Jim in Michiana
10-10-2009, 5:16 PM
Well really, not automating, but doing a "continuous" water change......
Sorry I've been posting so many questions lately, but I'm setting up a new 300g system soon (later this week), and still have a lot of ideas. Those of you who know me, know one thing about me........ my ideas are either pure genius, or pure crap. I leave it up to you esteemed DIYers to tell me what this one is.........
I will have 2 HUGE wet/dry filters in my stand....... they are manifolded together ....... My idea is this.......... I am thinking about installing a 3/4 or 1 inch bulkhead in one of the sumps at the predetermined waterline. This bulkhead will be used to drain water from the tank to the house plumbing. Water will be added via 1/4 inch line with a ball valve to control flow rate. This line will be fed from the house cold water line. My water source is a well, so dechlorination is not a problem. THE WATER WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY.
I'm thinking about setting the flow rate at about 5 gph. This would be approx 120 gallons per day. Even with the dilution, I figure it would amount to about 1 complete water change every week. I would have the added benefit of never having to top off the tank. I would use a 120v inline solenoid that would stop the flow of water if ever there was a power outage in order to prevent flooding. All lines (supply/drain) would run through the floor into the basement below.
The questions I have are:
1) Do you see any major flaws in this hypothetical system
2)Should the water being added be from before or after the water softener (Water here is VERY hard, but I understand that Africans like it that way)
3) Where would you have the incoming waterline located ? Directly into the tank, into the overflow (it's a reef ready tank with overflow centered on the back wall, or the wet/dry opposite the drain?
4)Do you think 5 gallons per day in a 300g system is OK, or should I run more or less ?
Sorry I've been posting so many questions lately, but I'm setting up a new 300g system soon (later this week), and still have a lot of ideas. Those of you who know me, know one thing about me........ my ideas are either pure genius, or pure crap. I leave it up to you esteemed DIYers to tell me what this one is.........
I will have 2 HUGE wet/dry filters in my stand....... they are manifolded together ....... My idea is this.......... I am thinking about installing a 3/4 or 1 inch bulkhead in one of the sumps at the predetermined waterline. This bulkhead will be used to drain water from the tank to the house plumbing. Water will be added via 1/4 inch line with a ball valve to control flow rate. This line will be fed from the house cold water line. My water source is a well, so dechlorination is not a problem. THE WATER WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY.
I'm thinking about setting the flow rate at about 5 gph. This would be approx 120 gallons per day. Even with the dilution, I figure it would amount to about 1 complete water change every week. I would have the added benefit of never having to top off the tank. I would use a 120v inline solenoid that would stop the flow of water if ever there was a power outage in order to prevent flooding. All lines (supply/drain) would run through the floor into the basement below.
The questions I have are:
1) Do you see any major flaws in this hypothetical system
2)Should the water being added be from before or after the water softener (Water here is VERY hard, but I understand that Africans like it that way)
3) Where would you have the incoming waterline located ? Directly into the tank, into the overflow (it's a reef ready tank with overflow centered on the back wall, or the wet/dry opposite the drain?
4)Do you think 5 gallons per day in a 300g system is OK, or should I run more or less ?