Does anyone here do automated continuous water changes.

this definitely would bring stability for an sps dominate tank to the next level with stability...

You must be running out of things to do to your tank

 

I think another easier way to do auto water changes would be to have a pump in your sump come on once every week and take out x amount of gallons (enough to do this each week and make up your 20%-30% monthly water change).

Then have another drum of salt water made up with a heater, powerhead, and a pump that comes on each week right after the pump in the sump.

I like all the ideas mentioned here...something I may consider for my next tank if anyone has decent success with it!

 

If you use a TLF reef filler dual diaphragm pump on a timer you can easily turn it on for X minutes and then have the timer turn it off. It pumps both directions at the same time. (Obviously ensure that your hoses are not located near each other so you're not sucking out some of your brand new water).

 

I've seen a few people use them. Good application, but not cheap.

I looked into the DIY Tunze osmolator setup... I have a controller, a osmolator, and an extra pump... all I need is the hose an a relay box. So for about $30 I'll be set. I think that is what I will be doing.

 

One thing about small daily water changes is it does not have to be heated. It's hard to match pumps with timers... ATO setup with float switches takes care of that. Or as was mentioned... dual diaphragm pumps or dual head peristaltic pump that pump equal amounts of two fluids.

 

Powerman, based on your postings, I'm assuming you've read this article: Water Changes in Reef Aquaria by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

It's a good read on water changes anyhow, in case anyone following the thread hasn't read it already...

Since I will be getting an APEX controller soon, I have been considering options for automated water changes... What I have in mind involves using float switches and a solenoid on the skimmer output... I plan to Tee off the skimmer output, with a solenoid on one of the outputs. I will set the flow so that both branches of the tee will equal normal skimming. When the solenoid closes the smaller of the two branches, it will cause the skimmer to wet skim... This will fill a bucket with waste water. When it fills this bucket, a float switch will be triggered and the solenoid will be reopened... I could even have the skimmer shut off during this time while a pump turns on and pumps water from the make up water bucket into the aquarium. I could also have a pump in the waste water bucket pump the waste water into a drain at the same time, so that I don't have to even touch the bucket.

This would be an all automated program. I would just need to make sure the make up water bucket has a batch of correctly mixed saltwater in it. It's not a continuous water change, and I would be there when the program runs to make sure everything goes correctly.... but it would take very little effort. It would require two 5 gallon buckets, some float switches, a solenoid, and a controller of course... I would do two of these "wet skim" water changes a week which is what I'm doing right now with good results (though it's completely manual).

 

John, the float switches are the only thing in the SW now on my ATO. I do have my inlet tubing from the aqualifter in the TO tub, but the aqualifter is designed for SW use. I don't think there will be any issue with it.

 

So, the apex can take a conductivity probe?

I have a industrial conductivity controller laying around that I have no idea why I would use it.

 

Conductivity is a measure of salinity. My plan is to monitor salinity...it should raise with mine.... so at some point I will trigger the waste pump to come on and dunp some water and replace with ATO keeping conductivity/salinity at the right level.

 

I have read it and was going to post it here. The reason I decided to do small daily water changes.