Just install my balik kampung water top off :D... been test several times to make sure its working fine. Before this just using simple drip method to top up water during holiday, but this time create better water top off using float switch.

It not so call complicated to build anyway. What i need just a float switch, cheap pump and water container.

For a float switch i opt for this:


For more info about this switch, can refer to this link . For a pump, I dun think pump selection important here, the most important for me is water container. In case of switch not working correctly, water will overflowing into my house!. So to overcome this, top off water container/volume is important. I'm using not so big water container, just enough for my vacation period. BUT i hope switch will working fine.

This is the most simplest diy auto top off water i did recently. Actually this not even can called a DIY project because its very simple to build.

I'm not using any pump, electric or what so ever that i have to buy :D.

Purpose:
- To replace evaporated water from aquarium

The material used :

• again my empty salt bucket (25kg)
• valve control (i take out from my previous DIY sulphur Denitrator)

Other thing need to consider

• run a test for leaking before plug to your aquarium
• since its a dripping based, find most suitable drip per second for your own need.

If you looking to a proper diy auto top off using floating pump, please refer to this thread at chuisui

Dalam kesibukan kerja yang melampau akhirnya ada jugak benda yang agak menyenangkan.

Yeah ... its just a small matter for a certain people.. its a big deal for me lol. I've been using water source with slightly have PO4 before and other things like fish waste, fish food etc which contribute to high level of PO4 (1.0ppm).

Now i can smile a bit when PO4 level undetected on my tank. Yahoooo... yeah i was only expecting its to be lowered not undetected! .. that make me really happy about it.

So what the steps i taken to make this happen?
- DIY Algae Turf
- Phosban
- Minimal feeding volume
- WC

Phosban
i would say this is the main reason to decreases the PO4 level. I've been using this from Feb 13 with ROWAPHOS as a media. Yeah yeah yeah .. its worth of money to invest :D

DIY Algae Turf
This algae turf or what ever u called it, its just a simple thing to do and return a lot of benefits. What i need only a bulb and plastic screen to make algae live on it. After a month (in my case), this algae will cover all over the screen(need to clean weekly). So this ugly algae actually have a benefits specially to absorb PO4 and other thing also.

Feeding and Water change
Fish food normally have PO4! (cheap cheap must have- refer to label). So by reducing amount of feeding (just dun let the fish kurus kering!) actually reducing the amount of PO4 enter to tank. This eventually will reduced fish poo poo .. eheheh.. which also have other NH4.

Water change is the cheapest way to combat PO4 and NH4 problem. And fast too. I did increase water change volume so its help.

This time i decided to try RDSB method to maintain my nitrates level low.

Purpose
- to keep low level of nitrate

Item used
- 1 x empty Red Sea (25kg) bucket
- 20kg fine sand
- 3 tank connector 15mm
- 4 elbow 15mm
- 15mm pipe secukup rasa
- atman 103 pump

Steps
- create 2 hole for return (i only have drill for 15mm ngam ngam) nak pakai 1 bigger return 25mm lagi bagus
- create 1 hole top (buat kat penutup)
- lastly plumb it together
- tadaaaa siap

Other
- i just cycle it about 1 week until ammonia level 0ppm

Problem
- at the beginning, return water direct to last section of sump, but its create a lot of problem since a lot of sand dump into the sump and return back to aquarium.

Solution
- make return to 1st section of the sump.. problem solve! .. make sure put a sponge/sock filter at return to minimize sand entering to sump
- other solution decrease sand volume :D