Topping off a tank / protein skimmer overflow?

[Keira in CO]

Hi All,
I just upgraded protein skimmers from two (useless and dead) Sea Clones to a Bubble Magus that is KILLING THE SLIME !!!!!!!!!! I am running into skimmer overflow problems when topping off my tank..

Lets see - I loose about 1gal of daily via evaporation. The skimmer can go not more that 3 days before I need to top off the tank/sump. However, if I add more than 1 gal at a time the protein skimmer overflows.

I decided to top off using a gallon jug + hose and and a valve add a gallon ever 2 days. I was wondering if anyone had an ideas of DIY or more creative to top off a tank.

5+ years keeping fish/inverts :sfish:

Keira
Denver CO

 

[Civicdemon]

Go with a ATO, Im finally planning on getting one this weekend hopefully. I top off about 1 to 2 gallons daily.

Im going to get the JBJ ATO with Aqualifter pump.

 

[Steveg229]

I use a gravity feed Auto top off with a float valve in the sump. I have a 5 gallon Rubbermaid on a shelf mounted just above the height of the sump. With this setup it basically slowly drips in water pretty much all day as it evaporates. Was cheap and easy.

 

[ErinCahir]

Which section of your sump is your skimmer in?

Adding top-off shouldn't really affect it unless you have it in the return section.

 

[Keira in CO]

Hi Erin - hey were almost neighbors :)

The new skimmer is sitting in the bottom of my wet/dry filter box. My old skimmers were hang in back. Of course this means ive had to bump up the water level in my filter box which now doubles as a sump. I'm brainstorm how to plumb in another small box for the return. I guess right now a 1gal drip is keeping me from abrupt water top offs. ill post some pics later for people to see.

 

[Keira in CO]

very cool - do u have a picture of the setup? sounds like a good solution

 

[ErinCahir]

Hi Erin - hey were almost neighbors :)

The new skimmer is sitting in the bottom of my wet/dry filter box. My old skimmers were hang in back. Of course this means ive had to bump up the water level in my filter box which now doubles as a sump. I'm brainstorm how to plumb in another small box for the return. I guess right now a 1gal drip is keeping me from abrupt water top offs. ill post some pics later for people to see.

I'd super recommend just going full sump. Skimmers need to have a consistent level of water to function properly. Most people keep them in the first chamber of their sump so the water level stays constant.

Also hi :)

 

[salt_for_brains]

If you decide to go with an ATO here is a cheaper alternative that works really well http://autotopoff.com/?gclid=CIqe_IuKh7cCFRCe4Aodz2sAsw I would recommend a double switch either way you go just in case.

 

[Keira in CO]

Your totally right about the sump. My tank is 6yrs old and w/ that new skimmer in it has never looked better. Problem is that that I'd have to add two chambers for a sump to do it right. Kind of tight space. Plus, EVERYTHING has started to mechanically fail. It was skimmers, powerheads and of course now the CF lights LOL. I am pretty active fiddling with the tank and if I can go 4 days without topping it off (or abruptly topping it off) i am good. TY for the advice :)

 

[chichimom79]

I'm currently using a one gallon jug with just some airline tubing and a drip valve regulator to keep my water level as consistent as possible. Extremely cheap and easy. I set it up for dripping kalkwasser but am only dripping RO/DI water currently.

 

[Big K]

I plan on having a float valve hooked directly to my RO/DI. That'd do right?

 

[chichimom79]

Big K, have a back up to switch it off. If that float switch fails, that could spell disaster.