you can do a similar setup to an auto-top off system, but instead of blugging a pump to pump water to the sump, you can plug an alarm. or you can flip the float switch, or reverse the polarity of the relay, so its on when the water level is fine, and it shots off when it goes too low. then you can plug the main return pump to it, and it will turn off when the water level drips.
you can get the float switches off ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/float-switch_...acategoryZ1281
I personaly like the mechanical, gravity driven float valves. I have them on both tanks and they work greate with no problem, and no electricity:
https://webspace.utexas.edu/eleyan/tank/equip_page.html
72G bowfront reef
175G bowfront cichlid tank