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Iread somewhere that it is possible to have a tank on a continuous water change system. My original idea was a dripping tap and an over flow, but has any one done this before? how would water ager stuff be added to the water?

I don't know any auto water changing system. the reason is you would need to add chemicals to the water to make it safe for the fish. (Declorinators). I guess if you used a RO system you could build holding tank that would auto fill the tank. However you would still need to go in and remove the water, being that Nitrates/Nitrites, fish waste, anything you put in the tank as far as fertilizers and such. will build up over time. Even with a cycled tank. Its always been my understanding that you should remove the bottom part of the tank water as this is where the build-ups are. Think that if you don't remove that portion of the tank water than you will get Old Tank Syndrome.

Djrichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

What kind of "water ager stuff" are you asking about?

I have several friends of mine that use a system like what you have mentioned, and it works very well. The only problem any have had, is when trying to breed some fish whose spawn is activated by the water change. As it is too slow of a change and such to trigger the spawn. Other wise, they all love their systems.

My auto change system was set up on a timer and did more water at a faster speed. It is quite expensive though. I used a computer oriented digital water sprinkler setup. It did a partial water change in about an hour on each tank.



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There is always a bigger fish...

Acidrain you plans for this type DYI system, how do you inject your conditioner's. I use to design build sprinkler systems and have a lot of parts in my garage. If you know info or website with plans I would love to see them.

Djrichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

By water change stuff i meant dechlorinator/water ager liquid. AcidRain, how did you add dechlorinator to the water, could u place it on a sprinkler timer too?

I did not add it. As I changed such a small amount each day. I would only add about 5% of the tank size each day. The chlorine does not affect the fish at all. And it disapates within 24 hours, so it is gone by the time another change was getting done. The same goes for an automatic drip system, the chlorine disipates too fast to cause any harm to the fish.

Think about it, in small amounts it is not harmful. You drink chlorinated water everyday. But in comparison to your body size, it is in small amounts and not harmful. The same goes for the fish, in the small amounts daily, it is not harmful. My fish were healthier when I started doing the auto system, than when I was doing a weekly water changes.

Now, if you have Chloramine in your water, you cannot do it. As the Chloramine will not disipate in the air. It must be removed, or it can build up in the tank over time, and harm your fish. With the Chloramine you will just have to do checks on the tanks, and add some dechlor on a daily basis. I would not recomend an automated system if you have Chloramine in your water.

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There is always a bigger fish...

acidrain,
when you say you connceted it to a computer sprinkler system, do u mean the system had a computer in it or do u mean that it was a program which u always had running in your OS?

AcidRain I know you think a little amount of chlorine is not harmful to the fish, or at least it will not kill them. I'm not big on a little amount of chlorine for me and my family or let alone for my pets, therefore I saving to put an RO system for the house including showering. Considering the skin absorbs more toxins than any other organ. I just watch this show, its the UK version of Myth Busters, and I guy got drunk by pouring alcohol on the rocks of a steam room. Chlorine is poison to any living thing and its put in our processed water supplies for two reasons only. One to kill living bacterias and because in the 70's our government could not find a place to get rid of it, so they decided to just put it in the water. Yes a little amount won't kill you but is does have an effect on your health. I know this has nothing to with Auto System but I though you might want to know, as well as letting others know.

Oh yeah your movie Hackers is play on Showtime is month, I watch it yesterday. It was filmed in 1995 for some reason I thought it was in the later 80's.

Djrichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

The computer, is a specific item you buy for your water sprinkler system. They come in various setups, and made by the different companies that do the water sprinkler systems in your yard. You can check at this link, these are some of the companies, just click on each one to see the cotrollers;
http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/Custom/tscatlist.asp?PID=2
They are little boxes that you can program to turn on and off a solenoid, that lets the water in your tank and such. You can program them to turn on and run a pre-set amount of time, and what day(s) you want it to turn on and such. Some come with multiple setups, where you can turn on and off different solenoids for multiple setups. Such as if you have one for tap water, and one for RO water, or one from the hot water and one from the cold, etc.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Just for your info rainbird and toro make a timer/solenoid that will hook up to a hose bid. You can pick one up at the local garden center. They are a lot cheaper than a timer and solenoid valve and pipping. While there go to the hose section and pick up a couple hose adaptors you attach them to 3/8 tubing with hose clamps. That would be the simplest way to refill the tank. I'm still not sure how you would remove the water and toxins that settle at bottom of the tank. Like I said I don't know of water changing system. I have seen system take top off the water loss through evaporation.



Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

I would not recomend going the "cheapest" way with this. I would recomend doing the HARDware plumbing way. As a regular garden hose can rot over time and then start to leak. Then there is the mess as well as having to re-do the entire setup. If you are going to do it, you might as well do it right from the beginning.

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There is always a bigger fish...

A solenoid valve controlled by a timer would control the drain. The inlet can be control by terminating it to a level detector valve (sounds hi-tech but really is not). This valve consists of a small air filled plastic sphere connected to a bearing. The plastic ball floats over the surface. When the water level goes down, the ball goes down and moves the bearing to open the valve. I hope I have described it good enough. This valve is often fitted to the water reserviors to stop the inflow before the reservior overflows. I have tried to draw a simple schematic.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k96/mughal113/valve.jpg

But i still think using a vaccuum is much more beneficial to the tank.

i won't use garden hose either, you can buy clear tubing from Hardware store, but you need the hose adapters for the Hose bib controller. The controller is not cheap either its just an all in one unit. Generally it used for small gardens or to time a hosed sprinkler head. As far as using a ball valve switch you have to have power 12volts for a solenoid to work. I was an irrigation designer and builder for 10 years so I kind of know what I'm talking about here.
Could design a auto fill system the problem is getting the old water out. You would need a pump, timer and a drain. Than you would have to figure out flow rates. I could even design a chemical injection system. The main problem would the area it would take up. I could even put to out side and plum it in for you, but the cost. Like I said you can a water top off system but not a water change system that would be cost effective for the home aquarium.

I as matter of fact I have an RO system designed to top off but have not build it because of the cost. Everything is do able if you want to spend the money and have the space.



Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams