Need help with ATO

[JonoB]

I bought my tank and everything used from someone off Facebook Marketplace. It is a 30 gallon long tank, and the ATO I have currently is (I'm assuming) a DIY. It has a float switch inside of what appears to be a PVC end cap. The problem I have is that anytime I, my wife, our dogs, a flea...walks by the tank, the ATO starts clicking on and off and on and off. It drives my wife crazy.

Can you recommend an ATO (or just a solution to this one) that isn't so sensitive to waves. Does that exist? I realize you want sensitivity because that is what makes the ATO work...but daggum it's annoying.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

You could buy a cheap outlet timer at Home Depot. Set it to only power the ATO for 10 minutes or so every hour (or every few hours). That way, your tank will still get fresh water when it needs it, but most of the time when you walk by the tank and create waves, the outlet will be off, so no topoff will occur.

 

[JonoB]

Hmmm I like that idea. I also am now realizing that maybe I should have the tank on a different wall with better support, but not sure if that will actually help.

 

[CC13]

I bought my tank and everything used from someone off Facebook Marketplace. It is a 30 gallon long tank, and the ATO I have currently is (I'm assuming) a DIY. It has a float switch inside of what appears to be a PVC end cap. The problem I have is that anytime I, my wife, our dogs, a flea...walks by the tank, the ATO starts clicking on and off and on and off. It drives my wife crazy.

Can you recommend an ATO (or just a solution to this one) that isn't so sensitive to waves. Does that exist? I realize you want sensitivity because that is what makes the ATO work...but daggum it's annoying.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Neptune...Kit_-Neptune_Systems-NS17296-FIDPATPO-vi.html

As reliable as you can get and if you have (or plan to get) a Neptune Apex, you can hook them up, but it also works as a stand-alone unit if you don't have an APEX.

I would NEVER use a DIY auto top off from someone else - you really have no idea how well it was made, and that's a risk far too high to take.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I bought my tank and everything used from someone off Facebook Marketplace. It is a 30 gallon long tank, and the ATO I have currently is (I'm assuming) a DIY. It has a float switch inside of what appears to be a PVC end cap. The problem I have is that anytime I, my wife, our dogs, a flea...walks by the tank, the ATO starts clicking on and off and on and off. It drives my wife crazy.

Can you recommend an ATO (or just a solution to this one) that isn't so sensitive to waves. Does that exist? I realize you want sensitivity because that is what makes the ATO work...but daggum it's annoying.

You say when you walk by, the water level fluctuates "ripples", causing it to turn on and off? Most ATO sensors/switches sense water level and will do the same thing if the water level moves a lot. How big of a sump are we talking about? On first floor?

Another thing that can cause them to act up is this: If the switch is to close to a pump or magnetic field, it will act that way. Relocate the switch away from the pump.

 

[JonoB]

Yeah that's why I included the "Does that exist?" haha. I realize that's how they work but I don't know what else to do with it.

I don't have a sump, the ATO is directly in the main DT. I just have a 30 gallon tank so no sump, It's on the first floor, but we are in a townhouse on a pretty tall crawl space (I'm 6'4 and can walk through almost all of it with plenty of space for my head). I'll try relocating it first See if that helps.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

You could buy a cheap outlet timer at Home Depot. Set it to only power the ATO for 10 minutes or so every hour (or every few hours). That way, your tank will still get fresh water when it needs it, but most of the time when you walk by the tank and create waves, the outlet will be off, so no topoff will occur.

This for sure. I set mine so that it only runs at night. I got really tired it constantly being triggered.

 

[Flippers4pups]

https://www.marinedepot.com/Neptune...Kit_-Neptune_Systems-NS17296-FIDPATPO-vi.html

As reliable as you can get and if you have (or plan to get) a Neptune Apex, you can hook them up, but it also works as a stand-alone unit if you don't have an APEX.

I would NEVER use a DIY auto top off from someone else - you really have no idea how well it was made, and that's a risk far too high to take.

I use a Autotopoff.com ATO redundant switch and have used them since the eary 2000's without any issues. Rock soild. Flippers approves! (These ATO switches would be considered "DIY" level.)

 

[CC13]

Yeah that's why I included the "Does that exist?" haha. I realize that's how they work but I don't know what else to do with it.

I don't have a sump, the ATO is directly in the main DT. I just have a 30 gallon tank so no sump, It's on the first floor, but we are in a townhouse on a pretty tall crawl space (I'm 6'4 and can walk through almost all of it with plenty of space for my head). I'll try relocating it first See if that helps.

How much does the floor move when you walk by? You sure its not more of the powerheads maybe in the tank that are causing it to go off when the pumps are on and its agitating the surface water?

 

[CC13]

I use a Autotopoff.com ATO redundant switch and have used them since the eary 2000's without any issues. Rock soild. Flippers approves! (These ATO switches would be considered "DIY" level.)

Sorry I didn't mean I would never use a DIY auto top-off. I meant more, when you buy stuff used and over Kijiji or whatever, you really have no idea if the person you bought it from knew what they were doing when they DIY'ed it. If you put it together yourself, at least you know the quality of the hardware and your skill set to try and ensure it functions as intended.

 

[JonoB]

How much does the floor move when you walk by? You sure its not more of the powerheads maybe in the tank that are causing it to go off when the pumps are on and its agitating the surface water?

I'm not sure of anything LOL. I have a powerhead pointed toward the surface causing some ripples, but it doesn't set it off if no one is walking by. It is only when we walk by it. We put the tank in a place that would be seen but we THOUGHT wouldn't have people constantly walking by, but I guess we were wrong.

 

[CC13]

I'm not sure of anything LOL. I have a powerhead pointed toward the surface causing some ripples, but it doesn't set it off if no one is walking by. It is only when we walk by it. We put the tank in a place that would be seen but we THOUGHT wouldn't have people constantly walking by, but I guess we were wrong.

I'm just thinking from a house design standpoint. Some vibrations are normal I supposed but to move the water line enough to clear the ATO sensor unless the water line was RIGHT at the very tip of the sensor might be pointing to another problem. I mean powerheads in my eyes would move the water far more than passing by the tank waking lol.

Maybe take a short video clip and post it?

 

[Mjl714]

I have. Tunze 3155 (turned down) on a 30l extremely reliable.