Hydor smart auto top off

scarpenter · 10/17/2014, 07:18 AM

So i got this a few weeks ago an I am frustrated with it. first i put the sensor in the refugium part of the sump an it would start filling an sometimes it would stop an sometimes it would not. So then I put the sensor in the return pump section and i keeps beeping because after a few hours the water level gets low and it starts beeping. Why when the water level gets low an it starts beeping does it not turn on the fresh water pump an fill? I have a reef ready tank...who else has a RR tank with gate valves on the durso drains? keeping the water level consistent with this thing is difficult!!!

GSep · 10/17/2014, 08:17 AM

What are you using for a pump to top off with? I believe the Hydor has a 10 minute timer on it. It's used to not run your pump dry for too long if you top off container is empty. Perhaps the amount of evaporation your tank is producing is too much for your pump to replace in that 10 minute time span.

I have this unit as well and for the most part am pleased.

scarpenter · 10/17/2014, 08:41 AM

i am using a Tom aqua lifter pump. I just don't understand why instead of turning the pump on when the water level gets down to just the yellow light it just sits an beeps?

scarpenter · 10/22/2014, 02:51 PM

so where do others place their sensor and tubing to release fresh water?

Portsie · 10/23/2014, 04:36 PM

The sensor has to go in the return section, this is where evaporation is realized. The water level should be consistent in all other areas of your tank. I don't have this brand so I can't help with why it's not pumping when it should.

garyinco · 10/23/2014, 08:13 PM

Something is not right; duh...
Plug the outlet part of the hydor into something like a fan or a shaver outside of your system, and figure out how it works.
You should be able to move the "fill sensor" up and down to initiate what you think should happen. And you can do some head scratching and learning.
It almost sounds like there is an an electrical problem in the outlet part of the hydor, or your Tom's pump is jacked up. You're going to have to do some electrical testing on this.

If you could upload a picture of your sump setup it would help.

Remmers · 10/24/2014, 10:10 AM

What are some other pumps that could be used, or is the aqua lifter pump the way to go?

scarpenter · 10/24/2014, 10:34 AM

through trial and error i figured out that the sensor is best placed in the return section, and the Tom's tube return is best placed in the skimmer section.

scarpenter · 10/24/2014, 10:35 AM

i just wish this thing was better at telling you when it was pumping water.

toky916 · 10/25/2014, 05:22 AM

I have the same ato and I can't complain. Same sensor placed at return and topoff into first baffle.

KindCorals · 10/25/2014, 05:28 AM

I have this and it is very temperamental. I had to place the sensor with the prongs pointing up at a 45 degree angle to get it to work properly. It was fine for a couple months but now it will not stop filling even after the max, then alarm leds are triggered on. I need to find my receipt and take it in for warranty repair/replacement.

Remmers · 10/25/2014, 06:36 AM

Well after setting it up and using two pumps, the last being the the tom's The same thing is happening it fills up way past the alarm.

I do have the sensor and return tube in the same area, as my sump (aqueon 3) has the return and skimmer in the same section .

Should I put the return tube else where in the sump?

Also does it mater if the water level of the reservoir is higher then the level in the sump?

Portsie · 10/25/2014, 07:13 AM

Yes, this will creat a siphon and the water will keep flowing. The end of the output tube needs to be higher than the water level in the reservoir.

Remmers · 10/25/2014, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portsie

Yes, this will creat a siphon and the water will keep flowing. The end of the output tube needs to be higher than the water level in the reservoir.

Can the output line be put anywhere in the sump then, do get it above the water level of the ato tank?

Portsie · 10/25/2014, 07:39 AM

Yup, doesn't even have to be in the sump, can be in the dt if it's easier.

scarpenter · 11/08/2014, 10:06 AM

who has removed the high water alarm on this thing? it is very annoying...i took it apart yesterday but was scared to remove anything without knowing for certain what i was removing.

OllieDog · 11/08/2014, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarpenter

who has removed the high water alarm on this thing? it is very annoying...i took it apart yesterday but was scared to remove anything without knowing for certain what i was removing.

I dont think there is a high water alarm.

It averages the last three fills it made, and if it pumps for longer, then it shuts down and sounds the alarm, and you have to reset it. each fill should be roughly the same amount and time for it to pump.

set the sensor in place, fill with freshwater up over the alarm, then plug the alarm in a leave it. when it evaporates down enough to trigger the sensor, it will pump enough to fill the return section back up.

Make sure your hose isnt creating a siphon in or out of the sump. (the water reservoir should be lower then the end of the pump line, and the pump line should be out of the water.)

Shaneph · 12/29/2014, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OllieDog

I dont think there is a high water alarm.

It averages the last three fills it made, and if it pumps for longer, then it shuts down and sounds the alarm, and you have to reset it. each fill should be roughly the same amount and time for it to pump.

set the sensor in place, fill with freshwater up over the alarm, then plug the alarm in a leave it. when it evaporates down enough to trigger the sensor, it will pump enough to fill the return section back up.

