Skimmer Anti-Flood Device

[STL]

Hello Reef2Reefers. I recently built an anti-flood device for my skimmer, and figured I'd share a quick how-to as it's saved me a good number flood clean-ups.

First, these were my requirements:

• Has to prevent the skimmer from flooding
• Has to be easy and quick to remove for skimmer cleaning
• Has to be reliable
• No permanent modifications to the skimmer
• Bonus points, lets me know when the skimmer was stopped

The parts list:

• A skimmer prone to flooding
• Tank controller - I use a Neptune Apex
• An air pressure activated switch - I used an Avast Marine Top-Off kit, just the sensor with bare digital wire
• A small length of RO tubing that fits snuggly through the vents in your skimmer's lid (3/8" in my skimmer's case)
• A push-connect reducing union to connect the RO tubing for the skimmer to the RO tubing on the pressure switch

The build:

• Attach the tubing to the sensor
  • In the case of the Avast sensor, I removed their water tube and used the RO fitting to attach the 3/8" tubing
• Check for air leaks by ensuring it detects water levels with a glass of water (you can hear it click)
• Mark your sensor tubing with how far immersed it needs to be to detect the water
• Attach the sensor to your tank controller, in the case of an APEX use a break-out box
• Route the cables and tubes in your sump
• Insert the sensor tube into your skimmers lid far enough that it will detect the water level before it overflows.
  • The 3/8" tube fit perfectly through my skimmer's lid, your mileage may vary. You could probably wrap the tubing with tape if it doesn't fit snuggly

It should look something like this:

Programming (APEX):

• Create a new virtual outlet and name it something like "SkimmerFull"
• Program it as follows:

Set OFF
If Sw2 OPEN Then ON​

Substitute the 2 in Sw2 for the break-out pin number you connected the sensor to (eg, Sw1, Sw3)​

• Add this to your skimmer outlet programming:

If Outlet SkimmerFull = ON Then OFF​

• Optionally, add this to your email outlet programming:

If Outlet SkimmerFull = ON Then ON​

As a bonus, you can now stop your skimmer for cleaning by pulling the sensor tube out of the skimmer lid and immersing in the sump.

 

[KorL]

Thanks for sharing. I might have to try that out.

 

[lemonyx]

Great idea, I used a float switch and hooked it up to the breakout box on the Apex

 

[ReeferEric]

Nice work, I'm sure someone has been dying to do this but no clue how to. The float switch is also a pretty good and simple idea.

 

[scardall]

cool idea, wish i had a contiller

great idea, but I don't have contoller. Still I like your idea.

 

[bobamike]

I added a float switch to my skimate locker

I added a float switch to my skimate locker that ties into the breakout box and shuts the skimmer down when it gets full.of course I had to program the switch for that on the apex and it emails me too.