perle
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Yeah I am quite satisified with it. Not all the things you mention are problems, either.
For one, the RO system runs only on water-pressure. Electricity failures don't affect anything. And water pressure failures for an extended period of time are very, very unusual.
I think I see how your overflow box would work, but wouldn't it evaporate at the same rate as the tank? In which case it wouldn't help anything. Maybe I don't understand.
Edit: nevermind I figured it out. It lets you set the lower limit of the waterline of the tank much higher than the actual base of the inlet by dropping the inlet deep into the box.
Underflow is not really an issue because the outlet tube is only 3-4 inches from the surface. So in no case will it drain so much of the tank as to cause a problem for the animals.
The overflow is the problem. It could be remedied with an electric overflow monitor at the external base of the tank (since water will run down around the base), and some kind of electric valve. A neat way would be, with a default-closed valve (that is, only open when it is powered) would be to wire the valve in series with a fuse. Also, wire an overflow monitor (and really it is just a pair of wires spaced very closely to each other) in series with the fuse but powered by a stronger current so that if the circuit completes it blows the fuse. This means if your power goes out, the valve closes for the duration of the power outage, or if the tank overflows, the valve closes permanently until you replace the fuse or breaker or whatever you wanted.
The key is to avoid computer control. It's more complicated and less reliable. After all we are simulating nature here!
Yes, a basement would be ideal. Just put your tank near your basement sump and don't worry about overflow at all.
Once I am more sure that the setup is complete I need to tape over the tubes so that algae doesn't grow.
Where is that FedEx truck!!
~perle
For one, the RO system runs only on water-pressure. Electricity failures don't affect anything. And water pressure failures for an extended period of time are very, very unusual.
I think I see how your overflow box would work, but wouldn't it evaporate at the same rate as the tank? In which case it wouldn't help anything. Maybe I don't understand.
Edit: nevermind I figured it out. It lets you set the lower limit of the waterline of the tank much higher than the actual base of the inlet by dropping the inlet deep into the box.
Underflow is not really an issue because the outlet tube is only 3-4 inches from the surface. So in no case will it drain so much of the tank as to cause a problem for the animals.
The overflow is the problem. It could be remedied with an electric overflow monitor at the external base of the tank (since water will run down around the base), and some kind of electric valve. A neat way would be, with a default-closed valve (that is, only open when it is powered) would be to wire the valve in series with a fuse. Also, wire an overflow monitor (and really it is just a pair of wires spaced very closely to each other) in series with the fuse but powered by a stronger current so that if the circuit completes it blows the fuse. This means if your power goes out, the valve closes for the duration of the power outage, or if the tank overflows, the valve closes permanently until you replace the fuse or breaker or whatever you wanted.
The key is to avoid computer control. It's more complicated and less reliable. After all we are simulating nature here!
Yes, a basement would be ideal. Just put your tank near your basement sump and don't worry about overflow at all.
Once I am more sure that the setup is complete I need to tape over the tubes so that algae doesn't grow.
Where is that FedEx truck!!
~perle