angelfish Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 its soooo cute and stylie!!! well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Very nice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Thanks very much for the compliments on the tank guys. I think it'll be interesting to see how this tank matures, having never tackled anything near this small. More pics are coming soon. The next step for this tank is to get the topoff's automated. I don't think I have enough room in there to fit a float switch - so I was thinking of having a small powerhead (or another slow pump?) with some tubing on a timer - does anybody else topup using this method? Any suggestions are more than welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 maybe a dosing pump might work, youll need to measure the amount for a while and figure out how consistant the evap is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Great idea - a dosing pump would be perfect. Where can I buy one from - LFS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 Jetskisteve has one for sale at a good price. Might be a bit big?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 6, 2005 Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 probably too big, it would dose too fast for a small tank. the aquamedic sp3000 does 3L per hour - that's a third of the tank! unless you put it on a timer and dose for a few minutes at a time? you would really need to rig up some form of float switch because the margin of error for topup is so small with such a small tank. have to have something like a float switch, solenoid and dosing pump. i got two aquamedic sp300's, they are great peristaltic pumps for the price. maybe try these guys? http://www.watersystems.co.nz/suppliers/pulsafeeder.htm smallest is 0.4lph. something that was variable rate would be ok if you didnt want it automated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2005 The aquamedic sp3000 on a timer could work. As long as I experiment in incriments of a minute, and monitor the evap rate over a matter of weeks - I think it might be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 another option is to feed the water thru a T fitting and send some of the water back to the point of origin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 there is a guy ninjafish on RC that setup some strange autotopoff i didnt pay to much attention as my evaporation is minimal (very minimal) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 jetskisteve - The T fitting is a great idea. I'm thinkning I could possibly get away from a mini powerhead with thin tubing through a T fitting on a timer. I might rig a prototype up. Brianemone - I was just checking out his thread - he has an indusrial pump hooked up to a timer. A very nice setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 You could build a pico float switch out of a microswitch+pingpong ball or similar pretty easily, get it to trip a relay. Depends on how much diy you want to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 another option is to feed the water thru a T fitting and send some of the water back to the point of origin nice, you should be a car salesman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 misnoma - The DIY is one option for a switch - I just don't have a big margin for DIY error. I was thinking of ordering one of these: http://www.floatswitches.net/ They're the smallest I could find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 if you do get one ill be keen to get one too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 unfortunately they won't ship to NZ for small orders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhindry Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I can get someone to purchase these if required Specifcally: 288-9344 288-9322 Though worth looking through all of them. http://www.rsnewzealand.com/cgi-bin/bv/search/SearchDisplay.jsp?BV_SessionID=%40%40%40%400600749705.1126062294%40%40%40%40&BV_EngineID=cccfaddfimflllicefeceefdffhdgmj.0&SearchType=quick&viewType=text&SearchText=float+switch&quickSubmit=Go Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Hamer limited well them aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted September 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 Sweet - I'll give a shout out if I end up going for a float switch - maybe get a group purchase going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 i'll be keen on a couple of float switches, at the right price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 With a tank that small you almost might as well just keep a 2L coke bottle nearby and pour a bit in every night to top it up. Should only need to refill the bottle every few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I have seen in electroic catelogs (Jacar?) sensor 'float' switches. They don't actualy get sub merged but otherwise work the same. Cost about $45.00. Also search RC for the DIY topoff system. Make a bracket, feed water through air hose via gravity. The bracket has a 'hinge' attachment with a float on it (piece of polystyrene). As the water level rises it the hinge lifts and pinches off the air tube, thus preventing water entering the tank. I've seen lots of people doing it and swearing by it. Total cost is a bit of time, a hot glue gun and some air hose, the rest can be made with whatever your most comforable with (metal, plastic, wood - some even use mouse traps. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 If your all hard up for some float switches i could get some from Hamer as we have a trade account. Dont qoute me but i think they are somewhere between $15-20 each +p&p. I'l check that price out tomorrow i may need a small reminder though. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 I'l check that price out tomorrow i may need a small reminder though REMINDER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 7, 2005 Report Share Posted September 7, 2005 The float switch I'm using was $20 I think including GST, retail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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