DIY: automatic water change system /ato control

[btldreef]

i am tired of removing 40gallons and then filling 40gallons every week. so i had done some research about making a auto water change system and there are not many posts about creating any system. i also had thought... the ocean stays stable constantly. so if i change a couple of gallons out a day my reef should be more consistent. :scratchch


i for one do not feel justified in buying a $700 system for me just to be lazy. so i found on thread on reefcentral discussing the tunze osmolator for water changes..... so credit is do to scolley from rc for helping me think of a system. very simple... little cost system.


going to be more detailed.... just bare with me as i get this diy write up together.


so far from my post on rc.


okay.. it took me a little bit to figure out the dpdt 120v relay (i have automotive experience so i am used to spdt relays.) but i have succeeded
parts that i used:

dpdt 120v relay found at radioshack
2x4 project box radioshack
6 x screw connectors for quick connections radioshack
2 x ac cords (ac from aquacontroller jr and other from wall outlet)
ultralife auto top off (had this for a year or so great ato) or can get ato from aquahub for $50
maxi jet 600 for removing water
maxi jet 600 for replacing water
aqualifter 20 pump for ato
20 gallon tub (fresh ro and salt mixing station. also feeds the new water)
2 x float switch
tubing for the pumps i used about 10ft
as my control for the timing i use my aquacontroller jr, can use a timer, or anything that can give you a 120v output to activate the relay.



this is my waste water bucket. it has the float switch so that if a power outage occurs it can shut the system off if it starts to overfill.




this is the 20 gallon tub. i add my ro and salt here. a mag 2 mixes the salt and if the level gets low i can actually hear that annoying gurgle slurp noise reminding me to fill it up.




this is the project box. notice i have drilled a bigger hole for my inputs:
ac jr control
120v

float switches

on the outside of the box are the quick connectors. each are for the ac 120v neutral and live wire that go to each output:
auto top off
new water
waste water
make sure you label these on the outside of your project box

as far as connections go:
relay dpdt 120v
7 -8 input ac cord to turn on, ac jr. when in feed mode
5-6 input ac cord to 120v ac wall outlet
3-4 output to maxi jets in parallel(you must break this circuit using floatsw)
1-2 output ac to ato before relay that runs the ato unit.

in the project box i had split the to "hot" lines that go to the outputs for the maxi jets to got to float switches. this is to insure nothing overfills/spill etc.
i had at first ran the new water to the display tank but realized i need a stronger pump because of the amount of distance it has to travel. i did route the piping to run vertical and to be further above the surface of its destination. this solves the siphon issue.

i set this awc system to initiate only if the ac jr. is put into feed mode. the feed mode interval is set to 1 minute. this takes aprox 2 gallons out and puts a little more the 2 gallons in. this also obviously through the relay shuts the ato off for that minute. i am going to have to check salinity and fine tune but i think i should be ok.

thanks so much scolley... i have been searching for some time for a basic idea on this and you opened up the door. it is very easy just need some basic electrical knowledge.

****notes*****
As far power outage:
I have the outputs for the water change pumps controlled by my aqua controller jr.
I have to set the code on the aqua controller to be put in feed mode to activate the pumps.
During a recent power outage my controller reset the feed mode duration.
Power had came back on and
I had pushed the button for feed mode to operate my waterchange and walked away. assuming that it would only run for the minute I had set it up for.
Big mistake.....
I walked in to my fish room with 30+ gallons on the floor.
Then realized that i needed to add a float switch on both resevoir and waste buckets.
This way after a power outage if something resets it will shut the pumps off.


here is the original link for those interested:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1677003&highlight=auto+water+change&page=3

 

[motortrendz]

nice, let us know how it works..

 

[btldreef]

actually... i didn't post this until i new for sure that it actually makes a difference. it has kept my parameters very stable. i just have to add a little less salt, then recommended everytime i start a fresh batch. my ph has never been as stable nor growth as fast. also no more mess or hours to make and remove water. besides dumping 40gallons....is alot at one time. i dump 5 gallons every day...that one bucket vs 8 at one time. i am going to try to dig up some photos. i have had this tank up for 5 months. at the end of september is when i started.

 

[btldreef]

okay... some pics... blue milli i had purchased from manhattan aquariums back in june.

6/2011

9/18/2011

9/28/2011

11/3/2011

i know sps grows fast....but... add consistent parameters and it seems to me to be taking off.

 

[motortrendz]

very nice!

