water/flood alarm to shut off pump

Conceyted · 09/07/2006, 12:49 PM

For the past few months I have been fighting with my ASM G3 skimmer. If i set the gatevalve too low the skimmer underskims. When set too high it overskims. Recently I adjusted it day by day until I found it to skim properly only to be awaken in the morning to the skimmer overflowing. Anything that happens out of the ordinary in the tank (and sometimes not out of the ordinary) the skimmer overflows. I would like to put a small sensor at the top of the collection cup to sense when water reaches that point. If the sensor detects water an alarm will sound(preferably) and it will shut the skimmer pump off. It seems like a great idea and I am surprised I have not seen one around yet. Does anyone know where to find one? I have seen alarms that will alert you via audible alert when water is detected but I want to go one step further and have it shut the pump off. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

imtheonlylp · 09/07/2006, 01:16 PM

why not just drill a small, 1/4" hole near the bottom of the skimmer cup, attach a drain (1/4") hose, glue it in place, drill a similar hole in the cap of a gatorade (or similar) container, insert the free end of the hose, and there ya go! overflow protection!

Conceyted · 09/07/2006, 01:31 PM

I understand your idea for the drain but the second hose in the cap? you must mean the venturi... needlewheel skimmers don't work that way. if you block off the venturi it will up the flowrate of the pump and force the water intovthe collection cup overflowing it even more.

imtheonlylp · 09/07/2006, 01:52 PM

no no...i wish i was at home, i would post a picture for you...let me see if i can explain it a little better:

1.) the skimmer collection cup: drill a 1/4" hole in the sidewall of this, near the bottom
2.) the 1/4" tubing: length is up to you, usually 12" is fine, just enough to get from the collection cup to your other container...insert one end of this into the hole you drilled in the collection cup - secure it with something like plumbing cement/glue/etc. - insert the other end into the cap of your overflow container (where you will have drilled a 1/4" hole as well)
3.) overflow container - some people use milk jugs...i used a 32oz gatorade bottle (its small, but holds a decent amount of skimmate)...drill a 1/4" hole directly in the center of the cap and insert the tubing..no need to secure as it will stay in by itself

i did this primarily to keep from having to remove my skimmer's collection cup each time i wanted to empty it..besides, its a little cramped in the space under my tank...so emptying the bottle is easier...of course i still have to remove the collection cup eventually and clean the riser tube for efficiency...hope this helps!

imtheonlylp · 09/07/2006, 01:53 PM

something like this:

Conceyted · 09/07/2006, 02:07 PM

essentially just make a waste collector. I see what you mean but this would not fix my problem. the problem is not that the skimmer is producing too much skimmate, the skimmer malfunctions causing the bubbles to rise faster and break higher creating what is basically water overflowing into the skimmer cup. it isn't that I am not emptying the cup enough but that the skimmer goes haywire when it comes into contact with certain elements like aquastik etc in the water

thanks for your solution though, I just need to find this automated switch I was talking about above.

grupper · 09/07/2006, 02:28 PM

You could add a float switch to turn off the pump when the water level gets too high. http://floatswitches.net/ seems to have some reasonably priced float switches. I'm not sure if you would need a relay to drive your skimmer pump or not. If you need a relay, then you could easily wire up the relay so that it turns on a buzzer when ever it turns off your pump. Of course, this solution requires you to do some wiring yourself.

Greg

Nathan · 09/07/2006, 02:29 PM

This is what you are looking for:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=UL1111

It can be set to turn off when water level rises too high, or turn on when water level rises to a certian point.

-Nathan

Conceyted · 09/07/2006, 03:27 PM

so basically a simplified autotopoff setup eh? the problem with the ultralife float is getting it mounted INSIDE a collection cup. Maybe i can wire something up using float switches from floatswitch.com

I really wanted to avoid having to build something on my own. The tunze setup looks nice but 200 dollars? jesus

Nathan · 09/07/2006, 03:47 PM

I have an AquaC EV 180. The waste line goes into a 5g bucket and the ultralife float switch is simply hung over the top of the bucket. When the skimmer goes nuts and dumps water into the bucket the water level in the bucket rises and trips the switch which turns off the skimmer pump.

Conceyted · 09/07/2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nathan
I have an AquaC EV 180. The waste line goes into a 5g bucket and the ultralife float switch is simply hung over the top of the bucket. When the skimmer goes nuts and dumps water into the bucket the water level in the bucket rises and trips the switch which turns off the skimmer pump.

thats probably what i will end up making. But more simplified and smaller i guess... I just dont have all the space under my stand for a bucket :-(

09/07/2006, 12:49 PM	#1
Conceyted Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 1,123	water/flood alarm to shut off pump For the past few months I have been fighting with my ASM G3 skimmer. If i set the gatevalve too low the skimmer underskims. When set too high it overskims. Recently I adjusted it day by day until I found it to skim properly only to be awaken in the morning to the skimmer overflowing. Anything that happens out of the ordinary in the tank (and sometimes not out of the ordinary) the skimmer overflows. I would like to put a small sensor at the top of the collection cup to sense when water reaches that point. If the sensor detects water an alarm will sound(preferably) and it will shut the skimmer pump off. It seems like a great idea and I am surprised I have not seen one around yet. Does anyone know where to find one? I have seen alarms that will alert you via audible alert when water is detected but I want to go one step further and have it shut the pump off. Any help is appreciated. Thanks __________________ -Chris and Jaime Current Tank Info: Rimless & Sumped Biocube Clownfish/BTA Harem

