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Cav
16-03-08, 14:28
Due to the huge amout of people now using nano tanks is there anything in the pipeline for nano sized auto top system?

techieman
16-03-08, 14:31
Isn't the thimble method good enough for you,Wayne.My egg cup upgrade is spot on lol

Cav
16-03-08, 14:33
Isn't the thimble method good enough for you,Wayne.My egg cup upgrade is spot on lol

Ha Ha, I'm toping up around 2 litres a day in my tank, would be nice for something small and automatic to do the job for me (other than the wife)

techieman
16-03-08, 14:35
My closed top really stops water loss.Mind you I do water changes at least once a week so the level regularly gets topped up.

Cav
16-03-08, 14:39
Mine is a closed top

zimreef
16-03-08, 14:52
You're losing 2 litres a day with a closed top? I don't lose that amount over 3 months. Have you got a leak? ;)

TBH I can't see how much smaller an auto topup can be than the Tunze 3155 ones. They all comprise a float switch, a pump (peri preferred IMO) and a reservoir.

The float switch is a standard size and can't be much smaller I don't think. Peri pumps are pretty much a standard size too and expensive enough as they are without trying to make 'em smaller. The only thing that you'd be able to "miniaturise" for a nano is the reservoir so just use a smaller bucket! :D

John

Cav
16-03-08, 15:03
How easy would it be to fit one to a closed lid tank? The tank is 98 litres and I run 1 x 60mm and 1 x 80mm pc fans to cool the lighting. One of the fans blow directly on to the surface of the water over one of the lighting ballasts (interpet t5, gets very hot!). I also have a submersible 10w led in the overtank filter (tank is an ar620) which is converted into a mini aragamud/algae fuge which gets quite warm. All this, I think, leads to the evap rate

benb
16-03-08, 15:04
Is it really that hard to do a quick change?

I do a jug a day now, the jug is only small btw..

Cav
16-03-08, 15:14
Is it really that hard to do a quick change?

I do a jug a day now, the jug is only small btw..

It is when you get a job! Especially one where you work away for 7 days every 2 weeks

bristol_rich
16-03-08, 15:17
I use a pyrex jug take out 6 litres and change each week, i have no water loss with a closed top everything in my nano is standard so this is probebly why:)

techieman
16-03-08, 15:19
Thats the prob.you have .Not being at home like the rest of us,its down the your other half to take care of the setup.Always thinking of her,aren't you.

Cav
16-03-08, 15:21
Alot of my water comes into contact with air so I suppose it's a semi closed top. I currently use a jug to top up which is not a problem untill my wife and I decided to go snowboarding or lazing on a beach, unfortunately my arms aint long enough!

Cav
16-03-08, 15:25
Thats the prob.you have .Not being at home like the rest of us,its down the your other half to take care of the setup.Always thinking of her,aren't you.

She is good, she cleans the glass on my tanks, feeds the fish, keeps an eye on the skimmer, follows my dosing regime correclty and tops up when needed also rings me if she thinks something is wrong. She is kinda like my own GHL (Good Housewife and Lover):)

Diggerg
16-03-08, 15:44
i run a tunze on my 24g. best bit of kit i've bought for ages. have container in cupborad under tank and fill this every 4 weeks, sensor in last chamber with return pump.well worth the money and it will definitely be going on my new tank.

nanonano
16-03-08, 15:44
Wayne,
Have you considered making the lighting ballasts remote and not in the hood. I have a feeling that if you did that and the hood was a good fit you would have very little evaporation.

Paul

Graham
16-03-08, 15:53
If you know how much you lose a day could you put a small pump on a timer to come on a few times a day dumping a small amount everytime.

Just an Idea

Cav
16-03-08, 18:35
Wayne,
Have you considered making the lighting ballasts remote and not in the hood. I have a feeling that if you did that and the hood was a good fit you would have very little evaporation.

Paul

Ok, this is a few pics to show my hood:

This is the filter/fuge unit:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee30/waynecav/new%20pics/DSC00016.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee30/waynecav/new%20pics/DSC00019.jpg

Skimmer:
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee30/waynecav/new%20pics/DSC00013.jpg

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee30/waynecav/new%20pics/DSC00020.jpg

Interpet pc(this is what I meant by ballast but I think that was wrong as the ballast is fitted to the wall below the tank):
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee30/waynecav/new%20pics/DSC00022.jpg

Old fan set up before adding the 80mm:

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee30/waynecav/new%20pics/DSC00023.jpg

Any ideas where I could fit a top up????

willjay
17-03-08, 12:01
wayne what about using a gravity drip feed via a reservoir and a ball valve ???
there was a thread on here recently will try and find it.

Cav
17-03-08, 12:13
wayne what about using a gravity drip feed via a reservoir and a ball valve ???
there was a thread on here recently will try and find it.

Cheers

willjay
19-03-08, 19:29
sorry for delay! been a touch busy mate
heres that thread, actually for dosing but just use a larger vessel?
just thought this may avoid having to find space for a level float etc, the resivour could be hidden behind a picture on the wall????
http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=240029

MoOriginal
26-03-08, 14:26
thats so simple
think i would have to get some trendy bottles
peligrino ones anyone ? :P

jiffy176
04-04-08, 12:14
Although my deltec 24g is open top i use the deltec auto top up with 12volt pump.

Looking at you pics i reckon you could fit it in chamber one, or the open chamber on the far left if that in fact is a chamber.

FWIW my top up runs on chamber one with no problems and like you I get a lot of evap due to open top and skimmer.

HTH

clippo
07-04-08, 12:51
an alternative would be to just have a small peri-pump drawing from a reservoir under the tank. If you do the calculations and run it on a timer I don't think you'll need the float switch etc so it would just be a piece of air line. I'll be doing this on my new tank (200l).