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View Full Version : Making water changes a bit easier . . .



Riverside
06-20-2010, 08:39 PM
Anyone who has fish in a tank has come up with various schemes to make water changes easier, but I have always wanted an automatic (or as close to automatic as I can get) water changer.

Running just a 90 gallon tank for the past seven months I've come to dread the weekly water changes, but that now is a thing of the past:
[attachment=2:18e3l0mn]100_2544.jpg[/attachment:18e3l0mn]

This is a temporary switch for the hot and cold water valves installed today on my water heater <g>:
[attachment=1:18e3l0mn]100_2551.jpg[/attachment:18e3l0mn]
Hot and cold running water right to the tanks, and what a luxury it is! :D
Of course, I couldn't just stop with a few switches and lights:
[attachment=0:18e3l0mn]100_2545a.jpg[/attachment:18e3l0mn]
This microcontrolled device has been in the works for quite a while, but haven't had the time to finish the project, but now with the valves installed on the water heater, maybe soon? :D

davidstcldfl
06-21-2010, 02:31 AM
:lol: ....cool !

badflash
06-21-2010, 05:00 AM
Make sure there is an overflow alarm if the valves don't close.

JCO
06-21-2010, 06:43 AM
Wish I had thought of that....OH :shock: I did many times...I just don't know anything about electronics :o and not a whole lot about other things either :lol: :lol: :lol: Great job ....but if you smell fish boiling...you'll know the switch malfunctioned and only let HOT water through. :lol: :lol: :mrgreen:

wolfracer
06-21-2010, 07:42 AM
Very Cool, Got a schematic you might share? Nicely done.

Riverside
06-22-2010, 05:43 AM
:lol: ....cool ! thanks!

Make sure there is an overflow alarm if the valves don't close.
badflash, there's a water level sensor in the basement anyway, so I'm covered there; since I'm only using this while I am at the tanks, if the valve sticks I'll know right away.

....but if you smell fish boiling...you'll know the switch malfunctioned and only let HOT water through. :lol: :lol: :mrgreen:
JCO- Really! I want to fry the fish, not boil them! :D But when I get the controller done the incoming water's temp will be measured as to match the existing temp of the sump;

Very Cool, Got a schematic you might share? Nicely done.
wolfracer- Sure, of the manual switch assy or the microcontroller?

wolfracer
06-22-2010, 06:33 AM
wolfracer- Sure, of the manual switch assy or the microcontroller?

How about both?

Riverside
06-24-2010, 07:10 AM
Here's the manual switch schematic:
[attachment=0:3iu2txt9]manual water switchsm.gif[/attachment:3iu2txt9]

wolfracer
06-24-2010, 02:14 PM
Thanks! Very cool.