Reef tank ATO DIY auto top off do it yourself

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for Reef tank ATO DIY auto top off do it yourself

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Ryan Tran - 6 years ago

Severo Lopez if

HalfMan HalfCichlid - 9 years ago

why not put a glass or plexiglass top on the tank and eliminate most of the evaporation? I think a float valve with a gravity drain to the sump is more simple and effective. thanks for showing an alternative design

Troy Echols - 9 years ago

Can you provide a parts list?

paul lermer-lanier - 10 years ago

fuck yes, very smart system.

Zypheras_Dat1Guy - 10 years ago

Does it hold the vacuum when u add water

Rick Stalker - 10 years ago

wow you just saved me $100 thanks! And I don't have to worry about one more thing to plug in. You might be able to shine a bright flashlight through the bucket to see how much water you have. I'm going to try to find a container that will fit above my sump so I can hide it.

Paul Morley - 10 years ago

excellent piece of kit... but got me thinking, as its sort of gravity fed, wouldnt an 'easier' option by just a float switch. once the water drops below a certain point the float is activated to an 'on' position and water fills the sump. To the comments about putting into the main tank.. bit silly really, the main tank level will always remain the same if a sump is installed... good piece of kit tho! :)

Josh Abbott - 10 years ago

You only see the effect of evaporation in the sump, that is one of the features of having a sump and overflow. If he was to put the air intake in the DT, since the water level will never go down (if the sump is in operation) the ATO will never allow water to leave the container.

Faris Bsoul - 11 years ago

You are brilliant man .... Barvooooo. I spent more than a week searching for diy top off system, all of them buying that elec valve which am not welling to buy. But ur top off system is genius and thank god i saw ur video. Thanks man. Working on it in god well tomorrow :)

10. comment for Reef tank ATO DIY auto top off do it yourself

Shane Rockey - 11 years ago

Wouldn't it be better to place the air line in the tank rather than the sump? If your sump is fed from the tank and flows until it is pumped back to the tank at a constant flow then what actually lowers the level of the sump? I don't think it's evaporation. Seems better to place your air line where the evaporation happens. Or maybe I misunderstand how the water level in the tank effects water level in the sump.

plixplop - 11 years ago

Beautifully simple.

EX - 11 years ago

Go Gators!

AntonyTrickrider - 11 years ago

wow thats smart! But "PancakePlease" has a good point!

PancakePlease - 11 years ago

I get the concept when its working but what happens when you have to put water into the bucket and open that valve? Doesn't the vacuum pressure go away? How do you start it up again?

TheRetiredtrucker - 12 years ago

Can make an old school site glass for your bucket. Simply drill a hole near top and bottom on side of drum, put an airline (running down outside of bucket, seal the area where the hose goes into the bucket with silicon. Water level will show up clearly in the tube Was the old reliable gas gauge we had on our snowmobiles when i was a kid :)

charlesaortiz - 12 years ago

very good. very very good. i think many of us with reef tanks have had to improvise because the hobby is very expensive. i have done the same for other things in order to save the cash and instead sell reproducing corals to cover for some costs. But this is excellent! easy to do; grab an extra bucket, airline and that's it! Thanks!!

SlickEarl123 - 12 years ago

wish you posted this video before i paid $100 on a ato

Will Sadler - 12 years ago

That's fucking genius!

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