected to a float valve which is located in the return section of my Sump. When the return sections water level gets low enough the float valve opens up an tops it off. The 10G tank holds enough water to top off my 150 system for about 5 days before I need to fill it again. Here is a shot that shows my Holding tank (white plastic box in top of picture) and my float valve (Black Kent Marine float valve Bottom right of picture): Here you can see how I mounted my float valve to one of the baffles in my sump: I've been using this system for about 6 months now and it works great. Just make sure your sump can handle the extra water in case your float valve gets stuck in the open position. It's never happened to me but it is something I planned for. Here is the float valve I used: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=KM1675 Here is the bulkhead I used: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=RO5411 __________________ Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks. Current Tank Info: Sold my 150G reef tank. :^(

05/31/2006, 09:40 AM	#17
TOURKID Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vegas baby, Vegas Posts: 4,371	i dont have a sump unfortunatly. __________________ RISK more than others think is safe CARE more than others think is wise DREAM more than others think is practical EXPECT more than others think is possible Current Tank Info: nada

05/31/2006, 01:49 PM	#19
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that having only one float switch is a bit iffy. I went with two. Float valves aren't as reliable as float switches, from what I can tell. I dose limewater as topoff, which adds both calcium and alkalinity, if you're interested in more automation there. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni