Another Auto Top-Off System made simple

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Master Er

New Member
Most of you probably remeber the first Auto Top-Off system I made and I think some of you found it complicated to fabricate in terms of components. Remember this?


So earlier today I made one for a friend using a Nalgene bottle as the water container. Whats good about this is, its rigid, has a content indicator on the side, comes in different colors, sealed, holds the same volume as the first one I did, its lighter, and less components are needed...take a look.....


I would have looked for a bigger container but as I was pressed for time, I guess this would do for any Pico tank or slightly bigger. Its alot easier to do, this project took me about 10 minutes to do....like it?
 
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drty811

New Member
gravity......i havent heard from MASTER ER in a long time, so ill see what i can do. the larger tube is the vacuum line. the bottom of it should be at water level. the small tubing is the supply line to the tank.

here goes nothing.......when your water level falls below the vacuum line(larger tubing) it lets air into the resevoir, which releases pressure and the water starts to flow out the supply line(small tubing). when the water level reachs the vacuum line, its stops the air going to the bottle and builds pressure and stops the water flow. ATO

if i remember right you have to use larger tubing for the vacuum line so the water doesnt get sucked back up into the bottle.

HTH if i missed anything just let me know
 
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drty811

New Member
both go into the same place........if you have an over flow, large tubing at desired water level, small one wherever it will stay to fill the overflow. if you dont have a overflow, large at water level....small just above it.

the key is that the large one is at water level.
 
skipm

skipm

Moderator
Staff member
This is the same principle used by the Nurce systems that were available a few years back, they no longer make them now though from what I understand. Of course the Nurce systems were made for larger systems with the smaller one holding something like 8 gallons of water as I remember.
 
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drty811

New Member
wherever your water level is effected by evap. then you place the larger tubing at the water level. make sure your salinity is right before placing tubing. when the level goes down it allows air into the bottle and gravity pull the water into the tank. when the water level rises the air is stopped and then the water stops flowing. both tube have to be stationary. not sure how else to explain it.....sorry.
 
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reefman23

New Member
Let's see if this will help...



That is a picture of the ATO that I constructed. You can see the large tube that comes out of the top. You can also see the small tubing at the bottom. The container is airtight... this is KEY. The large tube comes out the top, and the end goes down to the level where you want the water to be. When the end of the large tube near the water level is open, there is no vacuum in the container, so water flows out of the small tube in the bottom. This causes the water level in the tank to rise. When the level rises high enough, it blocks the end of the large tube, causing a small amount of water to be sucked up inside the large tube until a vacuum is created inside the container. Once this happens, water no longer flows out of the container. Once the water level drops again, the end of the large tubing is again open, breaking the vacuum and allowing water to flow out...

I hope that helps... it is rather difficult to explain without seeing it in action!

Jesse
 
reefermike

reefermike

New Member
wow that makes complete sence now hahaha thank you very much everyone for taking the time to explain... I can bet im not the only one thats going to neeed more understanding :lol3: :lol3: so simply silicon the tubing in place and put it on top. I guess the only other question is placement.. In a nanocube would placement of the large tube be in the last chamber? as this would be the only one to rise or fall.. correct?
 
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