Easy Water Change Tank

[ReviloM]

I have a IM Nuvo 30L. I am removing the false wall soon and it will be a glass box. I want to make this tank a WC only. I have been brainstorming an easy automated water change system with minimal moving parts.

 

- Drilled with (2) 3/4 in Bulkheads that lead to waste container

- A container with fresh saltwater and a pump on an automated timer.

 

The pump would turn on and the tank would fill. When the waterline reaches the (2) bulkheads, it will overflow down into the waste container. So, if I were to say have 5 gallons on fresh saltwater, it would run into the tank and displace 5 gallons out of the display tank.

 

Anyone foresee any issues that could arise from this setup? I will see if I can do a diagram drawup later.

[FishI]

Do you have an ato? You would have to turn that off obviously.

[ReviloM]

 

Do you have an ato? You would have to turn that off obviously.

It wouldn't turn on. The water level will rise when filling and not fall below to trigger the ATO once the fresh saltwater is done being added. Clean water enters the tank on one side and dirty water overflows out through the bulkhead.

[FishI]

Oh yeah sorry its early...

[smiz]

Sounds good to me, although it wont truly be only old water exiting the tank. You will lose some of the new water as well. Just something to consider.

[ETucc]

Let's see that diagram!

[ManGups]

You should look at the FLuval M40,M60 , M90 design. They have a kind of water change system (not automated etc) but it lets you change 20% of the water w/o affecting the display volume.

 

See here: http://www.fluvalaquatics.com/ca/product/15125-reef-aquarium-and-cabinet-set-m60/

 

Look at this- maybe it will help you think through the design

 

http://genesisreefsystems.com/products/automatic-water-change-systems/

[ReviloM]

Sounds good to me, although it wont truly be only old water exiting the tank. You will lose some of the new water as well. Just something to consider.

In a 3 feet tank, the amount going down the drain is very small. The the input(new water) and output(waste) are on different ends.

 

Let's see that diagram!

I will do one in cad when I get off work.

 

You should look at the FLuval M40,M60 , M90 design. They have a kind of water change system (not automated etc) but it lets you change 20% of the water w/o affecting the display volume.

 

See here: http://www.fluvalaquatics.com/ca/product/15125-reef-aquarium-and-cabinet-set-m60/

 

Look at this- maybe it will help you think through the design

 

http://genesisreefsystems.com/products/automatic-water-change-systems/

I am not looking to buy a new tank. I am just turning my NUVO nightmare into a dream.

[tibbsy07]

How would you be able to make sure that the new water was fully mixed before it is added to the display tank?

[ManGups]

In a 3 feet tank, the amount going down the drain is very small. The the input(new water) and output(waste) are on different ends.

 

I will do one in cad when I get off work.

 

I am not looking to buy a new tank. I am just turning my NUVO nightmare into a dream.

 

I am not suggesting to buy a new tank - am suggesting to look at the design for the drain in the fluval tanks so that you can design ur own...

[ReviloM]

How would you be able to make sure that the new water was fully mixed before it is added to the display tank?

That portion will be done manually by me. I will add the salt and ro water to the fresh saltwater container. There will be a powerhead in that container that will mix and keep it aerated.

 

The outcome is an automated topoff. I will only have to dump the waste water and mix new saltwater in the "fresh" saltwater container. Depending on the size of the containers, this can go for a month or two without me every touching it. Also, it won't overflow because the amount I put in will be he same the display puts out.

 

 

I am not suggesting to buy a new tank - am suggesting to look at the design for the drain in the fluval tanks so that you can design ur own...

understood.

[tibbsy07]

Ok, so let me get this straight, you have a water tank (naked Nuvo) that you mix the water in manually, then have that plumbed to your display. When it's time to do the water change, you open the plumbing and allow the new water to flow into the display tank and push the old out? Or are you simply talking about have a 30g Naked IM to hold 30g of salt water?

