[CJBROWN]

I just got my float switch with their little pump from autotopoff.com and works famously. Was about $50 shipped. Mounted it in the sump, put the pump in a 5gl bucket next to it. My system evaps about a half gallon a day. It adds water all day 24/7 as needed, steady SG and PH. Their switch is very sensitive and activates a relay to turn on the pump as needed. Their $8 pump runs for just a few seconds when activated.

I went ahead and added kalkwasser to the top-off bucket having read so many benefits of using it. Added a grate at the bottom of the bucket made from lighting eggcrate material so the pump sits about an inch off the bottom. Any settling kalk can just sit there on the bottom. Top up the bucket once a week.

I bought some sheet acrylic to make a nice reservoir that will fit in next to the sump. Calculated to hold about 7gl, figure about 5-1/2gl usable. I can now go away for a few days to a week and not have to worry about it.

I found adding a quart of water twice a day irritated the corals. The sensitive ones would shrink up for an hour or so.

EDIT: as far as the top off water affecting the overal water conditions, a half gallon a day to replace the pure H2O that evaporated will keep it stable. Especially now that it's added as needed, probly a half a cup at a time.

 

[CJBROWN]

so this is the float switch that turns on a pump in your water reservoir .... what is the pump that goes in the 5 gallon bucket... any pump will do or?

Any small pump will do. Some use dosing pumps, or small fountain pumps. autotopoff.com has a little tiny one for $8.50 so i thought I would try it. Cheap and works good. I figured if they were selling it for their system it must be pretty well tried out. Works great. Buy a length of 5/16 hose with it to reach your sump.

http://autotopoff.com/pumps/ft70i/