Auto Water change through skimmer questions

Just make sure to clean the float switch once in a while if using it with dirtier than normal water so it doesntvget gunky and stick off or anything.

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Very true. I would expect the failure rate of the float switch to be lower than the risk of the skimmer at least though! I will use a double float switch method for redundancy.


Any ideas for a pump in the bucket to empty it? Maxi jet will only drop it to an inch or so from the bottom.

 

I would have a float switch controll your skimmer so it doesn't drain your tank. It would be better to use to pumps one to pump out the water and another to pump new water in.

 

Total materials -
Apex with conductivity module and i/0 breakout box - already had this
1 5gallon bucket for skimmate - already had it laying around
1 water change mixing bucket - using same container I already had (30gallon barrel)
1 skimmer - obviously already had this as well!

2 Additional float switches - $20
1 50ml/day BRS pump - $90
Misc plumbing - $10
Maxijet pump - $10 (used from local reefer)

So... for $130.. I will have a fully adjustable auto water change method that will keep my salinity rock solid!

 

That's the purpose of draining it into a 5 gallon bucket with a float switch on it. To keep the maximum amount drained to 5 gallons with out me being informed and having to make a decision. From there I will be able to drain the bucket remotely and keep going even if I am in a meeting on the other side of the country when it happens!

To me, the biggest benefit is not having a single point in time where the water change happens. As well as pulling more DOC out per gallon (significantly more than traditional water changes) I should also never have a swing, water is constantly being slowly pulled out, and slowly dosed back in. (also less equipment with this method!)

I like the idea of innovating something new. If for no other reason than the novelty of doing something unique.

 

Great Idea, I use my skimmer with the drain line going down to a 5g bucket for all my water changes, it's gentler on the system to pump it out, and slowly poor it back by hand. Your idea automates the whole thing. I love it, will definitely be following this thread.


Good Luck


good luck

 

You still may want to have an overflow back into the tank. Float switches definitely fail. Also, in another post you mentioned things not all failing at once. However, if everything relies on your controller and your controller fails or malfunctions you could have everything fail at once.

The other issue I see, is skimmer pumps don't like being turned on and off and can get stuck. Sometimes you will turn it back on and it won't start, perhaps because some crud got in. So, you have to manually disassemble it and clean the crud off and try again. if your there, usually it isn't a big deal, as you are there to fix it, but If it's turned on remotely and gets stuck, it will sit there trying to spin and this will likely cause it to burn out. BB are not cheap to replace, so, that wouldn't be my preference.

As to emptying the bucket, any external pump, even something like a "quite one" should allow you to use a tube, which could be placed at the very bottom of the bucket. You could also use a a dosing pump or aqualift pump if you are not going to stick around when it's emptying. These can run dry without burning out.

 

I must of missed where you said it was going to drain into a 5 gallon bucket with a float switch

 

I can drill a bulkhead into the very top of the 5g bucket that will drain back into the sump along with a double float switch... That way even if both fail, it will dump back into the sump.

The controller is easy due to fallback settings. If the controller fails then the skimmer will just turn off. And nothing will happen.

I'm willing to take the risk with the skimmer turning on and off. Don't forget the bucket will only reach the top if something goes wrong. Not as part of a normal day. From reading that long thread on RC, people aren't having near the variables we were worried about even after 2 years of using this method. (though there idea isn't nearly as refined, the skimmer part is the same)

If I use a dosing type pump.. wouldn't it clog easy with all the goo in skimmate?

 

I just came up with this idea, it was easy to miss. Just a few posts up.