Maggie's Mixed Reef Build V3, now a 75!

[Mhamilton0911]

Good set up. I have one with a 20g aquarium as a reservoir for the big tank and a 5g HD bucket on the office tank. Don't waste money on a fancy container.

I figured too, if something went wrong and it dumps the whole thing, it's only a gallon so it won't overflow or mess with salinity too bad. A learner volume.

And it definitely messed something up last night. So the jar is half empty. So it only pumped in a half gallon. BUT. it's several inches over the top of the sensor. WHY? What did I do wrong?

 

[Projects with Sam]

I figured too, if something went wrong and it dumps the whole thing, it's only a gallon so it won't overflow or mess with salinity too bad. A learner volume.

And it definitely messed something up last night. So the jar is half empty. So it only pumped in a half gallon. BUT. it's several inches over the top of the sensor. WHY? What did I do wrong?

get a lot of splashing in that chamber?

 

[Mhamilton0911]

get a lot of splashing in that chamber?

Not when I have the water level just right. If it's too low then it gets too turbulent, so I've figured out the right water level for that chamber and have been just manually adding water.

Before I went to bed I caught it in a fill cycle and watched it. It FOR SURE stopped at the top sensor. I was really surprised to see it filled inches above the sensor this morning.

 

[Stang67]

Do you have the sensors backwards? I have never used a dual sensor model just single. Water goes below it it pumps and stops when water hits it.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Add per the directions, the cord faces upward indicating the top of the sensor.

However I'm noticing as I'm googling it, the new version is much different so maybe there were problems with the generation I bought? I dunno.

I knew that went too easy last night.

 

[Mschmidt]

Only thing I can think of is stray light messing with the sensor. But if that's not it, no idea. Sorry.

 

[Stang67]

Add per the directions, the cord faces upward indicating the top of the sensor.

However I'm noticing as I'm googling it, the new version is much different so maybe there were problems with the generation I bought? I dunno.

I knew that went too easy last night.

Wait thats the same one i have on both my tanks. super weird as mine has never failed, on or otherwise. I forget to plug it back in after a water change more often than not. I will get some pix for you after work if youd like.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Only thing I can think of is stray light messing with the sensor. But if that's not it, no idea. Sorry.

It certainly isn't protected from light, although the fail happened at night with almost zero lights on. Are these sensitive to outside the tank lights? I purposely didn't cover the chambers so I could see in there for cleaning/servicing. But I did install the sensor where it's shaded from the tanks' lights.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Wait thats the same one i have on both my tanks. super weird as mine has never failed, on or otherwise. I forget to plug it back in after a water change more often than not. I will get some pix for you after work if youd like.

Yeah I'm thinking it's so simple that of course I can't get it to work, that's my luck.

Any help appreciated. It's currently unplugged until further review.

 

[Mschmidt]

It certainly isn't protected from light, although the fail happened at night with almost zero lights on. Are these sensitive to outside the tank lights? I purposely didn't cover the chambers so I could see in there for cleaning/servicing. But I did install the sensor where it's shaded from the tanks' lights.

Could be. I know the directions say watch out for it, same with my reef breeders one. Someone more sciencey could probably science it for you better, but I think stray light can reflect in a way to indicate water is low.

 

[Stang67]

I have a fuge light on all the time so I don't think it's the light. Do you have the check barb thing on the tubing going the right direction?

 

[Stang67]

Make sure the little valve on the tube between the pump and your tank is going the right direction. And make sure you set everything up the sensor and tubing etc before you put power to the puck. When you move the sensor up on the glass it should switch the pump on and when the sensor goes below the water line it should stop pumping.

 

[tbrown]

Could be. I know the directions say watch out for it, same with my reef breeders one. Someone more sciencey could probably science it for you better, but I think stray light can reflect in a way to indicate water is low.

I know a Sciencey guy! @Projects with Sam the Sciencey Man!

 

[Mschmidt]

I know a Sciencey guy! @Projects with Sam the Sciencey Man!

 

[Projects with Sam]

I know a Sciencey guy! @Projects with Sam the Sciencey Man!

ya. lol the first time I setup my ATO i siphoned all the water in my reservoir right into my sump...
omg so many ATO snafuus...
lotta learnin' been had

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Thanks @Stang67 for the pictures! I'll have to revisit this one tomorrow.

I oopsied a new fish that appears to have a couple ich spots so I'm setting up treatment right now. Dang it.

Cheap damsel, but still don't want to lose it or start a chain of events.

 

[Nate Chalk]

you won a pico light

 

[Mhamilton0911]

you won a pico light

Did I actually?

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Did I actually?

Na, twasnt me.

 

[tbrown]

Did I actually?

No, he was telling Marshall he won.