Automatic refill pump.

Cheryl

I looked at different auto-refill schemes and had a question: Peristaltic pumps are used everywhere. What is the reason for this? Why can't a regular "head" from the filter be used?

Richard

Why not? Everything is possible as long as it works. I use a windshield washer pump from a VAZ for the automatic refill. The price is 35. I power it with 5 volts. If you give it 12 volts, first of all, it makes a terrible whistling (buzzing) sound, and secondly, the pressure is very strong (like 7-8 atmospheres).

Chelsea

On the contrary, I power it with 5 volts instead of 12. That is, I get a consumption of about 200 ml per minute. I add water to the sump. It is not advisable to use a 220-volt pump if you have an automatic refill with relays.

Andrea6761

This is not about what the sensors are. The sensors are connected to the inputs of the RS-trigger, and at its output, there is an optocoupler + thyristor, allowing us to safely control 200V. Of course, we will also need 5V (around 50mA) to power the chip. ............... So, if I understood correctly, can we use ANY pump?

Brian7092

I believe any is fine. My first refill was with a peristaltic pump. Later, I switched to a car pump. Why? Because peristaltic pumps are expensive for moving useless water. Additionally, the lifespan of the peristaltic tubing is not infinite. I only use the peristaltic pump for dosing purposes. As for triggers and all sorts of other stuff, everyone does as they wish.

Ashley5975

I have a washer pump (exactly the same) in my terrarium for creating mist through the nozzles, but it consumes a lot of current... It's fully powered there - pressure is needed. As for the triggers - yes, it's up to what is more convenient for each person.

Rick

Any pump can be used; it all depends on the amount of water being added, which in turn depends on the volume of the aquarium (the surface area of the water and the evaporation rate) and the response time of the level sensors. The water level in the aquarium is always constant; it only changes in the sump. The pump is selected in such a way that the slower the flow of fresh water, the better (the fresh water should have time to mix with the saltwater and not directly impact very sensitive invertebrates).

Amanda5586

It's quite clear and convincing!!! That is, we set the least powerful "head," limit the output to 200 ml/h, and feed it into the return chamber. It might even be better to put it in the intake chamber - it will mix better, especially since there's a skimmer and constant water movement there? Well, the circuitry is quite simple, so I will go ahead and do it.

Derek7322

Probably 200 ml/hour is a typo. My sump consists of two compartments: a filtering compartment and a pump compartment. The refill goes into the filtering compartment. The level sensors are in the pump compartment.

Craig7302

Yes. Of course, in a minute. My setup has 5 compartments to avoid clutter: Receiving. Algae compartment. A type of filter before the return (filled with shells from the Azov Sea). Return. Auto-top-off (for storing water for topping off - 30 liters). ................... So, do I need to supply to the receiving compartment? Well, that's great! It shares a wall with the auto-top-off compartment.

Courtney4094

I think this is the right decision. The water will mix well here, and in the "washing machine," the skimmer will reach the desired condition. And what is the volume of the marine aquarium?

Kenneth7331

540 with stones and other internal "objects." "Dirty" - 600 l.

Eric

My system is 200 liters. This week (and it's not hot in Kyiv) I used about 12 liters for topping up. On very hot days, the water consumption was about 6 liters over 2 days. You can estimate how long 30 liters of top-up will last you. I have a bucket for 20 liters. I cool the aquarium with fans. The thermostat has a hysteresis of 25.5 - 26.5 degrees. There was no rise above 27 degrees.

Eric5208

This is due to the ventilators. I use 5-8 liters per week. The cooling - a separate air conditioner is installed for this room.

Carrie1606

I have air conditioners in the living rooms. A.M. (marine aquarium) in the kitchen.

Mike

It's clear. He simply wouldn't fit in my kitchen. Since there are three rooms and two residents, one room is for aquariums. Well, there's also a computer.

Cheryl

Congratulations. I strive for that too. There are many kids, but the older ones are gradually getting on their feet. So, we will also have an aquarist's holiday.

Jenny

I already have a daughter who is married. Don't rejoice too soon - "Little children are big worries, big children are small grandchildren."

Ricardo7341

Yes, well said.

Kimberly2102

It's fine. It's not unnecessary. It will come in handy.

Antonio

Interesting opinion. I saw on YouTube that someone made an automatic refill using a pump with a capacity of 3L/1h. Tom Aquarium Aqua Lifter Aquarium Fish Tank Dosing Pump. However, I don't know how to do it since it's for 110 volts. Here's a link to the pump in action.

Guy

Will you figure it out? Lower B sensor - upper A sensor. Optocouplers. If the alarm is closed and the lower sensor is dry - after a minute the Led_Alarm light will turn on. Something like that -)))

Frederick

Seryoga, I'll figure it out without questions BUT! 1. I don't want "wet" sensors. It's the sea. They need to be made of titanium, otherwise everything will rot in a week (well, I guess they could be made of graphite). 2. I've already soldered a similar controller on an Atmega (you know, I'm not good with PICs). You should recommend something better for the sensors.

Laura9093

Floaters. It can also be... it's just difficult. Like industrial communicating vessels and the external flask at the height of the aquarium. And then like you have... only the magnet moves inside the flask on the foam plastic - and the hermetic outside the flask...

Melissa3200

I have a float inside, and the reed switches outside.

Joshua448

Only the structure itself in the water.

Maria

It all depends on the length of the rod. I just happen to NOT be in the water.

Elizabeth882

Agreed. + length of the guides -)

Karen81

Yes, that's the charm of it. The guides should be ABOVE the water and not get overgrown with all sorts of junk. And the rod has good clearance and "wobbles" there.