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Old 07-14-2015, 12:12 AM
martinmcnally martinmcnally is offline
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Default Auto Top Up Failed Again :(

My second auto top up system failed this weekend (of course while I was out of town). I've pretty much had it with these crappy things.

I used to have a Tunze Osmolator and the pumps would fail every few months so I ditched that one for some float switches which worked for years. Then I decided to get a Aqua Gadget Hydrofill thinking I wanted a little more security. Do not purchase this, its garbage (in my opinion), bad design. It was finicky from the start. If you get any foam or dirt or anything on the sensors it fails. It has flooded my living room twice in the past 7 days.

Decided to go back to the old float switches and upgrade my Apex to control them.

I was thinking of doing this:

Single controller float. When its activated wait 5 minutes then turn on the water, when its deactivated with 5 minutes then turn off the water. This should prevent the constant on and off that you sometimes get.

Then the second switch will be closer to the surface as a fail safe. If activated the system is shut off and alarm sounds.

Also purchased 2 leak detectors if activated system is shut off and alarm sounds.

I was considering having 2 float switches do the on and off work but it just doubles the chances that one of them will fail. I think I would rather have apex programming that says if the water is on for more than 10 minutes something is wrong, close the water and sound the alarm.

If the controller float fails, and the programming does not stop the more than 10 minute water on, and the dead stop float fails I still have the leak sensors.

What do you guys think?
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  #2  
Old 07-14-2015, 12:27 AM
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Reef Pilot Reef Pilot is offline
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Default

I use a double float set-up similar to this.
http://autotopoff.com/products/DS1/
I actually have it right out of the water in my sump, and only use it as a secondary (and third) safeguard in case my primary float (which regulates sump level and fed by my RO/DI) fails. The primary float feed only comes on for 5 min every 6 hours via a solenoid that is connected to my Apex. If power is off, solenoid is off. The power goes through the double switch controller, and will cut power if the 2nd or 3rd float is activated.
http://autotopoff.com/Solenoids/
The double float switch will not allow power to the solenoid.

Might be a little overkill, as even my primary float has never failed. But it does give me good peace of mind.

And the whole set-up costs way less than a Tunze or most other ATOs.
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  #3  
Old 07-14-2015, 12:32 AM
martinmcnally martinmcnally is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reef Pilot View Post
I use a double float set-up similar to this.
http://autotopoff.com/products/DS1/
I actually have it right out of the water in my sump, and only use it as a secondary (and third) safeguard in case my primary float (which regulates sump level and fed by my RO/DI) fails. The primary float feed only comes on for 5 min every 6 hours via a solenoid that is connected to my Apex. If power is off, solenoid is off. The power goes through the double switch controller, and will cut power if the 2nd or 3rd float is activated.
http://autotopoff.com/Solenoids/
The double float switch will not allow power to the solenoid.

Might be a little overkill, as even my primary float has never failed. But it does give me good peace of mind.

And the whole set-up costs way less than a Tunze or most other ATOs.
HA! That's the system I used to have. I should have stuck with it!
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Old 07-14-2015, 01:29 AM
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I have a second hand JBJ auto top off with controller and 2 floats and a cheap pump (can't remember brand atm) been working awesome for over a year and half with no issues
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Old 07-14-2015, 01:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martinmcnally View Post
HA! That's the system I used to have. I should have stuck with it!
Me too. Been using the autotopoff.com unit for many years without problem coupled to an aqualifter pump. It's fairly bulletproof.
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Old 07-14-2015, 01:51 AM
dino dino is offline
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I use a gravity feed from a bucket. System Cost 15.00 and has never failed
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150 gallon reef mostly softies/lps. 50 gal sump with bubble magnus skimmer/ Led fuge light/refugium/ 1200 return and tunze powerheads. Dual pharoah main tank led.4 pump dosser.
550 gallon stingray tank water drip system
150 bowfront. 75 turtle tank, many others
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Old 07-14-2015, 03:35 AM
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10 years with a furnace humidifier float valve in the sump connected to the rodi. not a single problem.
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  #8  
Old 07-14-2015, 04:30 PM
Ulmo Ulmo is offline
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My ATO:
Apex
breakout box
digital aquatics float switch
Tom's aqualifter pump

The program turns on the ATO every ~4 hours and replaces what has evaporated. It typically runs for 5-10 minutes, with a check for the return pump and salinity. Worst case scenario my entire reservoir slowly empties into my sump causing 3 ppm salinity drop. No flood, my sump is big enough.

[SumpATO_A8] (virtual outlet for switch)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Sw1 OPEN Then ON
Defer 001:00 Then ON
Min Time 240:00 Then OFF
If Outlet RTNPUMP_4_2 = OFF Then OFF
If Condx5 < 33.0 Then OFF

[ATO_4_4] (aqualifter outlet)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Outlet SumpATO_A8 = ON Then ON
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Last edited by Ulmo; 07-14-2015 at 04:41 PM.
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  #9  
Old 07-14-2015, 10:42 PM
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I just build my own digital one with dual optical sensors for extra reliability



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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  #10  
Old 07-15-2015, 08:11 AM
martinmcnally martinmcnally is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shiftline View Post
I just build my own digital one with dual optical sensors for extra reliability



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Where do you get those optical sensors I used one of those before and found them very reliable.
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