Float switch and Remora with Prefilter

Wondering if this will work. At one point I was going to invest in a evaporation alarm, thinking I wouldn't mind manually topping it off, I'm learning i'm a lot more ambitious with planning than with doing.

Everytime the water evaporates about 8 ounces it leaves the pump exposed in the prefilter so it makes a horrible slurping sound. Well the water in the tank doesn't change, so I can't put a float switch in the tank.

So I'm thinking about putting the float switch in the prefilter and was wondering if it works? It doesn't look deep enough and I also don't want to have to overfill the prefilter or else it won't skim the surface. I can't make it more than 24 hours without needing to add water and sometimes i'm not home in that time.

 

I'm in the same boat as you, Cody. My float switch is in the mail on the way to me and then I need to try to DIY a auto top off system. But I don't see why you couldn't put the switch in the main tank (or sump if you're lucky enough to have one). The water level in the prefilter can't go down unless the water level in the main tank goes down. Right? This all being said, I feel like it's going to be a huge pain in the arse getting this thing set up right. I've had my prefilter for about a month now and it's not surface skimming because of the slurping sound of doom I hear every 8 hours.......

 

I'm not positive but am pretty sure that the water level in the prefilter drops before that of the main tank or sump. That's why I think the float switch has to be in the prefilter and in order for it to work, then it won't be surface skimming because it will be too filled. I'm running hang on back and don't want any (more) equipment in the tank, so I was hoping it would work this way, but the more I think about it, it might have to work like that.

 

I had similar problems in my old 20 hex that wasn't plumbed for a sump.
Have you guys thought replacing your evaporated water with a drip from a Kent I.V. or the like? I found that to work ok.

 

Matt:
Do you have a pic/link of this Kent I.V. of which you speak?
I just got a Kent Full Size Hi-S Deluxe (from a fellow 3reefer)...

 

Pisces, Matt is referring to one of these: Reef Aquarium Essentials: Kent Marine AquaDose

That would work but I really don't like having anything around/in the tank and was trying to avoid that (even though I could get around it by mounting a cabinet). I might just do a small waterpump in the stand on a timer.

 

Ah...interesting, but I'm not sure I'd have anywhere to mount it.
Though I think I did find the "sweet spot" water level that lets the prefilter skim the surface in my tank.