Your Thoughts on a DIY Auto Top Off

[Flame Angel]

So, tell me what you think about this set up. Do you think it will work for a short time without issue.

I have a 5 gallon jug of RODI setting on top of an inverted 5 gallon bucket which sits on top of my coffee table. I have an 1/8" hose inserted into the 5 gallon jug of RODI water which empties into the sump. The hose has a knot in it as if you were aclimating which drops a drop of water every 15 second into the sump.

I have over filled my sump by 1" which I know I will get about 4-5 days out of and I need to stretch that to about 8-10 days. The 5 gallon jug has about 4 gallons of RODI in it.

As crude at this is... Do you feel it will work and be sufficient enough for 8-10 days?

Thoughts? Don't be yelling at me now. Just looking for a cheap quick fix. I only really add about a gallon of water a week at most.

 

[niftyjosh]

30$ float switch spliced into extension cord, 20$ lifter pump, 1/4" airline tube.

Water drops below float switch, turns on lifter pump feeding water to sump.

Reservoir is 5gal Poland spring jug with a hole in the cap for 1/4" airline.

Works like a charm. I soak my float switch in hot vinegar water every 2 weeks. Hasn't failed yet and Im picking up another set up for my other tank.

 

[PThanh1968]

If you don't want the pump to switching ON and OFF often, use timer to turn ON the pump X minute for every Y hour. I have 55G tank and my auto top off pump turns ON 15 min every 3 hrs.

 

[niftyjosh]

Float switch turns lifter pump on when there is a 1/8" difference in water level. 1/8" difference isn't going to cause the pump to come on and off repeatedly. It's on for no more than 5 mins every 2 hours and salinity never changes more that .001.

 

[jayinh]

i think it would be a good short term fix, not long term tho but you probly already knew that.

p.s. when ya setting up that raft....LOL