Auto Water change through skimmer questions

Another failure point... If the ATO does get stuck on, then so will the Salt doser as it trys to salt the water back to 1.025... which over time will push the water level up.. and then the skimmer will skim more.. I seriously doubt all this will happen equally though.

 

Here is a spin... What if I got another brs doser at 50 ml/min... One pull water out for half an hour, the other adding water in for half an hour. Do that 6-7 Times a day. Guaranteed water in and water out. Skim like normal...

I love the constant slow changing of the water that seems I could achieve through my original method. Just don't like the scare factor of skimmer output variability.


Edit: Dosing pump would clog so freaking easy with all the food particles/detritus floating in the sump... That won't work.

 

What if you used just a smaller pump that would pump into a container with a float switch and another that would pump water into the tank with aother float switch to tell it to stop?

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If I go a more traditional route that's what I will do. (actually I'll buy the product Matt suggested if this doesn't work)

I was hoping to use the skimmer to give it a constant flow throughout the day, and to get the dirtiest water only. I also only had to buy one piece that was $90 delivered to try this method.. so I figured what the hell, lol.

 

Ah ok. I have two containers in a room next to my aquarium one with ro water and one that I use to mix salt water. When I do a water change I move my top off pump to the salt water and start siphoning. When I'm done siphoning I let it finish topping off then move the pump back. Not really automated like you want but it has made water changes so much less annoying lol.

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I think a major key to success in this hobby is making the stuff you have to do anyhow as convenient as possible. If it's a pain to do, you are more likely to put it off.

Currently... Water changes for me are a major PITA. I have to move my furniture.. drop buckets in... I didn't plan well for it originally... So I'm making up for it by making it extremely convenient.

Between a daily water change schedule, an over sized skimmer and my algae scrubber. I don't have to worry about any hocus pocus or snake oil in a bottle to solve my Nitrate and Phosphate issues. And I can stock to fish aggression rather than worrying about nutrients in the system.

I want fish and SPS damn it!!

 

I found 2 long running threads on water changes using the skimmer. They are all getting consistent results.. no runaway skimmers dumping whole tanks.. I'm going to go through with my original plan and just monitor closely.

 

Cool, keep us updated!

 

I have been talking to a "Jermey" at Coralvue (The makers of reef octopus) By using the skimmer in this fashion I will not void any warrantee and should not expect any different function than wet skimming into the cup.. only it's wetter!

@m2434 - Awesome new avatar!!!

 

I got my solution!!!! Set up a 5g bucket with a float switch. Have the skimmer dump into the bucket. When the bucket fills with skimmate, the float switch turns the skimmer off and sends me a message. From there I can tell a cheap maxijet1200 pump (or something similar) in the bottom of the bucket to empty the bucket to outside and turn the skimmer back on.. OR if there seems to be a problem (Like I emptied the bucket a few hours ago... why the hell is it full) I can wait to get home and see what's going on!!

Seeing as my primary filtration is live rock and my algae scrubber. This is no big deal even if I am gone for a couple days before I can get back!

Since I can control everything from my android phone and I get a chance to make the decision rather than a computer!! Skimmer problem solved!!!!!! Absolutely no more than 5g is coming out without me having to make a decision for myself!