Need idea on small toilet-like contraption

[SE18]

Background:

As some of you know, I don't have a pond. Rather, I have a series of canals and aqueduct criss-crossing my yard. There's a very small area in the lowest elevation where my pump is located. IOW, the volume of the area where the pump is is very small compared with the waterway, which is not recommended, I know.

Anyway, the small area where the pump is located doesn't experience very much loss of water b/c there are no leaks in my system (fingers crossed); just normal evaporation.

But, as my system expands, the water loss will increase and if I were to take a week's vacation, the area where the pump is located would probably become too low for the pump to operate (I've got devices that shut off the pump in that case so that's not an issue).

Question:

Therefore, I would like to look into installing a device like that found in toilets, that automatically turn on water to predetermined level and then shut off automatically.

The area where the pump is located is quite small, however, being just about 18 X 12 inches approximately and only about 14 inches deep, most of that taken up by the pump and by a diaphram (used to protect the pump from low water level).

Therefore, I would be needing a very tiny device that mimics the action of a toilet dealy.

Expansion of my waterways is very slow as I haul bags of concrete, so there is plenty of time for me to think about how to do this. If nothing is available, I may need to fabricate a system myself, but I'd rather not reinvent the wheel if some device already exists.

Thanks in advance.

Dave V

 

[taherrmann4]

found these on the net.

http://suburbanponds.com/shop/details.php?productId=42&catId=9

http://www.underwaterwarehouse.com/Auto-Fill-Valves/Hudson-Fill-Valves-p-777.html

http://www.underwaterwarehouse.com/Auto-Fill-Valves-Pond-Plumbing-sc-776.html

This ones cheap... http://www.instructables.com/id/Automatic-Pool-Water-Filler/

 

[taherrmann4]

take a look at the second link with the Hudson control valves, you can find these cheaper around $22 or so if you look. These might be your best bet.

 

[SE18]

This is great! I'm looking them over now. Appreciate much!

 

[addy1]

Look at auto fills for cattle troughs, I have one on my arizona pool and pond, they work great.

I have the box type, on my pond, less failure rate than the ones with the float that sticks out.

That hudson looks good tmann, have not tried it, like the no exterior moving parts, no pond gunk will make it stop working.

 

[fishin4cars]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...ugh-o-matic-trade-plastic-float-valve-2170322

this might be somewhat of what your looking for, There are others but this one is cheap and all plastic. I use it on my pond and just keep the hose barely cracked on. as the water level drops it adds as needed.

 

[addy1]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...ugh-o-matic-trade-plastic-float-valve-2170322

this might be somewhat of what your looking for, There are others but this one is cheap and all plastic. I use it on my pond and just keep the hose barely cracked on. as the water level drops it adds as needed.

that looks identical to what is in my pond fishin, in arizona, it is working great. Just could not recall the name of it.

 

[SE18]

you guz are amazingly helpful. Thanks

 

[addy1]

we try................most of the time, do get side tracked off and on