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Coral Vue Hydros

DIY Automatic Water Changes


Bubba30

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I'm playing with the idea of using a RKL and float switches to hook up an automated water change and auto top off. My plan is to have two float switches for the ATO at water level and a redundant switch above. Using the RKL on timers I will disable ATO and open a 1/4" solenoid which is off the return pump to drain around half a gallon of tank water. A pump in the new salt water tank would then fill back to the first switch at water level. ATO would then resume.

 

I am wondering what I may be overlooking that would prevent this from working out. Depending when the ATO last filled to engage the float switch there may be some evaporation that hasn't been accounted for which would be refilled by salt water. I have horizontal float switches and I'm not sure how sensitive it will be. The return chamber is small so a little evaporation will cause a relatively big drop which will help. I am hoping this is negligible or something I can correct weekly by just adding some fresh water after looking at the salinity.

 

Any other possible design flaws?

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Just first glance, my float switches malfunction at the wrong times always (on vacation), I replaced with digital.

 

Are you just gonna let mixed saltwater sit?

 

Is the salt going to be automatically put in by a fish feeder or something?

 

Not sure of the risk:benefit if it is not all automated and digital vs mechanical and requires you for several steps...

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I found a thread over on RC which described using a Tunze 3155 hooked up to a DPDT relay, one pump in NSW and one pump in ATO, using an RKL as a timer to pump waste water out then power the relay coil to switch the Tunze pump to NSW. I decided to go with this method as the Tunze has a good track record.

 

I got the Tunze on sale plus a 15% discount and free shipping $160; the DPDT, power supply, and project box cost another $15; an extra Tunze pump was $25. So for $200 I will have an ATO and automated water changes. I plan on changing around half of a gallon every day. My maintenance will just be mixing up a bucket of salt water weekly or biweekly to add to the NSW reservoir. I plan on cranking my return pump and MP10 up while using a baster to blast any dead spots prior to changing my filter sock every week as well.

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