I got tired trying to keep my water level constant, so now that I have a sump, it's time for a topoff system. Being financially challenged
, I decided to make my own.
I started with a 1 1/2 in to 1 in PVC reducer and a piece of a medical glove (I have purple nitrile gloves which have no latex in them).
I cut a small hole in the center of the glove, and siliconed it to the bottom of the reducer and trimmed it when dry
A ping pong ball will now float up and seal itself against the hole.
Next, insert the reducer into a 1 1/2 in PVC coupling. A small holl drilled just below the center (and the purple seal) will allow any trapped air to escape. A 1 in plug with an airline tubing adapter glued in is glued to the reducer. A small ring of plexi glued to the bottom (not shown) lets the ball move freely, but not fall out. I threaded 2 nylon screws into the top to hold the unit at the top of my return pump well.
In operation, as the sump fills, the pingpong ball floats up and seals against the glove material like, well, a glove
, cutting off the flow of water from a 2 1/2 gal bucket with an airline tubing adapter at the bottom. As the level falls, so does the balll letting top off water in.
Cost less than $5.00