project5k
Reef enthusiast
so i've been topping my tank, well actually the sump/fuge off by hand 2 times a day now ince i got it set up, and quite frankly i would like to not have to do it like that any more. So i looked around, and i found several options, but most all of them required a pump and electrical stuff, and thats all fine and good, but i'm of the mindset that simpler is better.
So, i started looking around, and i think i've come up with a very simple answer. A float valve. So i went to Tractor supply and looked around. They had one thats designed for a water traugh, like for livestock, its all plastic, but its fairly large for my tiny sump. So i kept looking and i came across an automatic dog water bowl, basically you hook the garden hose to it, and as the water level goes down, there is a float inside that will open a valve and let new water come in. Its small, it simple, and the whole dog bowl only cost me like $15. So what i plan to do is to take the float and valve out of the dog bowl, and mount it in the sump, and plumb to it with just gravity feed from my top off water supply.
My thinking is that when the water level in the sump gets low enough, the valve will open, and let new water in.
Simple, right?
Well i have the dog bowl, but i havent had time to start in on making it all work, but i thought i'd just throw it out there and see what ya'll thought.
Then really all i have to do is about once a week, fill up the top off resivoir and the rest is automatic.
Thoughts? Ideas? see a problem?
So, i started looking around, and i think i've come up with a very simple answer. A float valve. So i went to Tractor supply and looked around. They had one thats designed for a water traugh, like for livestock, its all plastic, but its fairly large for my tiny sump. So i kept looking and i came across an automatic dog water bowl, basically you hook the garden hose to it, and as the water level goes down, there is a float inside that will open a valve and let new water come in. Its small, it simple, and the whole dog bowl only cost me like $15. So what i plan to do is to take the float and valve out of the dog bowl, and mount it in the sump, and plumb to it with just gravity feed from my top off water supply.
My thinking is that when the water level in the sump gets low enough, the valve will open, and let new water in.
Simple, right?
Well i have the dog bowl, but i havent had time to start in on making it all work, but i thought i'd just throw it out there and see what ya'll thought.
Then really all i have to do is about once a week, fill up the top off resivoir and the rest is automatic.
Thoughts? Ideas? see a problem?
