Main Menu
| |
Get on the Map!
| |
Forum Menu
| | 
04-18-2006, 09:51 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
 |  Auto topoff ???
I was looking into an easy/cheap way to set up a DIY topoff system and ran into the link below. I like it because it does not involve a float or anything that can cause floods (knock on wood). The general concept is to have a pump connected to your reserve water and set to a timer that would pump for a few minutes each day and turn off. I have a problem with a couple of the steps involved and was hoping someone could take a look and help me out with it.
First, what is this 1/8" rigid undergravel filter (UGF) tube that they use in the plans? I've asked numerous people at fish stores and no one knows nor do they have it. The smallest line that HD carries is 1/4".
"Rigid plastic tubing.
The 1/8" plastic tubing used for uplift tubes in UGFs works very well."
Secondly, the plans say to "Cut a length of vinyl airline hose that when attached to the inside end of the longer, (five inch) rigid tubing"
Am I missing something here, how do I attach the two tubes? How does the 1/4" attach to the inside of the 1/8" rigid tube? 
Maybe someone has done this project before and can lend a hand?
Thanks!
Here's the link....... http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/dos...a/aa072298.htm
_________
Tank:
55 gallon w/10 gallon sump
60 #'s of Fiji LR/2" live sand bed
4-54W T5 HO-1 Sun-6000K, 1 Aquablue-11000K and 2 Actinic/Blue Plus
AquaC Remora skimmer
2 MaxiJet 1200powerheads
Livestock:
2 False Percula Clown
1 Yellow Tang
1 Coral Beauty
1 Firefish
1 Cleaner Shrimp
15 Nassarius Snails
5 Cerith Snails
20 Margarita Snails
10 Astrea Snails
2 Turbo Snail
15 Red Tipped Leg Hermit | 
|  | | Reef Links |  | |
04-18-2006, 10:41 AM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | KingFish
Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 38
Posts: 7,429
     |
The 1/8" tubing from UGF is what the air stone attaches too.
It is the same as the tubing found on ro units except it's rigid.  EDIT - ACTUALLY it's not. THE RO line has an inner diameter of 1/8" - the outer is bigger.
Air hose will attach to it without any problems.
Someone made a topoff with a pingpong ball and some PVC on this board. Worth a look.
I still say the $172 I spent on the Tunze system was the best money I've spent. It uses infared (sp) and doesn't let the water go down more than 1/8" of an inch. for what it's worth...
Good luck all the same. Hope that helps..
Last edited by Matt Rogers; 04-19-2006 at 10:34 AM.
| |
| | |
04-18-2006, 10:43 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 20
Posts: 3,450
|
Infrared eh? Well...I will definatly be looking at that golf ball and pvc...i need a sumpless way to auto top off lol...maybe ill hang one of those kent supp thingys over my tank ^^ _________ Tank Specs:
55 Gallon Mixed Reef
48" Tek Light: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents
Bulbs:
1 x 54w Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w Super Actinic Blue T5 HO Flourescent
1 x 54w 14000K AquaBlue 75/25 T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w 10000k AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
Hard Stuff:
100+ lb. Fiji Live Rock
65+ lb. Live sand
 | |
| | |
04-18-2006, 12:24 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Coral Banded Shrimp
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Noblesville, IN,Indiana Age: 56
Posts: 373
Karma: 92
|
My topoff unit with the pingpong ball started failing after about 3 months of use. The non-latex sheet I used to seal it started to stretch. I redid it with a smaller piece backed up with a clear acrylic disk and it worked better. But to tell the truth, I found a float valve for 12.99 and am now using that. Pictures in this thread. My original auto-topoff design is here
Mike
_________
55 gal FOWLR, SeaClone 150 skimmer. 2" LS, 50# LR. 29Gal sump/fuge ViaAqua 2600 pump, chaeto, 1" sand, LR
2 Percula Clowns, Scissortail Goby, Black Birdwrasse, Keyhole angel, Lawnmower Blenny, | |
| | |
04-18-2006, 01:04 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas Age: 34
Posts: 142
Karma: 9
|
I did it with a $7.00 float switch, a 10 gal aquarium from wal mart for $9.99, $2.00 worth of tubing and an old powerhead that I had laying around. So for a total grand investment of $18.99 I've got my top off that has been working without a hitch for about 8 months now. Knock on wood!  _________ 
55 Gal Glass, 10 gal sump, seaclone100 protein skimmer, 2 pc 65w 10k's, 2 pc 65w actinic, 2 4ft VHO 110w bulbs, 135lbs of live rock, livesand/aragonite mix, coral beauty, percula clown, blue and yellow damsel, peppermint shrimp, Skunk shrimp, coral banded shrimp, xenia, leather, zoas, star polyps, button polyps, frogspawn, hammer, leather, mushrooms, long tentacle anemone, turbosnails, astrea snails, hermit crabs and a featherduster. | |
| | |
04-18-2006, 01:05 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | KingFish
Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 38
Posts: 7,429
|
Thanks Michael.
I was going to look that up. | |
| | |
04-18-2006, 06:03 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
|
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Michaelr5 My topoff unit with the pingpong ball started failing after about 3 months of use. The non-latex sheet I used to seal it started to stretch. I redid it with a smaller piece backed up with a clear acrylic disk and it worked better. But to tell the truth, I found a float valve for 12.99 and am now using that. Pictures in this thread. My original auto-topoff design is here
Mike |
I guess I'll skip the ping pong ball method.
I'll look into the rigid UGF tubing and see if I can get that up and running, otherwise I'll go the float route. | |
| | |
04-21-2006, 07:21 AM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
|
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Matt Rogers The 1/8" tubing from UGF is what the air stone attaches too.
It is the same as the tubing found on ro units except it's rigid. EDIT - ACTUALLY it's not. THE RO line has an inner diameter of 1/8" - the outer is bigger.
Air hose will attach to it without any problems. |
So what do I need to buy in order to get this 1/8" tubing? An actual UGF, airstones, etc? I've looked all over the place and can't seem to locate it.
How does the air line connect to? | |
| | |
04-21-2006, 08:17 AM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Peppermint Shrimp
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 403
Karma: 38
|
In my opinions, an easier diy auto top off is have a airtight water container hang over your sump and have the water travel through a tube going down to the level of water u want to have in the sump. When the water level go below your mark, air will go into the container and water will come out, until the end of the tube is at or below water level. HTH. | |
| | |
04-22-2006, 10:02 AM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Bristle Worm
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 137
Karma: 1
|
Quote: |
Originally Posted by gkw In my opinions, an easier diy auto top off is have a airtight water container hang over your sump and have the water travel through a tube going down to the level of water u want to have in the sump. When the water level go below your mark, air will go into the container and water will come out, until the end of the tube is at or below water level. HTH. |
That sounds easier that's for sure, however, I don't have the room for that type of thing in my cabinet.
Any idea where to get the piece of 1/8" tube that I need? I've had no luck finding it anywhere and I'm getting ready to leave town for a bit and would like to have this auto-topoff system running before I go. | |
| | | Reef Links |  | 
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:44 PM. |
