6 Best Automatic Water Level Controllers For Water Tanks That Save Water
Prevent tank overflows and conserve water with an automatic level controller. Our guide reviews the 6 best models for effortless, efficient tank management.
There’s nothing more frustrating than walking out to the pasture to find your main water tank overflowing, wasting hundreds of gallons and turning the ground into a muddy mess. The only thing worse is finding it bone dry on a hot day with thirsty animals looking at you. An automatic water level controller isn’t a luxury; it’s a fundamental tool for saving water, time, and stress on a small farm.
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Why Automatic Water Control is a Game-Changer
Automating your water tanks is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can make. It’s not just about convenience. It’s about resource management and animal welfare.
Consistent water levels mean your livestock always have access to fresh water, which is critical for their health, especially in extreme weather. It also means you stop wasting one of your most precious resources. An overflowing tank isn’t just a loss of water; it’s a loss of money from your well pump running needlessly and the potential for creating erosion or saturated ground where you don’t want it.
This simple technology frees you from the daily chore of checking and filling troughs. That mental energy and physical time can be redirected to other pressing tasks. Instead of worrying if the goats have water, you can focus on mending that fence or getting the garden beds prepped. It’s a small change that ripples through your entire workflow.
Jobe Rojo Valve: The Reliable Mechanical Choice
When you need something that just works, especially in a remote location without power, the Jobe Rojo valve is a top contender. Unlike a traditional float valve with a long arm and exposed ball, the Rojo uses a compact, internal pressure-activated diaphragm. This design makes it incredibly resistant to jostling from livestock or damage from debris.
The beauty of the Rojo is its simplicity and durability. It can be mounted above or below the waterline, offering flexibility in different tank styles. Because its mechanism is largely enclosed, it’s less prone to getting jammed by leaves or sediment, making it a great choice for rainwater collection systems or troughs fed by pond water.
The main tradeoff is its flow rate. It’s not the fastest valve on the market, so it’s better for maintaining a level rather than filling a large, empty tank in a hurry. But for a reliable, set-it-and-forget-it solution in a 100-gallon pasture trough, its ruggedness is hard to beat.
Hudson Valve: Top Pick for High-Flow Systems
If you need to move a lot of water quickly, the Hudson valve is the tool for the job. This is the valve you want for filling large-volume tanks or for systems operating on lower-pressure gravity feeds. Its internal design is engineered for minimal flow restriction, allowing it to fill a tank significantly faster than many other float valves.
The Hudson valve is another mechanical workhorse, operating without any electricity. Its unique design keeps the internal workings free of levers and arms that can break or corrode. The valve body is tough, and it’s known for resisting mineral buildup and clogging, which is a common failure point for lesser valves in areas with hard water.
This high-flow capability is its defining feature. Imagine you have several large stock tanks daisy-chained together for a rotational grazing system. A Hudson valve at the source can keep up with the demand as animals drink, ensuring the entire system refills efficiently. It’s a bit more of an investment, but if speed and volume are your priorities, it pays for itself.
Waterline Controls: Precision Electronic Sensing
For those who need precise control and want to eliminate moving parts, electronic controllers are the modern solution. Waterline Controls uses electronic sensors—essentially stainless steel probes—to detect water levels. There are no floats, arms, or mechanical parts inside the tank to get stuck or broken by thirsty animals.
You can set the on and off points with incredible accuracy. This is perfect for rainwater harvesting systems where you want to capture as much as possible without overflowing, or for mixing tanks where exact volumes are critical. The controller itself is a small box mounted outside the tank, wired to a solenoid valve and the in-tank sensors.
The obvious consideration is that it requires a power source, whether that’s a standard outlet or a solar-and-battery setup. The initial cost is also higher than a simple mechanical valve. But if you’ve ever had a float valve fail and either drain your well or empty your tank, the rock-solid reliability of a no-moving-parts system is a compelling argument.
