stop the madness

[nanoreefer22]

We should all get together for our friends and set up a group order. Maybe in the next few weeks.

Dmitry, I think when the water reaches a certain level, the float rises and stops letting water into the container. I'm just guessing. but i think thats how it works.

 

[jhale]

when the float rises in the water it stops the water from filling the bucket. it closes the valve that the water is coming in.

the hardest part about using it is admitting there's a problem and ordering the damn thing.

 

[spykes]

i need one hehe, but what about backpressure in the RO/DI wouldnt it keep on going if the water is on constantly and its not allow to come out?

 

[jhale]

you need the auto shut off valve. I think it work the same way it does with a presure tank.

http://www.waterfiltersonline.com/auto-shutoff-valves.asp

 

[ctxmonitor]

hehe.. I have to admit I am one of them that always forget to shut off the ro/di unit.. you see its not so hard to admit.. But I am much luckier because I have my bucket next to my washing machine which is in my basement and there is a drain close to it ..

But nevertheless I shouldn't be wasting vauluable RO water that can be put to good use.

Do you really need an auto shut off valve? Can't you just use the kent float switch to stop the water from running throw the ro unit and that back pressure will stop the ro unit from letting water through?

 

[House of Laughter]

CTX you could, but the float isn't water tight and pressure tight, so, you'll probably still get some (little if any) leakage.

BTW, I have an extra float valve from ARS.

House

 

[ctxmonitor]

ARS? Never heard of them. You have a link to that float valve? So you actually still new some kind of pressure shut off valve..

I am also planning on doing something with my top off water. A small bucket everyday is starting to get to me.. I was looking at the Tunze Osmotic Regulator. It looks perfect for the job, but the price is the killer. Is there any other alternative?

 

[jhale]

check out autotopoff.com
much less $$ and it works great.

 

[Deanos]

Originally posted by ctxmonitor:
ARS? Never heard of them. You have a link to that float valve?

ARS Float Valve

 

[pecan2phat]

Originally posted by ctxmonitor:


Do you really need an auto shut off valve? Can't you just use the kent float switch to stop the water from running throw the ro unit and that back pressure will stop the ro unit from letting water through?

Tom,
The float valve will shut the water off to the container that you are making the RO water to. It will not seep (I've done it for a few months until I installed the auto shutoff solenoid), it just keeps your RO unit on in terms of the waste water line continuosly on.
On the same note though, you would be wasting water if you did this.
If you have neither, just get the Kent Float Valve Kit which includes an Auto Shutoff Solenoid.

 

[ctxmonitor]

Thanks for the link Deanos, as always. You are the link master ..

Warren, yea I don't have neither. I really need to get this up and running. But this is not first priorty.

I really need something to replenish my evorporation water.. Need to setup the auto-top off water for my tank.

 

[House of Laughter]

can I curse on this board??

Man, I have been bitten with the bug -

So, I am at work today and my wife calls me and says the basement floor is SOAKED. I dropped what I was doing and ran home, and sure enough, the floor was soaked.

After a full inspection all seemed OK, with the exception of my top off water being 2/3 empty - I have a 55g drum for top off.

After a more detailed inspection and a quick test with my Pinpoint Salinity Monitor, I see that my salinity is 46.5 or what would be close to 1.018

I freak out cause, for one, this is the second time I am wet-dry vac'ing the basement carpet, and second, cause there was a crack diagonal from top to bottom on my 50g sump. All in all, I estinamated I lost about 50g of water.

I am scrambling, and no one around has anything to fit in - PLUS my salinity is 1.018 *^(%%$#@&^^((*@_+)(+_)+_**^%&@$&^t

after calling around, I found that House of Fins, yes, you got it House of Fins, is the only one with anything reasonable in stock - reasonable in size not price.

After looking at a $400 sump from lifereef, the owner brings me for a tour of the basement (man that place is sick) and we start going through all the custom install sumps. We come across one that is 36" by 20" by 21" and has dual drain holes and filter socks - it is also a Lifereef and is custom engraved with House of Fins.

Woulnd't you know it $910 later, I had myself the most expensive piece if equipment I have ever bought on any ref tank I had.

This is only the half of the problem.

Whiole tearing apart the entire system, (pumps,dual drains etc), I find that the old sump won't fit through the 18" door to the fish room -

The I realize, holy F***, the new one is 20" wide.

I proceed to cry, seriously, I was so stressed, I lost it!!! Quick thinking, I went to get the tape measure, and realized that if I tore out the door jam and door, I might be able to squeeze the new one in.

I took out the door jam and the old cracked sump came out without any questions - the new one squeeked in and took some sheetrock with it.

I spend the entire evening, cutting and re-gluing my 1.5" drans to fit into the new sump and man, it looks like it's worth $910

I am tired, and will take pictures another day.

House

 

[Deanos]

Jim, I'm glad you got the sump situation settled, but how's the salinity?

 

[jackson6745]

I feel ya Jim. This sort of stuff makes this hobby a real burden. Eventually you'll absorb cost and headache and enjoy what you've created

 

[House of Laughter]

God, I hope so - I am so toasted right now.

Slowly brining up the salinity, man what a beast.

Thanks for the great bump (literally)

Jim

 

[jhale]

holly sh!t.

what you just went through deserves at least that.
that's incredible bad luck. sorry.
and almost a grand for a new sump, I'll never mention it again but that makes me ill. that's more than the frigin tank

it's good that you are working close to home now, at least you got home fast.

that episode earned you many hours of peaceful tank watching in your lazy boy

 

[jhale]

Jim,
I'll be in scarsdale this week, if you want any help putting the door and wall back together let me know.

J

 

[spykes]

geez 910 dollars for a 36 x 20 x 21 ...... jim i feel the pain.

 

[marrone]

Wow $910 for a sump, unfortunily when things happen in this hobby your back is against the wall and you have to do what you have to do to keep things alive.

1.018 is alittle low but if you can get it back up within the day hopefully it souldn't do any harm to the corals.

 

[House of Laughter]

All,

thansk for the kind words - things seem to be back on track - lets see how they take getting full lights again today. One more minor adjustment to the skimmer and I should be done - done.

new lioghts come tomorrow I hope for the frag tank and new zoos come today.

Sigh, such is the way of reefing.

JH, I got the door up, next time you come up, you can inspect from a professionals eye.

As for the sump, it is 3/8 acrylic, so it is much beef-ier than most I have seen and it was designed custom with dual drains into dual filter socs - the filter socks have holder for them built in and everything.

Anyhow, it is what it is - I have to sell alot of frags to catch up.
House