[ReviloM]

Ok, so let me get this straight, you have a water tank (naked Nuvo) that you mix the water in manually, then have that plumbed to your display. When it's time to do the water change, you open the plumbing and allow the new water to flow into the display tank and push the old out? Or are you simply talking about have a 30g Naked IM to hold 30g of salt water?

Nope.

 

Naked Nuvo - is the drilled Display

Container 1 - New Saltwater with powerhead and water pump.

Container 2 - Waste water from display.

 

 

Picture the overflow in your tank. Same concept. As new saltwater is pumped into the display, old water is displaced out through the bulkheads into the waste container. This can be timer controlled or set up using a controller system.

 

Once it is done adding fresh saltwater, the water line in your display remains the same. The bulkheads control the water line.

 

This same thing can be done without a waste container if your home has a drain that you can plumb your tank to. I am in an apartment so I don't have a drainage to plumb to.

[smiz]

Sorry to steal your cad thunder. But is this basically what your getting at? New water comes in. Raises level to drain out into waste bucket?

[ReviloM]

Sorry to steal your cad thunder. But is this basically what your getting at? New water comes in. Raises level to drain out into waste bucket?

 

Yes but without the overflow box and the output bulkheads are a little higher. They may need to be modified by myself to achieve the base waterline I want.

 

It is meant to be dummy proof with 1 pump. The amount in is the amount out.

 

The only way this will overflow or cause a water issue is that if you have small waste container in comparison to your input container.

[smiz]

I'm loving this idea. the only thing that could break is if you pump gets stuck on and your waste water fills up. Other then that is is all gravity. Sign me up I want one.

[ReviloM]

 

I'm loving this idea. the only thing that could break is if you pump gets stuck on and your waste water fills up. Other then that is is all gravity. Sign me up I want one.

I added to my last message which solves the issue you just stated. The last statement.

[tibbsy07]

I still think this is going to be difficult because you can't control how much of which water type is being removed. I think you'll find if you do, say a 3 gallon water change, you'll do less than a total of 3 gallons. I think it'll work for you if that's what you want, but it's too imprecise for me. I like knowing I took out 3 gallons and have added 3 gallons back.

[ReviloM]

I still think this is going to be difficult because you can't control how much of which water type is being removed. I think you'll find if you do, say a 3 gallon water change, you'll do less than a total of 3 gallons. I think it'll work for you if that's what you want, but it's too imprecise for me. I like knowing I took out 3 gallons and have added 3 gallons back.

Here is a better way for you to see. If this makes you uncertain, consider your current display overflowing into your sump. Based on what you have stated, sump isn't pumping the same amount of water back to the display.

 

Evaporation will be handled normally through an ATO attached.

 

Here is a scenario:

 

I set my WC to happen every week on Saturday. It turns on and adds water to the display. The water level will rise. Because there are bulkheads, water will overflow out into the waste water tank. If I have a 5 gallon bucket of fresh saltwater to pump and it adds that to the display, 5 gallons will come out of the display because of the "Water Displacement Theory".

 

Through the week, water will evaporate and the ATO will add fresh RO water back to the predetermined water line.

 

 

Once my bulkheads come in, I will make a video to show you.

 

Another way to see this is to fill your tank up to the rim to the point that it is a zero edge tank but not overflowing just yet. Now pour 5gallons of water in your tank and tell me how many gallons of water your have poured onto the floor.

[smiz]

I really like this. If you just make your waste water collector say 10 gallons, and you input 5 gallons then we worst thing that can happen if you pump craps out is a large water change! But it still wont be an exact 3g of old water out, and 3g of new water in. It will disperse and you will be draining some of the new water. However, I still think it's a great idea. And I don't tihnk you'd be losing that much of the new water....

[tibbsy07]

Here is a better way for you to see. If this makes you uncertain, consider your current display overflowing into your sump. Based on what you have stated, sump isn't pumping the same amount of water back to the display.

 

Evaporation will be handled normally through an ATO attached.

