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auto top off

R

rgarofalo

I am planning an auto top off for my new tank
the only hitch is that my water will be in another room
I was thinking of a dosing pump this way it wont add water too fast and fill my sump with fresh water.
it will have to be pumped 7-8 ft high and about 15 foot across
am i going the right route with a dosing pump?
any ideas on what one would give me enough presure to get up 7-8 ft
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
for topoff, i don't think it need to be a big pump at all...

you can:
- get a maxi-jet 1200 or something on a timer (1 or 2 hours a day)
- hook it up with those small 1/4 tube (for RO/DI ussage)
- and have a float switch on the other side to STOP the water when full

never tried it, but in theory, it would work...
;)

if you need, you can borrow all those parts i mentioned above.
:D
 
D

DaveK

A typical dosing pump (perlistic pump) would most likely work, but if you are in doubt, a diaphragm pump will easily do what you need. Here is an example - http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=386

Diaphragm pumps do make some noise, so take it into consideration when you mount the pump. Also mounting the pump close to the water source, and pushing the water works out a lot better than mounting the pump neat the tank and "pulling" the water.
 
D

DaveK

malulu said:
for topoff, i don't think it need to be a big pump at all...

you can:
- get a maxi-jet 1200 or something on a timer (1 or 2 hours a day)
- hook it up with those small 1/4 tube (for RO/DI ussage)
- and have a float switch on the other side to STOP the water when full

never tried it, but in theory, it would work...
;)

if you need, you can borrow all those parts i mentioned above.
:D
Click to expand...

Normally using a MaxiJet would be fine, but in this case, the pump would be asked to raist water up 7 - 8 feet. That's asking a lot of a powerhead type pump. You also have the problem of the pump adding a lot of makeup water quickly, even with 1/4 tubing. A dosing pump or a diaphragm pump would add water at a much slower rate, and tend to keep SG constant.
 
M

mott768

I'd recommend going with a aqua medic Sp3000 I use one to pump over 30' from the basement to the first floor living room on the opposite side of the house, and it wont break your wallet. They usually retail for around $90

if you want a whole top off system check thease out

http://www.aqua-medic.com/niveaumat.shtml
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
DaveK said:
Normally using a MaxiJet would be fine, but in this case, the pump would be asked to raist water up 7 - 8 feet. That's asking a lot of a powerhead type pump. You also have the problem of the pump adding a lot of makeup water quickly, even with 1/4 tubing. A dosing pump or a diaphragm pump would add water at a much slower rate, and tend to keep SG constant.
Click to expand...

that is why it should use with a TOP OFF switch - something like below:
and a timer to only TURN-ON for a short period of time everyday...

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=KM1675
KM1675_99.jpg


if ONE maxijet not enough, i am sure adding one more maxjet in the middle would definitely would work... i am just saying maxijet for example...

you can even get something smaller like this: *HINT* this month's group buy w/ 15% OFF... ;)

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M3-AQUALIFTERPUMP&Category_Code=
m3-aqualifter.jpg
 
S

saltwaterguy112

I just set mine up with the aqualifter pump and it works great. Ran a line into the laundry room about 10ft away placed the pump there and ran the out line which is 5ft away back into the sump. Don't know how its going to work under you circumstances. Might not be able to handle the incline of 7ft and and then 15ft across but it doesn't hurt to try since the pump is around 16 bucks.
 
R

rgarofalo

i already have a jbj auto top off controler
I think a peralistic or diaphram pump is the best
Mott how long does the tubing last in that pump?
 
M

mott768

I had it running for 2.5 years before I changed the tubing on the one the other has been running for almost 3 years and still haven't changed it but it doesn't pump as far as the other. I don't trust the aqualifter pumps, from what I've read they don't last long when using it to dose kalk and pumping over a distance.
 
GregW

GregW

I've had one aqualifter out of two fail on me in the past two years. Anyone ever try using two aqualifters in a series? If one failed you would still have the other one to push the liquid. Two aqualifters with one acting as a back up is still a lot cheaper.
 
M

mott768

GregW said:
I've had one aqualifter out of two fail on me in the past two years. Anyone ever try using two aqualifters in a series? If one failed you would still have the other one to push the liquid. Two aqualifters with one acting as a back up is still a lot cheaper.
Click to expand...

Greg, how far are you pushing the liquid? I think it's only a problem when pumping over a distance, I just can't remember what the limit was. probably only a few feet at most.

and I know for a fact it wouldn't work for me.... it can't push 7' straight up then 20' across then 1' up then 3' over then 16" up and finally into the sump ;)
 
R

rgarofalo

if I use the aqua medic Sp3000 and the tubing breaks in the pump will i have water on the floor, what is the output size of the tubing?
 
S

saltwaterguy112

You may want to rethink that whole pump thing the jbj has a set timer which cuts off the pump within 3-14 minutes so if within that time your water levels werent reached it puts it in standby until you reset it. check out my thread on equipment.
 
M

mott768

rgarofalo said:
if I use the aqua medic Sp3000 and the tubing breaks in the pump will i have water on the floor, what is the output size of the tubing?
Click to expand...

you shouldn't, the pump should loose it's siphon if that happens, I used air line tubing on the one and ice maker line from home depot on the other.
 
C

chase33

I've used the aqualifter pumps for my auto top off for the last year and a half. Main reason being was they are inexpensive. As we know you get what you pay for and I ended up purchasing and using about 5 maybe 6 of them over that time span. The last one I had stopped working a couple of weeks ago and I've yet to replace it. Now topping off manually :(. I'm not purchasing another aqualifter this time. I'm getting a better pump through the group buy (great timing). Also the aqua lifter will not pump water 7 - 8 feet high. I think the head rating is 30" for them. One other note, if anyone wants a used broken aqualifter pump I have a few of them available.
 
R

rgarofalo

thanks everyone for all the help im ordering the aquamedic peralistic pump
Mott thaks for the personal help with the situation
Malulu thanks for the offer
 
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