Leaving for Vacation - ATO Keeps Overfilling

[PugsAndFish]

I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow for 10 days. I recently set up a 10 gallon Innovative Marine AIO tank. I installed a Tunze 3155. I've used this same unit on another tank and it has functioned properly in a larger tank with a sump. For some reason, this ATO keeps filling until it hits the float.

A few things...

1) I've set the stream to 'nano'.
2) I originally had the float and optical sensors on the same magnet. To give more room to fill before hitting the float, I moved the float over to its own magnet which is mounted a lot higher. The reason I did this was Tunze ATO has a minimum amount of seconds it pumps whenever it is activated and the small chambers in the back fill up quick. Even if I put the float much higher it kept filling until the float switch got hit.
3) Seems like the ATO overfills when lights go off in the middle of the night
4) ATO reservoir is below the tank and the line that dumps RODI is not submerged

Is there a method to continue using the float switch but turn off the alarm? The idea is so that if the ATO overfills until the float is triggered, the pump would shut off. Then once the water evaporates again, the optical would turn on the pump again and the pump would go until the float is triggered again. Repeat. The alarm is bothersome to those who live with me so if I can just manage to keep the Tunze ATO turned on and to fill until the float is triggered over and over again, the salinity swing shouldn't be too bad. Better than asking housemates to manually add RODI for me.

 

[theMeat]

Do you have end of tube from reservoir to sump above water line in sump, and above water line in reservoir?

 

[bluprntguy]

I’m having the exact same problem on my IM tank. Seems to me like the pump will suddenly start pulling more water causing the water level to drop in the rear chamber. The ATO then fills up the chamber and when the pump slows back down the water level rises and the tank is overfilled. I’m considering drilling some holes in mine to allow water to go directly from the display to the pump chamber and bypass some of the filtration.

 

[W1ngz]

A few quick and dirty ideas, is there any way you can just bypass the tunze for now, raise the freshwater up high and gravity-feed from the container to a float valve?

Maybe an RO valve on the outlet so less water flows through in the same amount of time?

Can you just ask someone to manually top off to a fill line once a day until you get back and can fuss with the tunze?

 

[SPR1968]

You can actually turn if the alarm as per the instructions here in the Tunze Osmolator

https://www.tunze.com/fileadmin/gebrauchsanleitungen/x3155.8888.pdf

As far as over filling you could try soaking the optical sensor in vinegar if you have time or giving it a good wipe to see if that helps.

 

[JoshH]

I don't think there is a way of shutting off the Audio Alarm on them unfortunately, but I could be wrong I've never tried. Does the place you're visiting have internet? If so you could get a WIFI plug and turn the ATO on once a day when no ones home for 5 minutes then turn it back off remotely. Or get a timer outlet and plug it in there then program it to only be on for 10 minutes a day or however.

 

[theMeat]

Agreed
If leaving tomorrow get someone to top off

 

[PugsAndFish]

Do you have end of tube from reservoir to sump above water line in sump, and above water line in reservoir?

Yes. I am using the ATO on an AIO tank. The line is above everything

 

[PugsAndFish]

A few quick and dirty ideas, is there any way you can just bypass the tunze for now, raise the freshwater up high and gravity-feed from the container to a float valve?

Maybe an RO valve on the outlet so less water flows through in the same amount of time?

Can you just ask someone to manually top off to a fill line once a day until you get back and can fuss with the tunze?

I don't think I have time to make any mods right now. A float valve wouldn't fit in the back of the AIO chambers too.

I'm thinking of just telling someone to dump 1 cup of RODI each day even though thats not an exact or perfect method.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

I’m having the exact same problem on my IM tank. Seems to me like the pump will suddenly start pulling more water causing the water level to drop in the rear chamber. The ATO then fills up the chamber and when the pump slows back down the water level rises and the tank is overfilled. I’m considering drilling some holes in mine to allow water to go directly from the display to the pump chamber and bypass some of the filtration.

Had the same problem was to scared to set up a ato do manually fill evaporated water by hand

 

[W1ngz]

Just take a piece of scotch tape on the rear corner, draw a line on it with a sharpie and tell them 'either you fill to this line each day, or I leave the buzzer turned on'.

 

[PugsAndFish]

I am getting my apex out. Had it packed away for the move. Any suggestions for programming for the ATO?

Should I just program to power on the ATO for 30 minutes each day?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

You know what might help? Pictures... I wondering if it is as simple as gravity... but won't know without a visual.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I am getting my apex out. Had it packed away for the move. Any suggestions for programming for the ATO?

Should I just program to power on the ATO for 30 minutes each day?

How often does your ato come on in a 24 hour period? and when it's on, do you know how long it runs (supposed to run without overflowing)?

 

[Markxc]

i had the same issue before with mine. i figured out mine was because the water line was higher than the optical sensor when i plugged in the ATO so it had issues reading when the water line hits the bottom of it. now whenever i unplug it i make sure the water line is a little below the optical sensor before i plug it in.