I recently had a flood disaster at home :-[
I do manual top-off water to my reef aquarium. Usually I manually switch on my RO/DI ( from BulkReefSupply) and at the same time put my stove's timer on for 3 hours to fill 4 gallon boutle. That day we went to visit our friends and left earlier than expected. When we came back after 5 hours I heard timer beeping and it made me screaming......We just bought newly built house recently. So about 8 gallons of water spilled out of RO/DI on a brand new hardwood, kitchen tiles, and went trhough floor and ceiling on to sofa in basement. Luckily most of the water ended up soaked in my old sofa in basement which needed to be replaced anyway, so the carpet in the basement was OK. Still a lot of damage, some hardwood floor, few tiles and ceiling has to be fixed and replaced now :(
Next time if it happens I am going to live out on the streets as my wife was not happy at all.
As you probably understand I am looking for solution to avoid it.
I found "Auto Shut Off Kit for Reverse Osmosis Systems" here http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/reverse-osmosis-filters-and-systems/ro-di-accessories/auto-shut-off-kit-for-reverse-osmosis-systems.html#
As a backup I want to use "Leak Controller/Detector for RO/DI Systems" here:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/leak-controller-detector-for-ro-di-systems.html
Is anyone has it? What other alternatives I can use to prevent it in future? Please share your experience.
I have been accused in the past for having a lust for toys and over building things.
I have a reservoir for my RO/DI, inside is an optical switch going to my Profilux controller. When the level goes down, the switch tells the controller; and the controller in turn opens a soleniod valve which feeds the RO/DI unit. If the switch fails, there is an overflow in the reservoir which goes to a floor drain.
Both my tanks on the second floor have float switches, mounted in a dry location, which if activated will shut off the system main feed pump. The switches get rinsed with RO and tested regularly.
My worst mess to date was caused by a defective ball valve. While switching out my main feed pump, the 1.5" feed valve literally blew out all the internals leaving a wide open pipe. I lost about 35 gallons(could have been near 150g) before I was able to gather my wits(and my wife whom got very wet) and thread a plug into the tank of the bulkhead. Fortunately the water spilled very near the floor drain. The only damage was our patience...
We just shook our heads and did the weekly water change a little early.
Sorry to hear that :(
My fix for this is I fill my bottle in the Laundry room sink. Any overflow goes right down the drain :)
The "Auto Shut Off Kit for Reverse Osmosis Systems" is a must, and works flawlessly!
I purchased the "Leak Controller/Detector for RO/DI Systems" but have yet to install it. Wanna buy it ;)
Quote from: JetJumper on June 16, 2010, 09:19:12 AM
Sorry to hear that :(
My fix for this is I fill my bottle in the Laundry room sink. Any overflow goes right down the drain :)
I bought from BRS RO/DI unit together with a drinking kit. I was going to kill two birds in one shot: 1) Save money for buying drinking water and use RO water instead 2) Use RO/DI water for my reef.
As usual results are: I am tired of carrying buckets every couple of days from ground floor to my basement where is my reef tank located. If I move it to my basement landry room I will do opposite with my drinking water :)
Yeah, its a pain. At one point I had a long hose 50' going from the RO/DI to the Tank's sump and just turned it on when need be. If I am making water for a 20% change I will have that hose running to a 25G tank beside my display and fill that up. This takes about a good half day in itself to do. Thats my leak prone spot but so far I haven't forgotten about it.
Quote from: JetJumper on June 16, 2010, 09:46:33 AM
Yeah, its a pain. At one point I had a long hose 50' going from the RO/DI to the Tank's sump and just turned it on when need be. If I am making water for a 20% change I will have that hose running to a 25G tank beside my display and fill that up. This takes about a good half day in itself to do. Thats my leak prone spot but so far I haven't forgotten about it.
I was Ok for me for about 6 month:). But it happened and it costly:(. Better safe than sorry.
Quote from: gemmate on June 16, 2010, 09:35:24 AM
I bought from BRS RO/DI unit together with a drinking kit. I was going to kill two birds in one shot: 1) Save money for buying drinking water and use RO water instead 2) Use RO/DI water for my reef.
As usual results are: I am tired of carrying buckets every couple of days from ground floor to my basement where is my reef tank located. If I move it to my basement landry room I will do opposite with my drinking water :)
Just an option but would solve both your problems would be to get a hole saw or just a 1-1 1/2 wood bit for your drill, they are inexpensive and I even have one you could borrow and drill a hole through the bottom of your cupboard and floor to the basement and run some pipe from a T to the basement. It wouldnt be expensive and would allow you to put a tap in the basement and still have your drinking water. Anything would be better then lugging buckets :)
Quote from: Brent Shaver on June 16, 2010, 11:14:52 AM
Just an option but would solve both your problems would be to get a hole saw or just a 1-1 1/2 wood bit for your drill, they are inexpensive and I even have one you could borrow and drill a hole through the bottom of your cupboard and floor to the basement and run some pipe from a T to the basement. It wouldnt be expensive and would allow you to put a tap in the basement and still have your drinking water. Anything would be better then lugging buckets :)
It is actually great idea Brent. I thought about it before but I didn't want to drill throught the ceiling in basement. As my ceiling in messy condition now it would be a good idea to do it before I fix it. Are you talking about 1-1 1/2 in bit diameter or length?
I have an extention, but that would be the diameter. I think with my extention I can drill a total of about a foot and a half which should allow you to get through any ceiling/floor combo.
If you need to borrow it just let me know.
This could also be done right under the stand as well and a pipe running to the laundry tub. Keep in mind water will always take the fastest route without impedence. So one hole in the floor would catch probably 80 of the water from an over flow and make clean up and damage a minimum...
I say don't have a fish tank :o ? Floods are going to occur at some point ???, even if it is the result of an old tank having a seal let go.
Bruce
Quote from: bitterman on June 16, 2010, 01:23:12 PM
I say don't have a fish tank :o ? Floods are going to occur at some point ???, even if it is the result of an old tank having a seal let go.
Bruce
I agree but flood in the basement where I have my reef tank would just cause with carpet replacement and it is much cheaper than flood on ground flour with hardwood, tiles, basement ceiling and basement carpet again.
But as I have MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome) and have 6 tanks all together in different places I still have a risk :(
LOL only 6 tanks?
I have about 9 running and numerous others that will be setup once I get more power in my fish room. I know what it is like to have a 125 gallon tank explode and water, glass and fish all over the place! Once all my tanks about up I will have about 900-1000 gallons going... :( Hope the wife does not read this.... Then I also dream of the 16'x4'x4' Tanganyika biotype tank.... I doubt I will ever see it unless I win the lottery.
Bruce