Would this work?? "ATO"

[brettz16]

Ok, i am going on vacation for a week soon. I will have a neighbor coming by everyday to feed the fish but i don't want him adding water for top off. After I get back, i will have time to set up a complete ATO the way I want it, but for now i want to know if this will suffice?

I have a float valve (not switch), timer, and aqua lifter pump.
If i had the tubing go from the 5g bucket to the pump, to the float valve. Then the pump on a timer that turns on for 10 minutes/day. As long as the Valve is floating up with the the water level, will that be enough to stop the flow from the pump even if its on?

The way I'm picturing is:
1: water level low=valve open=when pump turns on, water flows to sump for 10mins=water level goes up till valve shuts tubing OR pump turns off

Again, this is just till i have time to find a esthetically pleasing solution for the reservoir tank outside the stand

 

[tinman]

you wouldn't even need the float valves ...

just see how much time it takes for the aqualifter to pump the quantity of water that you manually refill everyday and set it on a timer for that long ..

that would be enough .

i have this and started using it just yesterday
http://www.energycircle.com/shop/globe-digital-heavy-duty-timer.html

 

[prestige-led]

Solid ato setup for a week brett.

 

[scotty]

100% right gus. This isnt something you want to skimp. Just do it right because automation always screws up. Ask fishbeard about atos

 

[FishBeard]

Definitely do it right if your going to do it at all. If your schedule is rushing you on this case, you may have to rely on your friend to top off for you, it will be a lot safer than relying on a float valve to keep a bucket full and an aqualifter that can get stick on or in a siphon which will cause disaster.

 

[FishBeard]

And truth be told, I'd trust someone else with topping off my tank more than I would with them feeding properly. Top off should just be DI water, fill to line, repeat.