09/07/2006, 01:16 PM	#2
imtheonlylp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 465	why not just drill a small, 1/4" hole near the bottom of the skimmer cup, attach a drain (1/4") hose, glue it in place, drill a similar hole in the cap of a gatorade (or similar) container, insert the free end of the hose, and there ya go! overflow protection! __________________ "Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man" - Jimmy Lyons Current Tank Info: 75g glass, 20g sump/refugium, QueenTS200, CA2300 return pump, (2) AquaClear4000 powerheads

09/07/2006, 01:31 PM	#3
Conceyted Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 1,123	I understand your idea for the drain but the second hose in the cap? you must mean the venturi... needlewheel skimmers don't work that way. if you block off the venturi it will up the flowrate of the pump and force the water intovthe collection cup overflowing it even more. __________________ -Chris and Jaime Current Tank Info: Rimless & Sumped Biocube Clownfish/BTA Harem

09/07/2006, 01:52 PM	#4
imtheonlylp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 465	no no...i wish i was at home, i would post a picture for you...let me see if i can explain it a little better: 1.) the skimmer collection cup: drill a 1/4" hole in the sidewall of this, near the bottom 2.) the 1/4" tubing: length is up to you, usually 12" is fine, just enough to get from the collection cup to your other container...insert one end of this into the hole you drilled in the collection cup - secure it with something like plumbing cement/glue/etc. - insert the other end into the cap of your overflow container (where you will have drilled a 1/4" hole as well) 3.) overflow container - some people use milk jugs...i used a 32oz gatorade bottle (its small, but holds a decent amount of skimmate)...drill a 1/4" hole directly in the center of the cap and insert the tubing..no need to secure as it will stay in by itself i did this primarily to keep from having to remove my skimmer's collection cup each time i wanted to empty it..besides, its a little cramped in the space under my tank...so emptying the bottle is easier...of course i still have to remove the collection cup eventually and clean the riser tube for efficiency...hope this helps! __________________ "Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man" - Jimmy Lyons Current Tank Info: 75g glass, 20g sump/refugium, QueenTS200, CA2300 return pump, (2) AquaClear4000 powerheads

09/07/2006, 01:53 PM	#5
imtheonlylp Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 465	something like this: __________________ "Tomorrow is the only day that appeals to a lazy man" - Jimmy Lyons Current Tank Info: 75g glass, 20g sump/refugium, QueenTS200, CA2300 return pump, (2) AquaClear4000 powerheads

09/07/2006, 02:07 PM	#6
Conceyted Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 1,123	essentially just make a waste collector. I see what you mean but this would not fix my problem. the problem is not that the skimmer is producing too much skimmate, the skimmer malfunctions causing the bubbles to rise faster and break higher creating what is basically water overflowing into the skimmer cup. it isn't that I am not emptying the cup enough but that the skimmer goes haywire when it comes into contact with certain elements like aquastik etc in the water thanks for your solution though, I just need to find this automated switch I was talking about above. __________________ -Chris and Jaime Current Tank Info: Rimless & Sumped Biocube Clownfish/BTA Harem

09/07/2006, 02:28 PM	#7
grupper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tucson Posts: 75	You could add a float switch to turn off the pump when the water level gets too high. http://floatswitches.net/ seems to have some reasonably priced float switches. I'm not sure if you would need a relay to drive your skimmer pump or not. If you need a relay, then you could easily wire up the relay so that it turns on a buzzer when ever it turns off your pump. Of course, this solution requires you to do some wiring yourself. Greg

09/07/2006, 02:29 PM	#8
Nathan Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Newtown, Pa., USA Posts: 1,454	This is what you are looking for: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=UL1111 It can be set to turn off when water level rises too high, or turn on when water level rises to a certian point. -Nathan

09/07/2006, 03:27 PM	#9
Conceyted Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 1,123	so basically a simplified autotopoff setup eh? the problem with the ultralife float is getting it mounted INSIDE a collection cup. Maybe i can wire something up using float switches from floatswitch.com I really wanted to avoid having to build something on my own. The tunze setup looks nice but 200 dollars? jesus __________________ -Chris and Jaime Current Tank Info: Rimless & Sumped Biocube Clownfish/BTA Harem Last edited by Conceyted; 09/07/2006 at 03:48 PM.

09/07/2006, 03:47 PM	#10
Nathan Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Newtown, Pa., USA Posts: 1,454	I have an AquaC EV 180. The waste line goes into a 5g bucket and the ultralife float switch is simply hung over the top of the bucket. When the skimmer goes nuts and dumps water into the bucket the water level in the bucket rises and trips the switch which turns off the skimmer pump.