 

[TheGropster]

"this is my waste water bucket. it has the float switch so that if a power outage occurs it can shut the system off if it starts to overfill. "

How exactly does the float switch work if there is a power outage? It looks like you are using electrical float switches in which case in a power outage neither would work unless you have a battery backup that you haven't mentioned as they would not have any power to activate them.

 

[btldreef]

Maybe I didn't make it clear enough I apologize.
As far power outage:
I have the outputs for the water change pumps controlled by my aqua controller jr.
I have to set the code on the aqua controller to be put in feed mode to activate the pumps.
During a recent power outage my controller reset the feed mode duration.
Power had came back on and
I had pushed the button for feed mode to operate my waterchange and walked away. assuming that it would only run for the minute I had set it up for.
Big mistake.....
I walked in to my fish room with 30+ gallons on the floor.
Then realized that i needed to add a float switch on both resevoir and waste buckets.
This way after a power outage if something resets it will shut the pumps off.

Hope this clears things up.

 

[rkaragozler]

Do you have a schematic of your wiring?
I am also in the process of building my auto water changer, I will be doing 5 gallons a day. I am using 5 float switches, 2 relays, and an electronic timer, my ac3 will be programmed to initiate the water change, once I have it finalized and running for a month I will post

 

[btldreef]

I will draw one up and post as soon as I am done wiring in my new hlg driver for my LEDs.

2 relays?? 5 float switches? Please tell me the plans I am interested. One thing I noticed "beware of the siphon" lol I am sorry you obviously know what you are doing it's one of the things I learned during my trial and errors.

 

[ducati335i]

I would love to do something like this!

 

[btldreef]

Hey I can help you. Parts only cost me under $75.

 

[cono]

bump
really want to setup something like this
i know this thread is over a year old but still very interested

 

[btldreef]

I have done upgrades to the auto water change system. The problem I had run into was while taking water out I was putting water in. NOT SO GOOD>
so what I had done to fix this:
used total of 3 float switches.
1 new water pump power is spliced using float switch and float switch is mounted to the waste water bucket. obviously this switch is to be mounted at the top of the bucket and float switch is meant to complete circuit once the waste water is filled to desired level.
2 waste water pump power is spliced with second float switch to kill power once waste bucket is filled to desired level. I mounted the waste water pump inside of sump.
3 float switch is spliced to the new water pump to kill power to new water pump once the new water bucket reaches empty.

still using my apex controller to turn on the system.
instead of turning on the waste water pump and the new water pump at the same time I had spliced in float switches to turn on and off pumps after a certain action took place. for example:
1 activate water change outlet on apex
2 sends power to both pumps but, the new water pump power line is split by a float switch spliced in to activate the new pump once the waste water bucket reaches the desired level.
3 waste water bucket fills and shuts off waste water pump.
4 new water pump turns and shuts off when new water bucket is empty.

any questions please ask....I can draw out schematics and diagrams if anyone is interested.

 

[jacksammoms-tank]

Would you post a diagram or two to help those of us that are more challenged? Thanks!!

 

[jhart]

I am building myself an automated water change system.
Parts needed

1: salinity or conductivity controller..( reef angel controller)
2: toms pump or similar
3: 120 volt electronic solenoid , I paid $13 for it
4: 10 gallon bucket
5: Salt
6: rodi w/mechanical float
That's it..

Ok so here's how it works..
Your controller turns on a outlet that the toms pump is attached to , you turn it on for how long is up to you . I say a few mins will get you 2 gallons . What happens here the pump turns on and sucks water out of your sump into a drain , when the water level goes low the rodis floats calls for water.turns on ,fresh water is added to your sump lowering your salinity, you set a threshold on your controller for 1.023 that turns on the $13 solinoid , which is connectected to your rodi before the float.
That fresh water is added into your 10 gallon bucket that has a bag of salt in it .at the bottom of the buckect you should have a John guest fitting adding fresh water.At the top of the bucket you have a spigot overflowing water in a high salinity into you sump. Only at a few drips . When you salinity reaches 1.025 , the controller turns off the solinoid that adds water into the bucket. Done automated water change.. All you have to do is add salt to the bucket.

 

[btldreef]

^ did that guy just jack my thread??? Lol

 

[jacksammoms-tank]

btldreef- Do you have any plans or diagrams for the ato? Thanks!! Toni

 

[cono]

If you would post an easy diagram of how you set it up with and without controller that would be great

 

[reefs4life]

You can build one of these with the Apex and its breakout box and make it work just like a Genesis System Renew system. Much simpler process and a tiny bit of Apex programming.

 

[jacksammoms-tank]

I meant auto water changer!! Sorry!