DIY:Auto fill storage design

[texascwby430]

I was wondering if anyone had a clean water storage design for auto fill design, if so I would apreciate any plans/ideas others have used.

Thanks

[jcnkt_ellis]

I have a custom built top off container for my system. I have an acrylic storage container that holds 20 gallons, it's 5 sides black acrylic with the front clear acrylic to see water level and the top removable to add more water. It sits on a window sill near the tank and over hangs the sill by about an inch. I have a small hole drilled in the bottom of the overhang with a bulkhead installed that accepts 1/4" tubing. The tubing runs at a slight downhill into my stand and is attached to a float arm. When the water goes down the float arm opens up the line and fills the tank back up...I'll get pics up later if your interested in seeing it.

[350gt]

I just used a 10 gallon tank that was a freebie and had a member build me a acrylic lid.... I fill up only once a week...

[texascwby430]

jcnkt-
Sound like what I am looking for, please post pics when able and thank you..........

Interested in building me one.....lol........$$$$

[jcnkt_ellis]

I'll post pics when I get home from work...I tried building it myself at first only to have it fall apart during a water test so I had ER build it for me :bigsmile:

[rrasco]

Something like this?

http://www.rrasco.com/AquaticPics/105neo/WaterStation.jpg

[Big_Pun]

i have a 10g tank under my stand, ATO is controlled by my reef keeper via floats. my 70g tank had a 5 gallon bucket next to it in a wooden box and i used a jbj ato controller. if you go with a pump feeding your ATO make sure tube outlet stays above the water or you run the risk of it back siphoning and making a mess.

[allan]

i have a 10g tank under my stand, ATO is controlled by my reef keeper via floats. my 70g tank had a 5 gallon bucket next to it in a wooden box and i used a jbj ato controller. if you go with a pump feeding your ATO make sure tube outlet stays above the water or you run the risk of it back siphoning and making a mess.

When your return pump shuts off, do you have to go in and ensure the siphon is broken?


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[allan]

Something like this?

http://www.rrasco.com/AquaticPics/105neo/WaterStation.jpg

By far one of the sharpest and cleanest set ups I've ever seen. I tried to mimic it with my set up. And failed.


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[350gt]

This is my little 10 gallon reservoir

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/D46E29FE-C246-4A83-9460-78F6A87B7A65-2022-000001C8D8C39E23.jpg


Sits on the side of my tank and is very discrete, I put a end table over it and the black vinyl covering hides it in the shadow....

pump is a sicce 1 and I've never had a siphoning issue, line is zip tied to ensure the end is higher than the water line.

[jcnkt_ellis]

So here it is sitting on the window sill, I made the tank an inch wider than the window sill and have the bulk head installed in the part that overhangs. Its a gravity fed system so I wanted to make sure the tank can completely drain.
20393
In this pic, you can see part of my sump (it needs a good cleaning), the line from the overfill tank runs into the stand on the side and connects to the float valve, the whole system is gravity fed and requires no electric pump to maintain levels. In case of emergency or water changes, I have an inline valve, which can be seen in the top photo, to stop the water flow.
20394

[ramsey]

Very nice guys! I don't want hijack this thread but I was thinking about setting up two water containers outside. One for fresh RO water and the other for fresh saltwater. Any problems with this? I was going to make some kind if cover for them to protect them from the elements. It's be more ideal in the garage, but where I moved my tank to, it's not convenient. Ultimate goal is a mostly automated water change and top off system.

[Zack]

Will they be in a temperature controlled environment?

[jcnkt_ellis]

I'd be careful what plastic you use outside as most degrade when they are left in direct sunlight and will leach into the water. You'd have to do freeze protection at least on the RODI tank since the mixed tank will have a lower freezing point. The heat will cause the mixed tank to fluctuate salinity due to evaporation too. I don't think the water, if its a large enough volume, will need to be run through a chiller in the summer before going in the tank at least...

[ramsey]

No, no temperature control. I'm not too worried about this (for heat anyway) since I won't be doing massive water changes, just small amounts and I'll have about 200g of water volume. For cold, I'd obviously have to figure out some type of heater. I know they make heaters for stock tanks, I might look at those.

Good points! I was thinking of getting a container that was made to be outside for potable water. Good point about the salinity. I guess I could rig up an ATO in the salt water one. I'll also need to figure out how to keep debris out. Maybe I'll just keep sealed lids on them and have a pressure relief pipe on the top with Maggie muffler type contraption on it. I dunno, I'd really like to figure out a way to be even lazier and not have to change water in the big system. :)

[ReefOne]

Here is mine:

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/4531/dscn2967y.jpg