Automatic Water Changing System

Bree7

Bree7

AC Members
May 22, 2010
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Hey guys!

So I have a 55 gallon bare bottom discus tank. No gravel siphoning or anything is needed at all... I just change 50% of the water daily.

I was thinking about how I could set up a filtration system that went on/off automatically. It's simple, but if I'm not missing something, it seems effective.

My plan (and this is still very rough, it probably has a lot of flaws that haven't even crossed my mind yet, so bring up any that you see) would be to purchase a timed aquarium power strip. (Since I age my water, it is in a big container next to the tank. I use a python to drain the tank out the window during WC's and I use a water pump to pump the water from the container into the tank.) I'd hook up this water pump to the timer, along with another water pump that would be placed inside of the tank. Both would be connected to 1" tubing. The one inside the tank would have tubing that went out the window, and the one in the aging container would have tubing that went into the tank.

The timer would be set to drain the tank for 7 minutes (this is how long it takes to drain my tank 50%) I'd time this to make sure it drained the right amount. Once the 7 minutes were up, the timed power strip would shut off the draining pump and turn on the refill pump in the container. This would start pumping water back into the tank for 7 minutes (assuming that is the amount of time it takes to refill it- the timing would be perfected first) and then time off.

All I would have to do was pick the exact times I want the timed power strip to turn on and off each pump... right? Sound like a good idea, maybe?
 
how about an overflow box that drains out the back and just one pump to pump water in? would be a bit more fail-safe, imo.
 
how are you going to shut off the pump that pumps water into the tank when the bucket goes empty? other wise, you are going to be running your pump dry.


also, it takes you 7min to drain your tank? what diameter tubing are you using? i have a 3/4" section of tubing, and can drain my entire 72gallon tank in less than 5min.
 
rocker92 said:
how are you going to shut off the pump that pumps water into the tank when the bucket goes empty? other wise, you are going to be running your pump dry.


also, it takes you 7min to drain your tank? what diameter tubing are you using? i have a 3/4" section of tubing, and can drain my entire 72gallon tank in less than 5min.
Click to expand...


both pumps will be on timers: when to turn on, when to turn off. Oh, and 7 minutes was an estimation... it probably takes less.
 
Bree7 said:
Hey guys!

So I have a 55 gallon bare bottom discus tank. No gravel siphoning or anything is needed at all... I just change 50% of the water daily.

I was thinking about how I could set up a filtration system that went on/off automatically. It's simple, but if I'm not missing something, it seems effective.

My plan (and this is still very rough, it probably has a lot of flaws that haven't even crossed my mind yet, so bring up any that you see) would be to purchase a timed aquarium power strip. (Since I age my water, it is in a big container next to the tank. I use a python to drain the tank out the window during WC's and I use a water pump to pump the water from the container into the tank.) I'd hook up this water pump to the timer, along with another water pump that would be placed inside of the tank. Both would be connected to 1" tubing. The one inside the tank would have tubing that went out the window, and the one in the aging container would have tubing that went into the tank.

The timer would be set to drain the tank for 7 minutes (this is how long it takes to drain my tank 50%) I'd time this to make sure it drained the right amount. Once the 7 minutes were up, the timed power strip would shut off the draining pump and turn on the refill pump in the container. This would start pumping water back into the tank for 7 minutes (assuming that is the amount of time it takes to refill it- the timing would be perfected first) and then time off.

All I would have to do was pick the exact times I want the timed power strip to turn on and off each pump... right? Sound like a good idea, maybe?
Click to expand...

I don't know but it takes me about 5 mins to drain my 100 to 50% with a python hose over to the outside. I highlighted in red that he will be using 1" tubing.
 
Like I posted my opinion on the other forum. Relying on pump to drain and fill tank (unattended) is a bad idea. The idea may look good in paper but it's not pratical when you start adding backup devices (especially for 1 tank). I use a Neptune Aquacontroller that basically give me remote access of power outlet from virtually anywhere and I still don't trust it 100%.

Auto water change is a lot more than just 2 pumps pumping water in and out. You need to design, implement and test the heck out of it or you will be coming home to a wet floor. Lots of fail safe features need to be implemented.
 
If you are going to do it unattended, you might want to mix the new water with the tank water rather than doing an actual water change. It change your water change to an effectively 33% water change, but the risks are lower. You can then drain and replace the water container and replace it with new water.
 
You can use two float switches and a controllable timer. The timer turns the first pump on and the switch stops the pump at 50%. Say ten minutes later the timer turns off pump 1 (which is already off from the float switch) and turns on pump 2. Pump 2 stops when the float switch at the top of the tank is activated.

You potentially could eliminate pump one and rely on a solenoid activated valve to stop the gravity flow at 50%.


Your water source has an ATO hooked up to your water purifier.

Here's a picture of the float switch I use to stop my skimmer (saltwater tank) from flooding the floor if the skimmer decides to go nuts....an MRC which is very finicky:

IMG_5256.jpg
 
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Best bet is to use a drilled tank with an overflow drain, next would be a HOB overflow. Then you just need the one pump to add water and everything excess just drains off. I would go as far as making it a constant drip into the tank using line pressure vs. using a timer, then you don't even need the pump.
 
Have you considered using float switches like ones found in ATO set-ups? You could go real high-tech and use a floating magnet mounted in a tube. Then you could place those magnetic relays used in security systems to set your low and high limit. Those could be run back to a microcontroller, like an ARDUINO, and have it fire the pumps to drain and fill the tank.



**--**I agree with Redfish**--**
 
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