 

Here is a scenario:

 

I set my WC to happen every week on Saturday. It turns on and adds water to the display. The water level will rise. Because there are bulkheads, water will overflow out into the waste water tank. If I have a 5 gallon bucket of fresh saltwater to pump and it adds that to the display, 5 gallons will come out of the display because of the "Water Displacement Theory".

 

Through the week, water will evaporate and the ATO will add fresh RO water back to the predetermined water line.

 

 

Once my bulkheads come in, I will make a video to show you.

 

Another way to see this is to fill your tank up to the rim to the point that it is a zero edge tank but not overflowing just yet. Now pour 5gallons of water in your tank and tell me how many gallons of water your have poured onto the floor.

No I get the premise now. I get exactly what you are doing, but you aren't removing the old water BEFORE you put in the new water, correct? You are adding new water and using the fact that adding 5 gallons to a full 30 gallon tank will push 5 gallons out. Yes you will add 5 gallons and remove 5 gallons, but water mixes as soon as it hits other water. It will try and reach equilibrium in terms of molecules and trace elements, etc., so while you may be removing 5 gallons and putting in 5 gallons, but you can't be 100% sure that all 5 gallons removed are 100% old water and not some new mixed with old. Again, it will work for you and I think this is a cool concept, but I would want my old water removed before so that I could be 100% sure that I equally removed the same amount of old water as new water being added.

[ReviloM]

No I get the premise now. I get exactly what you are doing, but you aren't removing the old water BEFORE you put in the new water, correct? You are adding new water and using the fact that adding 5 gallons to a full 30 gallon tank will push 5 gallons out. Yes you will add 5 gallons and remove 5 gallons, but water mixes as soon as it hits other water. It will try and reach equilibrium in terms of molecules and trace elements, etc., so while you may be removing 5 gallons and putting in 5 gallons, but you can't be 100% sure that all 5 gallons removed are 100% old water and not some new mixed with old. Again, it will work for you and I think this is a cool concept, but I would want my old water removed before so that I could be 100% sure that I equally removed the same amount of old water as new water being added.

Understandable. It is an easier way to conduct water changes in a tank you want to only do water changes on. This could make the use of dosers or dosing in general unnecessarily unless your system has a high demand. For me, this is an easy concept besides me taking time to do the changes. The only labor I will have to do is just dump the waste water and add salt and ro to be mixed in the fresh saltwater container which could be done monthly if I have large enough containers.

[sangheili]

All I can say is... have an aquarium controller with lots of float sensors (and backup float sensors to the main float sensors). Build in redundancy and test the redundancy. You don't want to be pumping a huge container of water onto your floor while your gone for the weekend.

[ReviloM]

All I can say is... have an aquarium controller with lots of float sensors (and backup float sensors to the main float sensors). Build in redundancy and test the redundancy. You don't want to be pumping a huge container of water onto your floor while your gone for the weekend.

That wouldn't be possible. Your way with the sensors, it would. If I have a 5 gallon bucket filled with water then it can only pump 5 gallons. if the waste container is 5g or more then it will hold the same water. The only way it will flood is if, you the hobbyist, add new saltwater but not empty the waste water container or if your ATO fail and adds more water which will still go to the waste water container but that instance would be no different from a setup not like this overflowing.

[smiz]

That wouldn't be possible. Your way with the sensors, it would. If I have a 5 gallon bucket filled with water then it can only pump 5 gallons. if the waste container is 5g or more then it will hold the same water. The only way it will flood is if, you the hobbyist, add new saltwater but not empty the waste water container or if your ATO fail and adds more water which will still go to the waste water container but that instance would be no different from a setup not like this overflowing.

Exactly, so to be safe I would just make your waste container slightly bigger then your input container. Depending on what size tank you have you may just want to do a larger water change, say 30% instead of 20% to try to make up for whatever new water is being lost. I am really liking this idea. You can not over flow it unless you yourself make an error like you said and add new water without emptying old water. Plus all you do is turn a switch and boom water change. This is a very simply and very effective way to deal with those cumbersome water changes!