Trough-O-Matic: Simple, Affordable Float Control
Sometimes, you just need a basic, inexpensive solution that gets the job done. The Trough-O-Matic is a classic for a reason. It’s a simple, all-in-one float valve assembly that attaches to a standard garden hose and hooks over the side of a stock tank or trough.
This is the perfect controller for smaller, less critical applications. Think chicken waterers, temporary tanks for rotational grazing, or even a large water reservoir for your garden drip system. Installation takes minutes, and it’s so affordable you can have a few on hand as backups.
Its simplicity is also its weakness. The exposed float and arm can be a target for curious animals, and it’s more susceptible to freezing in cold climates. It’s not the most durable option for a permanent, high-traffic cattle trough, but for its price and ease of use, it’s an invaluable tool to have around the farm.
Little Giant Automatic Stock Waterer: Heavy-Duty
This isn’t just a valve; it’s a complete, integrated watering system designed for the rigors of livestock. The Little Giant waterer is typically a heavy-duty plastic or steel enclosure with a built-in float valve that automatically keeps a small reservoir of water full. It’s designed to be bolted to a post or wall and can handle the abuse of cattle, horses, and hogs.
The key benefit here is durability and efficiency. Because it only keeps a small amount of water available at a time, the water stays fresher and cooler. In the winter, many models can be equipped with a heater or de-icer to ensure a constant, frost-free water supply, something a standard stock tank struggles with.
This is a specialized solution. It’s not for filling a 500-gallon storage tank, but for providing a direct, on-demand drinking station for your animals. It’s an investment in a purpose-built piece of equipment that solves the watering problem in a neat, rugged package.
Moistenland WiFi Controller for Smart Monitoring
For the data-driven or tech-inclined farmer, a WiFi-enabled controller brings water management into the 21st century. These systems, like those from Moistenland, use electronic sensors paired with a controller that connects to your home’s WiFi network. This allows you to monitor water levels and even control the pump directly from your smartphone.
The biggest advantage is peace of mind. Are you away from the farm for the day? Just check the app to see that your main water tank is full. You can get alerts if the level drops unexpectedly, signaling a leak or a pump failure before it becomes a crisis. This remote oversight is invaluable, especially for critical systems.
Of course, this is the most complex option. It requires a reliable WiFi signal reaching your tank, a power source, and a comfort level with setting up the technology. It’s not for every situation, but if your main water storage is within range of your network, the ability to monitor it from anywhere is a powerful management tool.
Choosing Between Mechanical and Electronic Models
Deciding on the right controller comes down to a simple tradeoff: simplicity versus precision. There is no single "best" option; the right choice depends entirely on your specific needs, location, and budget.
Mechanical valves are the champions of simplicity and self-reliance. They are your best bet for remote locations where power is unavailable or unreliable. They are generally less expensive upfront and easier to troubleshoot for anyone with basic mechanical skills.
- Best for: Remote pastures, gravity-fed systems, simplicity-first setups.
- Key Advantage: No electricity required.
- Considerations: Moving parts can wear out, jam, or break. Less precise control over water levels.
Electronic controllers offer unparalleled precision and control. They eliminate the mechanical failure points inside the tank and allow for smart features like remote monitoring and alerts. If you need to maintain a water level within a very narrow range or want the security of a smart system, this is the way to go.
- Best for: Main water storage, rainwater harvesting, systems needing exact levels.
- Key Advantage: High precision and reliability with no moving parts in the water.
- Considerations: Requires a constant power source and has a higher initial cost.
Ultimately, assess your situation. For a far-flung sheep trough fed by a gravity line, a Jobe Rojo is perfect. For the main well tank that supplies your entire property, the precision and monitoring of an electronic system from Waterline Controls or Moistenland might be a wise investment.
Choosing an automatic water controller is about matching the tool to the task. By understanding the fundamental differences between simple mechanical floats and precise electronic sensors, you can make a choice that saves water, protects your animals, and buys you back your most valuable resource: time.
