Micro ATO

Ryan1190 · 03/11/2016, 12:34 AM

I have one of AutoAqua micro ATO and it's been great so far. One thing I have noticed is that it switches on once every 30 seconds or so. I don't believe this is normal. Any trouble shooting tips or ideas?

blackway1688 · 03/11/2016, 12:40 AM

Is your water level stable? Normally, the pump is on when the level is dropped. You can merge all the sensor into the water and check if it is still switched on once 30 seconds.

Ryan1190 · 03/11/2016, 01:06 AM

The water level visually appears to be stable. I have the optical sensor in the return pump section of my sump. Totally submerging the sensor does stop the problem though... Not really sure what I can do. I wonder if something may be interfering with the sensor.

Ryan1190 · 03/11/2016, 01:16 AM

Wow dumb oversight on my part. I neglected to install the siphon breaker. Nothing to see here folks. Thanks blackway

Hentz · 03/11/2016, 01:22 AM

Haha gotta love it. One problem I had one time was my ATO return tube was in the water. Completely spaced it would siphon water back and couldn't figure out why my ATO wa going off every 20-30 seconds also. Almost wiped my tank by basically adding 5 gallons of RODI to my tank.

blackway1688 · 03/11/2016, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan1190

Wow dumb oversight on my part. I neglected to install the siphon breaker. Nothing to see here folks. Thanks blackway

I guess your tubing is merging into the water of sump. Every time topping off the water, you will see the back siphon and the water level drop down. Then topping off again.

You just need to adjust your water tubing higher than the water level in the sump.

Ryan1190 · 03/11/2016, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hentz

Haha gotta love it. One problem I had one time was my ATO return tube was in the water. Completely spaced it would siphon water back and couldn't figure out why my ATO wa going off every 20-30 seconds also. Almost wiped my tank by basically adding 5 gallons of RODI to my tank.

Glad I'm not the only one. It makes a ton of sense in retrospect

03/11/2016, 12:34 AM	#1
Ryan1190 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington DC Posts: 109	Micro ATO I have one of AutoAqua micro ATO and it's been great so far. One thing I have noticed is that it switches on once every 30 seconds or so. I don't believe this is normal. Any trouble shooting tips or ideas?

03/11/2016, 01:22 AM	#5
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	Haha gotta love it. One problem I had one time was my ATO return tube was in the water. Completely spaced it would siphon water back and couldn't figure out why my ATO wa going off every 20-30 seconds also. Almost wiped my tank by basically adding 5 gallons of RODI to my tank. __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

03/11/2016, 12:40 AM	#2
blackway1688 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 24	Is your water level stable? Normally, the pump is on when the level is dropped. You can merge all the sensor into the water and check if it is still switched on once 30 seconds.

03/11/2016, 01:06 AM	#3
Ryan1190 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington DC Posts: 109	The water level visually appears to be stable. I have the optical sensor in the return pump section of my sump. Totally submerging the sensor does stop the problem though... Not really sure what I can do. I wonder if something may be interfering with the sensor.

03/11/2016, 01:16 AM	#4
Ryan1190 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington DC Posts: 109	Wow dumb oversight on my part. I neglected to install the siphon breaker. Nothing to see here folks. Thanks blackway