Reef nutrition

Float Switches and Solenoid Valves

I have this: http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=EL-CADT1618

and this:
float_valve.jpg


The second one is my favorite becuase it's easy to ajust the level.

Kent float is also good too but the adjustment is a PITA.
 
I got impatient and went ahead and ordered the parts from this guy's build:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=954235

Yay McMaster!
 
becareful with those solenoid,they're had a tendency to get stuck,make sure u have backup switch.i been using them the last 8 years.They're great when u have all the safety floatvalve and double floatswitch hook proabally.i use this http://www.reeftek.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=R&Product_Code=RRF-AATOC&Category_Code=LC with kent floatvalve.

lapsan
 
One of my float switches just malfunctioned the other day, it was up, but for whatever reason it didn't cut the power, don't know why it happened, it was hooked to a transformer which powered a solenoid (to shut off the water) and a booster pump.
 
I have a fairly small top off reservoir specifically to make it fail safe. If the entire contents dumped into the tank it would be more of a drop in salinity than I'd like, but it wouldn't crash my tank.

I have used the kent valve for a while but it seems not very reliable. It doesn't always shut off firmly and the hose side connection tends to be sort of leaky. Also, when I stripped down the sump the other day I found that the float valve was partially full of water. :-O

I looked at the float switches from autotopoff.com too and I almost ordered one of those and the solenoid they sell. I decided I like the horizontal float switch better, though.
 
[quote author=robert4025 link=topic=6173.msg78236#msg78236 date=1233696045]
What are you? a walking dictionary?

The first one from CustomAquatic has a switch on it...does that count?
[/quote]

The one you listed controls water and is nearly all cases would be called a float valve. While it's switching a line on and off, you don't call a ball valve a ball switch ;)
 
I'm not sure if I understand but why do you need the solenoid if you are running your ATO from a reservoir and not straight from a RODI unit?
 
[quote author=iani link=topic=6173.msg78268#msg78268 date=1233709623]
I'm not sure if I understand but why do you need the solenoid if you are running your ATO from a reservoir and not straight from a RODI unit?
[/quote]

It's gravity fed. I'm using a solenoid instead of a pump.
 
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