Vortech and ATO

[qn5reef]

I am getting ready to order a MP20 for my 33 cube but I have a question before I place an order. I have an ATO censor in the display tank and was wondering if Vortech would cause ATO to disfunction if I make waves in the tank. Please let me know if anyone here got some suggestion.

Thanks!

[TonyV]

It's quite possible if the ripple is too strong, but more than likely not.

[justurmom]

Bump!
i have az thread asking this also.
I was wondering if there is a way to make something to put the ATO sensor in to make sure its not as sensitive to the waves. maybe an acrylic box?

[qn5reef]

Thanks for your reply. My ATO is pretty sensitve. It goes off when I clean the glass with a mag float so I am little concerned.

[qn5reef]

a memebr from the other forum suggested that I out ATO on timer. I wonder how that is going to work....

[The Grim Reefer]

You could make a guard for the ATO sensor or switch, just a piece of clear acrylic tubing around it would work.

[qn5reef]

Ok, cool. I was thinking about tube with the bottom closed but drill several holes to it. Thanks for your suggestion.

[spleify]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

You could make a guard for the ATO sensor or switch, just a piece of clear acrylic tubing around it would work.

+1 that way the "waves" should stay outside of the tubing and the ATO switch should stay calm.

I would suggest against putting you ATO on a timer. IMO that is not the safest thing to do. Evaporation will differ from day to day, and you will not get consistancy out of a timed ATO.

HTH

Good luck

[cet98]

if I may ask.... why is your FV in the DT?..
do you not have a sump?

[qn5reef]

Originally Posted by cet98

if I may ask.... why is your FV in the DT?..
do you not have a sump?

No sump.....I will be upgrading to a bigger tank w/ sump sometime this year though.

[The Grim Reefer]

Actually I like the ATO on a timer. I set mine so if there was a failure it couldn't cause much of a flood

[rbnice1]

Dont use short pulse mode and you want have to worry about your ATO. Use reef crest or lagoon mode.

As far as a guard of some kind it wont matter your float will still go up and down as the waves go by and your ATO is gunna be clicking on and off like mad.

[Doahh]

With the guard it will greatly reduce the on off cycles from waves. And to the poster saying putting it on a timer is bad they mean putting the float switch on a timer so it can only put however much water in as it can in five minutes at a time.

[cet98]

Originally Posted by qn5reef

No sump.....I will be upgrading to a bigger tank w/ sump sometime this year though.

oh, OK
well FWIW, I am running a MP10 on both of my 14gal nanos and I mounted the pumps half way down the height of my tank, and so long as I keep the speed reasonable I do not have any "wave" motion at the surface on either Reef Crest or Lagoon settings....
so in theory, you should not have much of a problem especially if you install some type of "guard" as previously suggested...

HTH some

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Doahh

With the guard it will greatly reduce the on off cycles from waves. And to the poster saying putting it on a timer is bad they mean putting the float switch on a timer so it can only put however much water in as it can in five minutes at a time.

With the tube above the water level and extending say 3 inches below the surface I would be shocked if there was even a noticeable change in the level in the tube. Now that I think of it a black tube would be better so algae wouldn't grow in it.

[qn5reef]

I think I'm going to try that black tube method to see if it would stablize the ATO with some waves.

[Chris27]

Check here.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/product15.html

[qn5reef]

Originally Posted by Chris27

Check here.

http://www.aquahub.com/store/product15.html

nice, thay could be a simple solution.