Continuous water change system

I would like to set up one on my tank because I personally think this is the way to go for me!
I don't want to waste the perfectly good salt water. I am running 11 salt tanks at home. More to come as my business expands. Only two of which are reef so I'd like to use the WC water for my fish only tanks.
My fish only aren't heavily stocked at the moment.
I'm trying to devise something not very technical.
I'm not very good with technical drawing program's so I can't post pics of what I would like it to look like.
Any ideas?

 

this has seemed interesting to me, never tried it. looks awesome Genesis Reef Systems

 

why not use gravity?

 

I have always liked the idea of a constant W/C system... I just have never seen a non-controlled version. It can be done easily with a controller, but you will still have to have a large supply of fresh saltwater on hand that can not be made automatically.

Your system will be even more difficult if you want the water to be removed automatically from your FO, then water transferred from your reef to your FO, then new water put in the reef.

Exactly what cycle are you looking to automate?

 

I'll be following this thread, I'm also interested in this topic.

Here is an idea for a simple system:

- A drain is drilled into the pump chamber of your sump at the desired water level.
- The controller (or even just a simple digital timer) would turn on a pump in a saltwater reservoir once a day to move fresh SW into the system.
- Older SW would automatically drains out through the previously mentioned drain hole.
- Of course you could have the saltwater reservoir automatically filled with RO/DI water via a computer controlled solenoid valve.

I know it's not really continuous, but it is a lot more simple than using multiple pumps/sensors to make a continuous system. It also reduces complications with fresh water top off.

 

I've had interest in this idea for quite some time. Although the need for such a large amount of water volume to do so seems to keep me detracted from actually putting it to use.

 

The amount of water needed in storage would depend on the rate of water change, so it may not be necessary to have a huge reservoir. You could always just mix a certain volume once a week and ensure that the continuous system utilizes less than that volume.

For example, on my 50 gallon system I could automate my weekly water change with just a 10 gallon tank. I could just use 1 gallon/day, that way I have some extra and would only need to fill the tank up once a week.

 

Might as well through this is the mix:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/my-tunze-osmaolator-automated-water-change-89115.html

 

How much flux in salinity would this SW reservoir have if it was say, a 5g bucket, which would remain relatively air-tight? I am thinking about something like this for my next nano tank...

 

If the storage container is nearly air tight, I think the salinity flux would be negligible. If the container was air tight there would be virtually no evaporation.

I put suran wrap over my FW ATO (10 gallon tank) and I don't notice evaporation.

That is a good point though. I've never done this before either, just throwing around ideas! I fall asleep at night thinking about this kind of stuff.