ATO questions

[lickyricky]

Hey guys,

I feel like my ATO doesn't keep my salinity stable. It either puts in too much or not enough. Mostly not enough raising the salinity. I have a Red Sea max E with the Red Sea pipe work including the diaphragm valse and a trigger cube. The ATO is in the sump return compartment. My question is how would the ATO know when to top off FW if the return pump is retuning at the exact same speed as the down flow. I can syphon water out of the DT and the return compartment will stay at the same level until it gets low enough that the down pipe starts sipping air and slows the water on the way down.

Am I crazy? Where should my ATO be?
It's an optic ATO that uses a sensor to monitor water levels.

 

[Saltybubbles288]

You could maybe try to add air to your return pipe to stop the full siphon? Allowing the return sections water level to fluctuate? When you take water out of the DT where does the water level drop in the DT itself?

 

[lickyricky]

You could maybe try to add air to your return pipe to stop the full siphon? Allowing the return sections water level to fluctuate? When you take water out of the DT where does the water level drop in the DT itself?

It only drops in the back compartment

 

[Saltybubbles288]

So I'm assuming your downpipe sits pretty far below the normal water level?

 

[lickyricky]

So I'm assuming your downpipe sits pretty far below the normal water level?

Yes correct. The water level is between the down pipe and overflow pipe which are about 4 inches apart

 

[Saltybubbles288]

Yeah I'd personally try to break the full siphon or raise the downpipe so it doesn't allow much fluctuation in the overflow so it will fluctuate in the sump so the ATO can work properly or put the ATO in the overflow. Though it would be unsightly.

 

[mtraylor]

can you provide a picture of full setup

 

[lickyricky]

can you provide a picture of full setup

Sure! The little blue light is the ATO

 

[mtraylor]

Interesting. Nice aquarium BTW. Now I use float valves to regulate water. Its either in the up or down position telling the ATO system when to come on or off.
So on the optic light, does the water level have to go say 1/2 below the light for it to kick in? How exactly does it work. Also can you show all your sump departments?
I have mine in a separate compartment away from the return and the protein skimmer area. Its the area that goes up and down via water volume.

 

[lickyricky]

Interesting. Nice aquarium BTW. Now I use float valves to regulate water. Its either in the up or down position telling the ATO system when to come on or off.
So on the optic light, does the water level have to go say 1/2 below the light for it to kick in? How exactly does it work. Also can you show all your sump departments?
I have mine in a separate compartment away from the return and the protein skimmer area. Its the area that goes up and down via water volume.

Thanks! The ATO kicks on the second it gets below the exact line and adds little bits at a time. Here are the other 2 compartments. After the filter sock goes into skimmer compartment the the fuge then into the return. Between the fuge and the return there is an adjustable baffle that can change the water level in both the skimmer compartment and the fuge.

 

[mtraylor]

Oh ok. If I can see everything correctly. I think you can place the auto top off return on the other side of the sump or anywhere except in the return section. That way it gives your return section time to adjust to the water level. It should then rise and fall correctly I think.

 

[Mal11224]

I see a lot wet skimmate in your skimmer. That can cause your ato to over compensate and drop your salinity in the process.

 

[lickyricky]

I see a lot wet skimmate in your skimmer. That can cause your ato to over compensate and drop your salinity in the process.

Lol that was my bad. It was over skimming a bit and I just needed to adjust it. Didn't realize until I took the picture but it's fine now

 

[lickyricky]

Oh ok. If I can see everything correctly. I think you can place the auto top off return on the other side of the sump or anywhere except in the return section. That way it gives your return section time to adjust to the water level. It should then rise and fall correctly I think.

How much water would you say should evaporate each day?

 

[chris k.]

I have a 110 with sump and i go through approximately 1 gallon a day. I also have no lids on tank.

 

[lickyricky]

I have a 110 with sump and i go through approximately 1 gallon a day. I also have no lids on tank.

I have 60 gallons total with sump. No lids and Hydra HD 26 LED

 

[mtraylor]

Oh I cant say. Depends on allot of things. Heat on top of the water from lights. Heat caused by equipment. The time of year and your humidity in the house....etc.
When I used to measure mine back in the day. It could be anywhere from 2 to 7 gallons a day for me. I have ATO hooked to RODI unit now. So I have no idea.

 

[mtraylor]

My Aquarium is aprox 350gallons volume