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Calling DIY Gods - Water Change Problem - Float Switch Thoughts

2691 Views 10 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  PRESTON4479, 
P
My problem - my thoughts

I maintain a lot of tanks - about 40ish - give or take
a tank or two

I do all my water changes in one day - and at a nice relaxed
pace it takes me a few hours. It is my time to meditate with
my fish, plants, turtles ...

Here is my usual system -

1) A pump attached to a 1 inch flexible tube (50ft) that I drop
into the tanks - the weight of the tube keeps it at the level I
want and it is FAST

2) I have a 30 gallon plastic garbage pail I fill with water directly
from a shower pipe - I mix dechlor with it - and I use the same size
pump as the siphon - but smaller tubing to refill tanks - I have a little
ball joint and pvc filling s-tube that hooks over the tank.

My problem is that the outflow from the 30g pail is slightly slower than the in fill of water
from the shower pipe -
and sometimes.....I forget and hear SPLASHING where SPLASHING should
not be....ugh. AND sometimes I forget that the tubing going INTO the
pail is not attached and can fall out - and does - so I start the water..
walk to the room and ugh....

I can solve the tube falling out...but the water overflowing has got
me thinking.

I am wondering if there is a way rig something to shut off the valve
at the pail when it gets full? See my diagram.

Just in the Hmmm...stage - after flooding my kitchen...again

Pranks

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PRESTON4479
This is what I am going to use on my water change system.
http://www.lgpc.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=755

These are easy to come by for me since I work in the HVAC field and they are regular truck stock. It will be wired in with a sprinkler valve (24vac)to shut it off when the tank is full and turn it on when the tank is low on water.

If your are interested in one let me know. I can find out what my cost is from work and send one to you for cost plus shipping.

Brian
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PRESTON4479
pranks said:
I am wondering if there is a way rig something to shut off the valve
at the pail when it gets full? See my diagram.

Just in the Hmmm...stage - after flooding my kitchen...again

Pranks
Click to expand...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sprinkler-Valve-1-by-Orbit_W0QQitemZ290191737601QQihZ019QQcategoryZ75673QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/APRILAIRE-4010-120-VOLT-24-VOLT-STEPDOWN-TRANSFORMER_W0QQitemZ120000737910QQcmdZViewItem

These 2 things along with the float switch should do it.
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DiabloCanine
pranks said:
My problem - my thoughts

I maintain a lot of tanks - about 40ish - give or take
a tank or two

I do all my water changes in one day - and at a nice relaxed
pace it takes me a few hours. It is my time to meditate with
my fish, plants, turtles ...

Here is my usual system -

1) A pump attached to a 1 inch flexible tube (50ft) that I drop
into the tanks - the weight of the tube keeps it at the level I
want and it is FAST

2) I have a 30 gallon plastic garbage pail I fill with water directly
from a shower pipe - I mix dechlor with it - and I use the same size
pump as the siphon - but smaller tubing to refill tanks - I have a little
ball joint and pvc filling s-tube that hooks over the tank.

My problem is that the outflow from the 30g pail is slightly slower than the in fill of water
from the shower pipe -
and sometimes.....I forget and hear SPLASHING where SPLASHING should
not be....ugh. AND sometimes I forget that the tubing going INTO the
pail is not attached and can fall out - and does - so I start the water..
walk to the room and ugh....

I can solve the tube falling out...but the water overflowing has got
me thinking.

I am wondering if there is a way rig something to shut off the valve
at the pail when it gets full? See my diagram.

Just in the Hmmm...stage - after flooding my kitchen...again

Pranks
Click to expand...
I think your idea would be easy to accomplish and work well. Post pics if you do it with the toilet valve. If you are running low pressure from the shower pipe and shut it off when you are done this might be a cheaper solution, http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...roduct_Code=KENT-FLOAT&Category_Code=kentroac . If you want to leave it run 24/7 get the shutoff solenoid too http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...Product_Code=KENT-AUTO&Category_Code=kentroac . I have been using this in my setup for awhile with no problems and never had an overflow.......DC
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T
Toilet valves are cheaper... I think...

But you would need a little standoff in the water tank to hold the valve.
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L
Can't you just get one of those cylinder shaped float switch (110v I think) and wire it directly to the water pump so that when the switch floats the pump turns off automatically?
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Manolito
This what I use - Little Giant Plastic Float Valve. I have for the last 7 years - very tough and durable and made for indoor and outdoor. I got mine around $7 from a local farm store.

I also have one installed on my outdoor pond to replenish the evaporated water. I hooked it up to my sprinkler system.

You can just fasten it to the side of your pail with the adjustable bracket. Then hook up with a garden hose from your shower pipe.
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AndrewH
Hmmm, if you use a toilet float valve, you don't need any electricity to make it work & it'd be really cheap.


You'd have to add blocking to raise the bottom of the pail, but that shouldn't be too hard.
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P
OK - Thanks to all the DIY God - I am not worthy -

Here is what I did - I used a the float switch/transformer and
sprinkler valve for my utility sink and tub downstairs - because
I it was really simple, quiet and I can keep a tub of water to
top off my 'show tanks - like my Internet - always on!

BUT for upstairs and my grow out tanks - where mobility was
and is important - I used the Little Giant float switch! Noisy
a little splashy - but soooo cheap and it works!

Actually both the electronic switch and the manual switch are
Little Giant brands.

I just did a complete water change cycle - and it was so nice
to NOT overflow and have to go running for the towels and shutoff!

Thanks -

PS - I tried the toilet valve to...but I hooking up the hose was not
intuitive and I after I hooked up the little giant float valve - it
was not worth the time or money since the Little Giant is less expensive
than a toilet valve - and was made for just this purpose - though intended
for watering livestock.
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Manolito
Glad that Little Giant Float Valve works for you.

:)
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PRESTON4479
pranks said:
OK - Thanks to all the DIY God - I am not worthy -

Here is what I did - I used a the float switch/transformer and
sprinkler valve for my utility sink and tub downstairs - because
I it was really simple, quiet and I can keep a tub of water to
top off my 'show tanks - like my Internet - always on!

Got it hooked up with no problems?:thumbsup: I'm glad I was able to help.

Brian
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