Please Help with Float Valve Kit

[fx300]

Float Valve Kit - includes both float valve and shutoff kit for shutting off both RO and Deion units. (Kent Marine Part No. FVKITKENT) So far the cheapest that I have found it is $39 at The Marine Depot; are there any other brands of float valves that any of you might recommend, and has anyone else found it cheaper than $39? Also what is the blade used to create whole for this unit? Finally, is there a site that might explain how to install this unit? I guess I am just tired of adding water all the time to my sump. Thanks a million.

Sincerely,
Fabian

;)

[TexasState]

http://www.kentmarine.com/fvs.html
The instructions for the float valve say to drill a 5/8" hole about 1" above where you want the water level to be. It also indicates just periodically checking the float valve and cleaning it if it is exposed to salt water. -Captexas.
Here's the instruction on how to hook up the Float Kit:
http://www.kentmarine.com/FVKITKENTpg1.pdf

[fx300]

Thank you very very much, I just printed out the instructions. How do I know if I need the whole kit or just part of it?

Fabian

;)

[fx300]

I live in an apartment so I need to have this valve draining from a trashcan or something like that; I guess with a water pump to send the water over to my sump so please advice if whole kit would be requited. If any of you have pictures it would be nice to see how some of you have it set up.

[TexasState]

A generic auto top-off & check valve look like this:
http://www.aquaticreefsystems.com/images/auto-shut-off-valve.gif

You can use the Kent Float to fill up the trash can. Use water from the trashcan to fill up a 5 - 7 gallons bucket. Use an electronic float switch to fill water( or kalkwasser mix if your tank is big enough) into your main reef tank. Becarefull not to let snail mess up your electronic float switch sensor.

Or,
You can plumb the Kent Float Switch directly into your sump. But if the Kent Float get faulty, it could saturate your tank w/ freshwater when you're out of town during a weekend. Hence, my suggestion for you to use an electronic float switch on a 5 gallons bucket.

[/quote]

[fx300]

Thanks, but the picture did not come out.


Fabian

;)

[witecap4u]

Here ya go, he posted a link to a webpage but used the image tags. Here is the image....

http://www.aquaticreefsystems.com/images/auto-shut-off-valve.gif

[utmachete]

hey vinh were can you get a good electronic float switch.

[MikeP]

Bill, aside from Kent there is a guy on Nano-reef.com that sells them. Good quality and inexpensive - I believe his screenname there is physh1. He had a website at www.californiareefs.com at one point too.

[TexasState]

hey vinh were can you get a good electronic float switch.


The best floatswitch is made by Lifereef and cost over $100, Ultralife also sell one for $60. You can DIY yourself w/ supply from Grainger, but there might be some problem w/ the grounding. Physh1 is a pretty nice guy, but I haven't try his floatswitch out yet. You can also buy those Tunze Osmoregulator for about $150.

I have the Lifereef and the UltraLife floatswitch if you want to take a look at it. The Lifereef is made so that there is less chance of a snails crawling on it, fowling up the float sensor.