Agua
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I just installed a DIY automatic water changer in my 90 gallon planted tank. The design is very simple and it functions beautifully. There are two sprinkler valves that control the drain and fill function. It is all controlled by a sprinkler irrigation controller. It all works as follows:
1) The controller activates the first valve which sends water to a python style valve. This creates the suction needed to start the drain process of the tank. The valve shuts off after about 1 minute. The siphon continues as my tank level is higher than my drain level. It drains to the level of the intake pipe and then the siphon is broken.
2) After a preset time the controller activates the second sprinkler valve which sends water through a whole house filter and then into the tank through a spraybar.
3) A rain sensor in the tank completely shuts off the water to the tank once the probes touch the water.
The whole process takes about 15 min and I don't have to lift a finger. The best part is I can essentially set it and forget it. And the parts really aren't that expensive.
I can't take credit for the design as it was my dad that built it. He has been using the system for 7 years trouble free.
1) The controller activates the first valve which sends water to a python style valve. This creates the suction needed to start the drain process of the tank. The valve shuts off after about 1 minute. The siphon continues as my tank level is higher than my drain level. It drains to the level of the intake pipe and then the siphon is broken.
2) After a preset time the controller activates the second sprinkler valve which sends water through a whole house filter and then into the tank through a spraybar.
3) A rain sensor in the tank completely shuts off the water to the tank once the probes touch the water.
The whole process takes about 15 min and I don't have to lift a finger. The best part is I can essentially set it and forget it. And the parts really aren't that expensive.
I can't take credit for the design as it was my dad that built it. He has been using the system for 7 years trouble free.