Top-off system. Suggestions welcome.

[gate]

A few months ago, I bought a Platinum Refugium Series Model 75 by TRUVU from the local fish store. Fits my 40g tank perfectly or so I thought... Now that it's summer, I loose around 1g per day. the area where the return pump goes doesn't hold alot of water and I find myself checking the water level every morning and before I go to bed. I already burnt out a pump during the first 3 months.

Can you guys recommend a top-off system? Another sump maybe.
I bought this because it fits under the tank cabinet.

Dims: 26x10x16

 

[gate]

This one looks like it might work. what do you guys think?

http://www.petsolutions.com/Auto+Top+Of ... 01-I-.aspx

 

[bleedingthought]

Check this page out also: http://www.autotopoff.com/

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Hiya Gate

Different things work for different people, I made my own setup the following way and its working perfectly...

Tapwater to solenoid- wired to float switch in pump
solenoid to RODI
RODI to dosing pump- wired to same float switch
Dosing pump to Kalkstirrer (or direct to sump if you want)
Kalkstirrer to sump

Now I can forget about topoffs and worry about the million other things that need attention...

 

[Anonymous]

I used a float valve and rubbermaid container for years and it worked well. I am going to try one of the oceanarus systems this time around. I got the one with the soliniod instead of the on/off plug so mine will still be gravity fed.

 

[bleedingthought]

BTW, I have the same problem with my sump and the water level getting low. I don't let it go more than 24 hours with topping off because of the 2 gallons of evaporation I get. Since I DIYed my sump, I plan to change it around soon.

One thing you can try with your current sump/fuge though is to drill holes between the fuge and the return pump area (and that baffle also, if yours is the just like the picture) so that the level of water in the return area will never be lower than the fuge, which will be much higher and will allow you at good bit of time until you REALLY have to top off. But then again, you don't want to go TOO long without topping off because of your salinity.

I hope that made sense and maybe helped you a little as well.

 

[gate]

One thing you can try with your current sump/fuge though is to drill holes between the fuge and the return pump area (and that baffle also, if yours is the just like the picture) so that the level of water in the return area will never be lower than the fuge, which will be much higher and will allow you at good bit of time until you REALLY have to top off. But then again, you don't want to go TOO long without topping off because of your salinity.

I hope that made sense and maybe helped you a little as well.

Hey thanks for the advice. I got some ideas from your post. I ended up filling the pump area with water until it leveled with the refugium section. At least now I can catch it before the pump starts pumping air/bubbles into the main tank. I also ordered the JBJ top-off system.