Make sure your hose isnt creating a siphon in or out of the sump. (the water reservoir should be lower then the end of the pump line, and the pump line should be out of the water.)

What do u mean by averages the last three fills how does this work?

10/17/2014, 07:18 AM	#1
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	Hydor smart auto top off So i got this a few weeks ago an I am frustrated with it. first i put the sensor in the refugium part of the sump an it would start filling an sometimes it would stop an sometimes it would not. So then I put the sensor in the return pump section and i keeps beeping because after a few hours the water level gets low and it starts beeping. Why when the water level gets low an it starts beeping does it not turn on the fresh water pump an fill? I have a reef ready tank...who else has a RR tank with gate valves on the durso drains? keeping the water level consistent with this thing is difficult!!!

10/23/2014, 04:36 PM	#5
Portsie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 741	The sensor has to go in the return section, this is where evaporation is realized. The water level should be consistent in all other areas of your tank. I don't have this brand so I can't help with why it's not pumping when it should. __________________ 90g corner overflow, 33g sump, Apex, Vertex IN-100, 2x MP-10w ES, 1X MP-40w, Tunze Osmolator, 60lbs Caribsea oolite, 85lbs live rock, 4x54w T5 with LED moonlights

10/25/2014, 07:13 AM	#13
Portsie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 741	Yes, this will creat a siphon and the water will keep flowing. The end of the output tube needs to be higher than the water level in the reservoir. __________________ 90g corner overflow, 33g sump, Apex, Vertex IN-100, 2x MP-10w ES, 1X MP-40w, Tunze Osmolator, 60lbs Caribsea oolite, 85lbs live rock, 4x54w T5 with LED moonlights

10/25/2014, 07:39 AM	#15
Portsie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 741	Yup, doesn't even have to be in the sump, can be in the dt if it's easier. __________________ 90g corner overflow, 33g sump, Apex, Vertex IN-100, 2x MP-10w ES, 1X MP-40w, Tunze Osmolator, 60lbs Caribsea oolite, 85lbs live rock, 4x54w T5 with LED moonlights

10/17/2014, 08:17 AM	#2
GSep Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 85	What are you using for a pump to top off with? I believe the Hydor has a 10 minute timer on it. It's used to not run your pump dry for too long if you top off container is empty. Perhaps the amount of evaporation your tank is producing is too much for your pump to replace in that 10 minute time span. I have this unit as well and for the most part am pleased.

10/17/2014, 08:41 AM	#3
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	i am using a Tom aqua lifter pump. I just don't understand why instead of turning the pump on when the water level gets down to just the yellow light it just sits an beeps?

10/22/2014, 02:51 PM	#4
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	so where do others place their sensor and tubing to release fresh water?

10/23/2014, 08:13 PM	#6
garyinco Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 431	Something is not right; duh... Plug the outlet part of the hydor into something like a fan or a shaver outside of your system, and figure out how it works. You should be able to move the "fill sensor" up and down to initiate what you think should happen. And you can do some head scratching and learning. It almost sounds like there is an an electrical problem in the outlet part of the hydor, or your Tom's pump is jacked up. You're going to have to do some electrical testing on this. If you could upload a picture of your sump setup it would help.

10/24/2014, 10:10 AM	#7
Remmers Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 332	What are some other pumps that could be used, or is the aqua lifter pump the way to go?

10/24/2014, 10:34 AM	#8
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	through trial and error i figured out that the sensor is best placed in the return section, and the Tom's tube return is best placed in the skimmer section.

10/24/2014, 10:35 AM	#9
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	i just wish this thing was better at telling you when it was pumping water.

10/25/2014, 05:22 AM	#10
toky916 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,794	I have the same ato and I can't complain. Same sensor placed at return and topoff into first baffle.

10/25/2014, 05:28 AM	#11
KindCorals Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Surfers Paradise, Australia Posts: 568	I have this and it is very temperamental. I had to place the sensor with the prongs pointing up at a 45 degree angle to get it to work properly. It was fine for a couple months but now it will not stop filling even after the max, then alarm leds are triggered on. I need to find my receipt and take it in for warranty repair/replacement.

10/25/2014, 06:36 AM	#12
Remmers Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 332	Well after setting it up and using two pumps, the last being the the tom's The same thing is happening it fills up way past the alarm. I do have the sensor and return tube in the same area, as my sump (aqueon 3) has the return and skimmer in the same section . Should I put the return tube else where in the sump? Also does it mater if the water level of the reservoir is higher then the level in the sump?

11/08/2014, 10:06 AM	#16
scarpenter Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 436	who has removed the high water alarm on this thing? it is very annoying...i took it apart yesterday but was scared to remove anything without knowing for certain what i was removing.