Anyone have solid ATO tricks or maintenance tips to prevent over filling ?

[Ober_Reef]

Every auto top off device I have owned has had the issue of over filling. The shut of float switch shuts it off before any major trouble happens but it’s still a major annoyance. I have always only used Tunze devices and I have been cleaning the optical sensor with RODI water and paper towel once a week. Any advice is greatly appreciated !

 

[Saltyreef]

My duetto runs flawlessly and has had no overfill issues in the year and some odd months ive had it running.
The failsafe program works awesome. Only fills for as long as you allow during the first time it runs from plugging in the power.

 

[Spieg]

My Tunze has never overfilled. If anything it underfills if I forget to wipe off the optical sensor. What happens that leads to over filling?

 

[Gedxin]

My duetto runs flawlessly and has had no overfill issues in the year and some odd months ive had it running.
The failsafe program works awesome. Only fills for as long as you allow during the first time it runs from plugging in the power.

What do you mean only fills as long as you allow? There's no programming on the duetto is there?

 

[reeferdugong]

is the water level of your ATO reservoir higher than the tube where the water comes out?
The output has to be higher than the water level in your reservoir, else it will siphon

 

[Rmckoy]

I have had mine siphon water from my sump into my ato container over filling it .

I don’t know why but I find my tunze ato very loud.

 

[PeterC99]

Gave up on optical sensors and put in 3 float switches in my sump connected to my ATO & AWC container downstairs. Not one overfill in over one year.

Starts with 3 float switches in my sump that go downstairs to my basement controllers. First float switch (low) tells RODI to replenish. 2nd float switch off. 3rd float switch is emergency off.

 

[Tamberav]

Sounds like something is wrong with your ATO or something is wrong with the way you have it set up.

7 or 8 years and my Tunze has only overfilled once.

 

[stacksoner]

Gave up on optical sensors and put in 3 float switches in my sump connected to my ATO & AWC container downstairs. Not one overfill in over one year.

Starts with 3 float switches in my sump that go downstairs to my basement controllers. First float switch (low) tells RODI to replenish. 2nd float switch off. 3rd float switch is emergency off.

How did you get green algae to grow in your sump? The in cabinet lighting?

 

[PeterC99]

How did you get green algae to grow in your sump? The in cabinet lighting?

Could be refugium light split.

 

[paparoof]

What do you mean only fills as long as you allow? There's no programming on the duetto is there?

There's a timer - if it runs for 30 seconds the first time it fills, that becomes the baseline. Then if it ever runs for more than 30 seconds, it knows something is likely to be wrong.

My AutoAqua does this too. If it hits the time limit, it pauses and starts beeping until I push the button to let it continue.

 

[Gedxin]

There's a timer - if it runs for 30 seconds the first time it fills, that becomes the baseline. Then if it ever runs for more than 30 seconds, it knows something is likely to be wrong.

My AutoAqua does this too. If it hits the time limit, it pauses and starts beeping until I push the button to let it continue.

Is that explained in the manual? Does that timer reset after every power off?

 

[mermaid_life]

I bought this in 2016 and it's still going strong:


It has this thing where if it fills for too long, it stops and starts alarming. It's kind of annoying on hot days and lots of evap happens lol but better than going on forever and overfilling!

 

[lefkonj]

Multiple switches to detect water level, controller to prevent the pump from being on for X minutes in a row, ensuring there is no siphon created from ATO storage container. Lots of things you can do

 

[paparoof]

Is that explained in the manual? Does that timer reset after every power off?

I only have experience with the AutoAqua, but yes it's explained in their manual. Just powering off/on doesn't reset it, you have to do a hard reset (on mine, hold the "home" button down for eight seconds).

 

[Spieg]

There's a timer - if it runs for 30 seconds the first time it fills, that becomes the baseline. Then if it ever runs for more than 30 seconds, it knows something is likely to be wrong.

My AutoAqua does this too. If it hits the time limit, it pauses and starts beeping until I push the button to let it continue.

Tunze has a similar feature. From the 3155 manual;

"If the operating sensor should fail due to technical reasons, the safety sensor will prevent an overfilling of the aquarium, and a signal tone will be emitted. If the metering pump runs longer than 10 minutes it will be shut off for safety reasons."

 

[DaneGer21]

I always say no matter what system you have, and no matter how many sensors you have, ALWAYS ALWAYS put a mechanical float valve on the end!

 

[Ober_Reef]

I always say no matter what system you have, and no matter how many sensors you have, ALWAYS ALWAYS put a mechanical float valve on the end!

According to a thread on the Hanna sponsor forum, even if you buy direct from Hanna you might be looking at 4-6 weeks.

I would ask Hanna, but they won't reply to me!

Tunze has a similar feature. From the 3155 manual;

"If the operating sensor should fail due to technical reasons, the safety sensor will prevent an overfilling of the aquarium, and a signal tone will be emitted. If the metering pump runs longer than 10 minutes it will be shut off for safety reasons."

Yeah the float valve saves the day but why should this happen so frequently? It’s frustrating

 

[Ober_Reef]

My Tunze has never overfilled. If anything it underfills if I forget to wipe off the optical sensor. What happens that leads to over filling?

Nothing that I am aware of

 

[DIYreefer]

I'm sure it will be frowned upon here, but I simply use a float valve that is connected directly to my ro/di machine. I've run it this way for many years, on many systems without any issues.

I've also tried a variety of more traditional ATO's and have inevitably had an issue with them eventually.

Edit: I should probably add that I also use a booster pump (I think it's called an "ro buddy") that is on a lamp timer. So my ro machine is set to only be able to turn on 3 or 4 times per day. I still burn through di resin fairly quickly and this may be why. The luxury of never having to worry about any sort of ro reservoir is worth it to me, though.