Topping Off a Reservoir without Gravity

I'm sure this may be simpler than I think it is...

What I'm trying to do is place two 54 gallon Roughneck totes side by side:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-54-Gallon-Roughneck-Hi-Top-Tote-FG3A05H2MICBL/100673965#.Ua2AQusx_0k

One is the nutrient reservoir and the other is the RO water. I'd like to hook a float valve up to the nutrient res that would be fed by the RO res, but since I'm growing in a tent, I'll need to keep both reservoirs under the table side by side with respect to my space requirements. So my question is, how can I feed my nutrient res with a pump or any other means since gravity will be of little use in this scenario.

FOR PICS:
Look at the link in my sig.

In other words can I somehow trigger my pump to come on via a float switch or a float valve?

Does the RO reservoir need to be inside the tent at all?

Just put the reservoir on a stand outside the tent and use the gravity fed float valve.
If it really has to have a pump, google for "float switch" and there's a bunch of what you would need.

I would really advise against the pump though, it's more things to fail, and if the switch fails the pump will end up putting a lot of water on the floor very quickly.
I'd sooner add RO water back manually as the level drops, but that only works if you can check things daily.

herbalife said:

Does the RO reservoir need to be inside the tent at all?

Click to expand...

The tent is in an attic which gets extremely hot. Hundreds plus. That's being worked on. So For the sake of maintaining the same temperature in the reservoir as the tent, I would like to keep it in there. I suppose I could put it behind the tent with a water chiller. But in that case, I'd be better off getting a 50 gallon drum and going back to a gravity fed system.
However, at some point I plan on getting an AC and CO2, so I'd rather not run a water chiller as well.

herbalife said:

If it really has to have a pump, google for "float switch" and there's a bunch of what you would need.

Click to expand...

Thats exactly what I think I need. I'm gonna look into that as soon as I finish this.

herbalife said:

I would really advise against the pump though, it's more things to fail, and if the switch fails the pump will end up putting a lot of water on the floor very quickly.
I'd sooner add RO water back manually as the level drops, but that only works if you can check things daily.

Click to expand...

Wouldn't the pump just not come on?

Anyone?
Bump

BudWhyz said:

Wouldn't the pump just not come on?

Click to expand...

Hopefully if the switch failed it just wouldn't turn the pump on, but it's also possible for the switch to fail 'on' when the pump is running and never turn off.

Lots of people use water pumps on timers and things, though, so it's really not a huge concern. Precautions just have to be taken to make sure a floor full of water is contained and can be dealt with if it does happen.