Float Switch in a Display tank?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20363
Printed Date: July 29 2026 at 1:28pm
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Topic: Float Switch in a Display tank?
Posted By: superman1981
Subject: Float Switch in a Display tank?
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 11:12am
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Is it possible to put a float switch in your display tank for an auto-top-off? Is there one that I can buy that will work, or do I need to build my own contraception?
------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Replies:
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 11:43am
Is there one that I can buy that will work, or do I need to build my own contraception?
I'm sorry, once I stop laughing I'll try to reply. 
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: superman1981
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 11:48am
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wow, thats the last time I use spell check!
------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Posted By: peiji
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 11:50am
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Now that's definitely one that will end up in someone's signature or quote book. ------------- Jared Page Highland, UT Graphic Designer |
Posted By: bbauman
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 12:02pm
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I was about to say the exact same thing. That was a great laugh. ------------- 28g Cube http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23030" rel="nofollow - Beginners Guide to Saltwater Aquariums Brandon in West Jordan |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 12:03pm
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Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 12:06pm
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Here are a couple of ideas.
http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/auto_topoff.html - http://www.melevsreef.com/plumbing/auto_topoff.html
http://www.jbjlighting.com/sys_ato.html - http://www.jbjlighting.com/sys_ato.html
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 12:21pm
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Assuming you have no sump, correct? A simpler way is to use the Glug Jug. Email me for plans. mailto:[email protected] - [email protected]
But on the other hand, topoff does not have to be exact. A tank can drop an inch or more and be topped off all at once with no bad effect. And it can be safer to do manual topoff. Not if but when the topoff contraception
 malfunctions because of a snail or a fish or a piece of algae, etc., you will have a flood to clean up. Personally, I would never put a switch actuated topoff in the main tank, or if I did, I'd be sure that if the full contents of the resevoir dumped into the tank, there was room to hold it. Again, manual freshwater topoff of up to 5% of tank capacity (2.5 gals added to a 55 gal tank) is not a big deal. In other words, salinity is less of an issue than most hobbists think.my 2 cents  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: Jamison
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 1:02pm
Some DIY projects just aren't worth it.------------- Educate. Inspire. Conserve. http://[email protected] |
superman1981 wrote:Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 1:18pm
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I agree with Mark. It should be in the sump area, if you have one, or something like a glug jug. |
Posted By: superman1981
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 3:10pm
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Well to those of you who actually answered my question and were able to overlook my spelling malfunction, I appreciate it! Mark I'll be e-mailing you when I get a chance... So what ever happened to Adam... he was supposed to respond for real when he stopped laughing... either he's still laughing like 3 hours later, or he laughed so hard his heart stopped, and poor Adam is no longer with us  RIP Adam Blundell ------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Posted By: Kevin
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 3:19pm
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I have had a top off unit in my main tank for a very long time. I use a float switch with a 10 gallon refill tank, and a maxi-jet power head (or at least I used to).
http://www.aquahub.com/store/ifloatfloatswitch.html -- these work, although I have had one burn out on me. 1. Make sure that things such as snails cannot get to the float switch. They LOVE to climb aboard and pump everything into the main tank. 2. Make sure that the refill hose does not sit in the main tank (You don't want to siphon your water out of the main tank. 3. I think that the refill reservoir should be fairly small compared to the main tank so that if something does go wrong, then all that happens is you fill up your tank to the rim but everything is still ok and you just have to wait for it to evaporate. -- Here is what I do now -- I have a dosing pump that everytime my float switch gets below a certain level it triggers the the pump to dose a certain amount of water into the tank. Then it wont dose any more until the switch turns back off for at least 10 seconds. |
Posted By: pickensw
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 4:06pm
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Here is a Double Switch Tank Mount....I have the Sump model and I love it.
http://www.autotopoff.com/products/DT1/index.htm - http://www.autotopoff.com/products/DT1/index.htm
Will
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Posted By: superman1981
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 4:31pm
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I'm pretty sure I could build one of those for about $10, thanks for the ideas!
------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 4:55pm
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I think Adam is still laughing and showing your post around the office.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Jamison
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 5:32pm
I just saw him at the hardware store asking for red, yellow and blue liquid laytex, a micro-sized spring-loaded bug zapper and a welding mask. It's anyone's guess what he's up to??? Perhaps it's some unique contraption.------------- Educate. Inspire. Conserve. http://[email protected] |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 6:14pm
That guy's not making over $1 hour making that. I'm a huge diy'er and I'd probably just buy this from him rather then build my own (although I already have one). The double switch w/relay is the best way to go, imo. ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: jfinch
Date Posted: September 07 2007 at 6:16pm
Strange, he stopped by the refinery this afternoon looking for a barrel of petroleum jelly...  ------------- Jon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6y_EzjI_ljbIwf2n5uNzTw" rel="nofollow - What I've been doing... |
Posted By: sivert55
Date Posted: September 09 2007 at 3:48am
literally ROFLOL
-Trevis ------------- Sold it all. Building a 285 with dedicated fishroom. |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: September 09 2007 at 9:36am
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I'm calling it my "Great Barrier Reef Method"
Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: September 09 2007 at 6:15pm
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