Automatic Water Level

Here is a simple design to maintain your water level if you do not have a sump filter.

It is an all plastic toilet fill valve mounted inside a four inch PVC pipe with the bottom end capped. The bottom cap needs to be drilled to mount the toilet valve and to provide a connection to the main tank.

The PVC pipe needs to be mounted at the same or close to the same level as the top of the tank. See the picture for clarification. The two blue water lines will remain level to each other. No, you can not mount this under your tank. Yes you can mount this remotely. You can mount this to the back of your tank or you can mount this in your neighbors back yard, just as long as the two blue water levels are the same. The water level in the PVC pipe will dictate where the level in your fish tank will be. If the pipe falls on the floor, that is where your fish tank water will be. Use your best judgement in securing the pipe to whatever...Those few of you (you know who you are) get someone else to do it.

Here is a diagram with an overflow cut below the water level. A picture is worth a thousand words...

moxxommox said:

So.... are you planning to have it hooked up to a main?... ...

Click to expand...

Yes, a water supply. I was hoping that was obvious when I wrote in the diagram 'water source'. I cater to the lazy...oh, and those that can figure it out and go.

It won't kill you (or your landlord) if you run a pipe up to a little hole in the ceiling or through a wall for your water supply. Refridgerator water supply kits were intended for people in mind. They are easy to install but will require a little action on your part. An aquarium is not something you are ever going to move. (If you do regularly move it, it is called a fish bowl and this will not help you.) When you move or leave the hobby, fill the hole with dry wall mud or plaster. The house is going to need to be painted anyway. Going through the ceiling to any water source is the lazy mans way of doing it because the plaster or mud will dry white to match the ceiling. The plumbing job is easier too; just not really pretty.

When I said 'lazy' above, that was just a figure of speach. That translation is to reduce the maintenance so you can do other things. This is still a project unto itself and will require work and some thought on your part. Some folks have their aquariums entirely in their basement, giving them a special advantage to their house plumbing and this better suits them.

And before someone posts about drip systems and overflows, yes, I know about them. This is an alternative for those who may benifit from it. Everyone does not have a system like yours or the cash to blow on that new gadget at the fish store. Think about that before you post negative or thoughtless comments.

Oh brother If you have to ask for your parents permission to punch a hole in the wall and modify the house plumbing, please keep in mind that most of us don't. Sometimes I forget these things, sorry.

Nice thinking. BTW, hostility was not intended. The other comments were not directed at you. There are inconsiderate jack holes that troll the DIY section looking to start some conflict. Of all things, one of them even has no demonstratable talents but persists coming to the DIY board and trying to stir "it" up.

Also creative thinking will get you farther in life than anything else. (Except maybe sleeping with the bosses wife. of course that could get you a new job too.)

To develop your design further, think of what could go wrong (from the simplest to the worse case scenario.) What could you do to prevent the problems that could occur. (hint: how could you prevent an overflow, what could happen during a power outage.) Also what could be done to make it even more automatic (anything to removing the human element).