H2O top-off system

[ChrisRD]

-Well, more tinkering than I expected with the water level thing. Like Ernie stated, there is a great deal of difference in humidity levels where I live also and I find myself having to adjust the dosing pump more than I would like. When I used a float switch, I never had a problem with the different evaporation rates. The reason I went with the dosing pump was that I did not want to add too much lime water at one time and was afraid that my float switch set up would do this.

Hey Steve - can you set your dosing pump to a slightly higher dosing rate than your highest evaporation rate and use the float switch to turn it on/off? If that's possible, seems like you'd have the best of both worlds...

 

[SPC]

Posted by Wolfman:

Hey Steve - can you set your dosing pump to a slightly higher dosing rate than your highest evaporation rate and use the float switch to turn it on/off? If that's possible, seems like you'd have the best of both worlds...

-Good idea Wolfman, I'll have to think about that one.
Steve

 

[esmithiii]

Wolfman- in essence, that is the same as using a float switch. There is no benefit other than limiting the amount of kalkwasser added at one splash. My float switch and powerhead pumps in less than a quarter cup of top off water (w/ kalk of course) at a time. The only time it dumps in more at once is when I manually remove water from the tank (like when I am taking out frags, for example.)

 

[ChrisRD]

There is no benefit other than limiting the amount of kalkwasser added at one splash.

That is exactly the benefit it sounded like Steve was after when he switched to a dosing pump. Also, another added benefit I can think of in using the dosing pump would be in the case of the float switch failing in the "on" position. If it did, the dosing pump would only continue to add kalkwasser very slowly so it wouldn't drive pH up or salinity down really rapidly in the system. Further, you'd probably have plenty of time to notice and catch the malfunction as it would take days for this to happen (as opposed to minutes with the powerhead). It sounds like Steve already has all of the components, so why not use them?

 

[esmithiii]

Also, another added benefit I can think of in using the dosing pump would be in the case of the float switch failing in the "on" position.

Good point. My dosing pump can't be turned on and off like that though.

Erni

 

[SPC]

Posted by Wolfman:

Also, another added benefit I can think of in using the dosing pump would be in the case of the float switch failing in the "on" position.

-Exactly, that was one of the main selling points for me on the dosing pump. I know that the odds are probably low on this happening, but with a 40 gallon RO/DI storage container I am sure it would spell the end to my reef if it did.
I used the float switch in my sump/ref that contains many snails and an urchin or two. I knew that all it would take is for one of these animals to park themselves aginst the float one day for a total disaster to take place.

Steve

 

[ChrisRD]

My dosing pump can't be turned on and off like that though.

Really? Why not? Just curious...

 

[ChrisRD]

I know that the odds are probably low on this happening...

Famous last words... :lol:

Confucius say: "Man who knows Murphy is alive and well is truly wise indeed." :wink:

 

[esmithiii]

I have a medical dosing pump. When the power goes out and then back on, the dose rate is reset to zero.

Ernie

 

[ChrisRD]

I have a medical dosing pump. When the power goes out and then back on, the dose rate is reset to zero.

I was thinking of getting a medical dosing pump to run a kalkreactor, but if the power goes off and then comes back on - no more top off.....hmmm...

Is this typical of medical dosing pumps, or is this something particular to your pump? I thought I remembered seeing some that had a built-in back-up battery...

 

[esmithiii]

Mine has a battery backup for that very reason, but apparently it wasn't functional on my unit.

 

[ChrisRD]

Thanks Ernie.