ATO Troubleshooting ?

atp0726 · Jan 8, 2017

Just set up my Avast ATO using a reservoir that sits next to the stand in the sump. I have a back up float valve for redundancy just in case the the apex does not turn off the aqualifter pump because it is plugged into one of the triac outlets. The float valve is also serving a secondary purpose now as well as its stopping the siphon created since the sump and reservoir are at the same level. Its not really an option for me to raise the sump refill line because i need to keep it hooked to the float valve in case the apex fails to shut off the aqualifter due to its low power draw.

My troubleshooting so far has been to drill a small hole near the top of the reservoir to break the siphon. This worked but now the aqualifter cant build up pressure to deliver the refill water into the sump. The aqualifter was used for about a year in a previous setup and then sat for a few years. Is it possible it has lost some of its suction or is the aqualifter just not the correct pump for this type of setup?

My plan right now is to get a small pump to put in the reservoir with a bit more power to push past the siphon break if I cant get the aqualifter to work.

Another question, will my back up float valve shut off a small pump in the reservoir?

jsker · Jan 8, 2017

I was having a sipon issue with my ato down to the sump, so I have the fill line going to the DT and that stopped the sipon of the water out of the reservoir.

FishGuyBri · Jan 8, 2017

I'm using another idea someone shared. I have some leftover larger diameter acrylic tubing that hangs over the simp like a slide, and the auto is at the top of it. This makes the story outlet higher than the reservoir, but the water channels down into the sump where the sensors are.

atp0726 · Jan 9, 2017

Thanks for the responses. These would all work if I didnt need the fill line hooked into a back up float valve. I dont trust the apex on a triac outlet with such a low wattage pump. I am using a lighted plug adaptor which so far has turned it off and on without an issue.

I replaced the tubing I had drilled the small hole into at the top of the resevoir and used a larger needle to poke a hole. The qualifter can now build up enough pressure to deliver the water to the sump, however, not sure if the hole is large enough to consistently stop the siphon. It seems to working so far. Luckily I have the back up float to stop the siphon if it ends up happening again.