Float shut off valve question

roadrashpaul · Jan 8, 2014

Anyone use one of these? I am wanting to make a gravity fed auto top off and don't want anything electrical. This looks like the perfect solution. I don't mind spending a little more money on one if it is better quality and more reliable. Anyone have any suggestions, tips, concerns???

RO Units & Water Changes: Coralife Pure-Flo II Float & Shutoff Valve

thejoshdavis · Jan 8, 2014

I have basically the same thing in my RO barrel. The unit fills up the barrel to 50 gallons and the float valve stops it when its triggered.

Mike J. · Jan 8, 2014

I've used several of these for years and never a problem. Reverse Osmosis Float Valve - Bulk Reef Supply

ToXIc · Jan 8, 2014

yes no RO system is complete without one.

reefwiser · Jan 8, 2014

Also use this type of switch for Top off of water in sump also. I have been using it for 20 years now. Take it apart and clean every 6 months just to keep it in working order.Simple and effective.

roadrashpaul · Jan 8, 2014

Excellent info guys. Thanks

reefwiser said:
Also use this type of switch for Top off of water in sump also. I have been using it for 20 years now. Take it apart and clean every 6 months just to keep it in working order.Simple and effective.

This is exactly what I am going to be doing with mine. My concern was with salt creep and clogging/malfunctioning the unit. I guess taking it apart every 6 months takes care of that issue.

roadrashpaul · Jan 16, 2014

Would you guys trust one of these enough to plumb in a 30g brute for a holding container for the top off water? I am wanting my top off to be big enough where I can go camping/vacation for 4-5 days and not have to worry about it. I am just a little worried that it would fail and flood the tank/basement.

Mike J. · Jan 16, 2014

Yes, I have trusted one for RO/DI top off water for well over eight years and it has never failed.

Dowtish · Jan 16, 2014

You can always add 2 of them about 4" apart so if the first one fails you have a backup.

ToXIc · Jan 16, 2014

but dont use it as a means to make water.. you'll get TDS creep....

you should only make at least 1gal at a time... someone correct me on this cant remember whats the ratio of clean water vs the creep at the start of production....

roadrashpaul · Jan 16, 2014

Dowtish said:
You can always add 2 of them about 4" apart so if the first one fails you have a backup.

Been thinking about this for about an hour and can't think of a way to make this work. Both floats would need to be on the same line and there is no way that I can come up with to make it work properly. Can you explain?

roadrashpaul · Jan 16, 2014

ToXIc said:
but dont use it as a means to make water.. you'll get TDS creep....

you should only make at least 1gal at a time... someone correct me on this cant remember whats the ratio of clean water vs the creep at the start of production....

I am going to make water and dump it into a brute. The brute will only act as a reservoir to hole the water. I am going to plumb a 1/4" hose to the float valve on my sump. My rodi unit is in another room (bathroom in basement). Are you saying I can't keep 30gal of rodi water in it at a time? When I am home it will probably only have 5-10 gallons at a time but when I go camping or on vacation I want to be able to put 20-30 in there and not worry about it.

Dowtish · Jan 16, 2014

roadrashpaul said:
Been thinking about this for about an hour and can't think of a way to make this work. Both floats would need to be on the same line and there is no way that I can come up with to make it work properly. Can you explain?

Why would they have to be on the same line? When i say apart I mean one below the other. When the water reaches the first one it will shut off the water. If the first one fails then it will be turned off by the second one just above it.

Dowtish · Jan 16, 2014

great article from Mark Levenson who will be at the swap.

Reef Addicts - RO/DI TDS Creep - is it worthy of concern?

roadrashpaul · Jan 16, 2014

Dowtish said:
Why would they have to be on the same line? When i say apart I mean one below the other. When the water reaches the first one it will shut off the water. If the first one fails then it will be turned off by the second one just above it.

Here is what I am thinking of doing. There is a room directly behind my tank. I am going to set the brute in that room and run a 1/4" hose through the wall and have that hooked to the float valve. The float valve (linked above) has only one inlet and outlet. For a second one to act as a safety valve it would need to shut off the same water supply as the main one. There is just no way to make this type of valve work that way (that I can come up with anyway).