DIY : 24/7 New Water Drip System [Archive]

neoprodigy

11-05-2006, 7:54 PM

Water Changes... do you love doing them? Well I'm tired of the doing water changes every other day on 18+ tanks...

The 24/7 drip system is a constant drip of "new" water and any excess water will overflow out the tank through the drains. Similar to an Overflow filter except it has a much slower flow rate.

Here's how my system works:

Water -> (filter) -> Aged Water Barrel -> Tank -> Overflow -> Drain/Sink/Lawn

----- Aged Water Barrel----

I tap into the cold water pipe :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07637.JPG

The aged water barrel :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07658.JPG

You have to get Float Valve !! or your place will be flooded !

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07680.JPG

The pump that pumps water into the tanks :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07682.JPG

To age the water you must aerate the water 24/7.

I have an air stone in the barrel but I didn't think it was enough, so I added a pump to circulate the water even more.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07638.JPG

Circulated back in to the barrel :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07640.JPG

Spray bar helps spread the water around :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07672.JPG

You see the yellow quick disconnect ? Why the quick disconnect ?
It's just incase I need to do a quick water change :D

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07643.JPG

----- DRILL TANK----

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07670.JPG

If you want the water level to be higher, all you have to do is add an extention to allow the water level to rise.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07666.JPG

----- NON DRILL TANK----

here is how the overflow works

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/overflow-2.jpg

Here is a DIY version. Its much cheaper and works the same way.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/neooverflow.jpg

----- How to build a Neoprodigy DIY overflow----

Im using a 1-1/4 pvc pipe :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07625.JPG

PVC primer and cement :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07630.JPG

Primer the ends :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07631.JPG

When its all cemented :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07628.JPG

----- Installing the drip----

New water to the tanks :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07655.JPG

The flow valve :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07653.JPG

The drip :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07675.JPG

----- Install the over flow----

I use zip ties to secure it to the pole :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07646.JPG

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07648.JPG

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07645.JPG

The level of the PVC pipe to the right controls the level of water in the tank. Make sure you line up the pipe with the desired water level in the tank correctly :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07650-x.jpg

You see the vinyl pipe from the tank to the overflow?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07651.JPG

If you have time you can use pvc piping instead :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07664.JPG

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07665.JPG

To start the siphon process I use a pump to quick start it. Pump the water until it starts to flow out of the tube.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07685.JPG

This Setup Drains to the Sink :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07649.JPG

My other setup is set to drain to the AC draining system :

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/247/DSC07710-x.jpg