I would like to incorporate an ATO system in my sump design, but im not sure how to do it. I just checked out MasterEr's posts, but that isnt what Im going for. I would like to use a float switch, which i found at ebay but havent purchased yet ----> http://cgi.ebay.com/Float-switch-w-suct ... dZViewItem . My question is, what do I hook this up to? I think I would need a power head and a resevoir of some sort. Any pics or diagrams?
DIY Auto top-off. How to?
- Thread starter reefman23
- Start date
http://nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php ... &start=180
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... to+top+off
not sure if any of these threads will help you out or not mikeg has an ato but I am not sure if it is the same thing or not :mrgreen:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... to+top+off
not sure if any of these threads will help you out or not mikeg has an ato but I am not sure if it is the same thing or not :mrgreen:
ripcurrent
New Member
If you want the cheapest and least fire hazardess DIY autotopoff you can build an air powered unit. I built one for under $20 and it works awesome.
You will need (1) battery powered air pump, (1) float switch, (1) an air tight container, and airline.
One problem with people making homemade ATO's is that they wire the floatswitches into power strips and extension cords that are sending 110 volts through wires on a float switch that are obviously not designed to handle that load. IMO failure is innevitiable.
By wiring your switch into a battery powered air pump the likelyhood of a fire or malfunction is very much minimized if not completely eliminated because of the reduced electrical load.
Basically what you have to do is pop open the air pump, cut anyone of the wires that you see and wire in your float switch. Now close up the air pump that part is done. Now take an air tight container drill two very small holes in the lid and slide in two sections of airline(1 into each hole). Slide one tube all the way to the bottom of the container(this is the line that will transport water to your tank) and the other just barely into the container(this line will pressurize the container with air and force water up through the first(Make sure this line is never submerged). At that point super glue the contact points so no air can excape once the lid is closed. Fill the container with water and close it. From there connect the airline that is just barely hanging into the container to your airpump and the longer one where you would like the topoff water to enter your system. Mount the float switch, turn on the air pump and your off to the races. My battery powered AutoTopOff has been running fail proof on the same set of "D" batteries for 6 months and cost me $20. Hard to beat that!
Hope this helps.
You will need (1) battery powered air pump, (1) float switch, (1) an air tight container, and airline.
One problem with people making homemade ATO's is that they wire the floatswitches into power strips and extension cords that are sending 110 volts through wires on a float switch that are obviously not designed to handle that load. IMO failure is innevitiable.
By wiring your switch into a battery powered air pump the likelyhood of a fire or malfunction is very much minimized if not completely eliminated because of the reduced electrical load.
Basically what you have to do is pop open the air pump, cut anyone of the wires that you see and wire in your float switch. Now close up the air pump that part is done. Now take an air tight container drill two very small holes in the lid and slide in two sections of airline(1 into each hole). Slide one tube all the way to the bottom of the container(this is the line that will transport water to your tank) and the other just barely into the container(this line will pressurize the container with air and force water up through the first(Make sure this line is never submerged). At that point super glue the contact points so no air can excape once the lid is closed. Fill the container with water and close it. From there connect the airline that is just barely hanging into the container to your airpump and the longer one where you would like the topoff water to enter your system. Mount the float switch, turn on the air pump and your off to the races. My battery powered AutoTopOff has been running fail proof on the same set of "D" batteries for 6 months and cost me $20. Hard to beat that!
Hope this helps.
yodatravis
New Member
can you please list your sources for the 3 main components of your system: exactly what and where you purchased the materials for this project?
Here is the airpump: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113402 .
Here is a floatswitch: http://www.floatswitches.net/madisonswitches.html .
You could also go to www.floatswitches.net and buy a ready to go unit from them.
The third component is an airtight container, I used an empty sode bottle and drilled 2 3/16 holes in the top and used 3/16" rigid air tubing glued in like described previously. I even took a piece of the rigid tubing and heated it so I could bend it into a u shape to hang over the edge of my tank where the water would come in from the topoff tank.
Here is a floatswitch: http://www.floatswitches.net/madisonswitches.html .
You could also go to www.floatswitches.net and buy a ready to go unit from them.
The third component is an airtight container, I used an empty sode bottle and drilled 2 3/16 holes in the top and used 3/16" rigid air tubing glued in like described previously. I even took a piece of the rigid tubing and heated it so I could bend it into a u shape to hang over the edge of my tank where the water would come in from the topoff tank.
CiroFuentes22
New Member
is thiert any way that anyone can do it and show it wit pix and explanations. im very interested. thinkin of doin it for my 12g nanocube
TimSchmidt
New Member
http://www.aquahub.com/store/diygaquarium.html
Aquahub sells kits very cheap all you have to do is get a maxijet 1200 and maybe a GFCI powercord (I recommend just buying one from them, easier).
Aquahub sells kits very cheap all you have to do is get a maxijet 1200 and maybe a GFCI powercord (I recommend just buying one from them, easier).