I recently installed a Hydor ATO system in my sump. The sensor is located in the return chamber. Every day and sometimes twice a day (like as I type this} the alarm goes off and the water level in the return chamber is too high. What is causing this? I syphon out some water from my tank to get the level down in the return chamber but it just will happen again like 3:00 in the morning or the next afternoon, its becoming very frustrating. Please help.
ATO problem
- Thread starter willist0
- Start date
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I'm not sure I know what you mean. My reservoir (a 5 gal bucket) is on the floor next to my sump, the sensor is in the return portion of my sump set at about 6' or 7" inches deep and the return line from the reservoir goes up into the main tank. Maybe this is not the way to have it set up. I was told by the guy at my LFS to put the sensor in the return portion of my sump.
Robink
2500 Club Member
I had a similar problem, mine was overflowing the sump because the water level in my reservoir was higher than the water level in the sump. My reservoir is also a 5 gallon buckect on the floor. I originally had the ato going into the sump, had to move the tube from the sump to the top of the tank. No problems since.
If you just recently installed it, you could just have to wait for it to dial in. Took me a few weeks to get everything in a good place with mine. The other option could be is your ATO pump is pumping too much and by the time the sensor reads it it's too late. To fix this, slow the flow, make some knots in the tubing.
Salt
I had the same issue. I can only fill my 5g ATO reservoir up half way, or else it back siphons into return chamber. Lucky you have an alarm, I didn't-lol.
Fill your reservoir so it's level with your return chamber.
Fill your reservoir so it's level with your return chamber.
rlman41299
Valuable Member
What kind of pump are you using? The hydor ATO works best with a toms aqualifter. Maybe your pump is pumping too fast and filling your return chamber fast. Happened to me when I used one on my 24g nano. Have to install a valve to slow down the water being pumped by the aqualifter
You might be right. I'm using one of the circulation pumps I took out of my JBJ 29 gal nano cube, I think now that maybe the ATO can't turn the pump off fast enough, because it only fills the return sump by about 2 extra inches.
Viperdoug
Active Member
I literally just finished replacing the Hydor with the Tunze about 30 minutes ago. I had the Hydor foe 5 months and had the same problems as you. The dang alarm would go off in the middle of the night and every other random hour. I finally had enough. I had the Tunze on my old tank and loved it. As for the Hydor, I tried changing the pump to a smaller pump as I was told it was filling too fast. That didn't work so I put a ball valve on the line to slow it down more. That also didn't work so I threw the thing out. Good luck!
I think yours it working just fine. Doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Letting you know your level is to high in your sump. You figured out the issue before blaming the equipment-lol.
