Need help with maintaining sump water level

[SeaCreature]

Help please. I have a Red Sea reefer 250 that I filled with water about a month ago. I have not added bacteria to start a cycle because I cannot seem to keep the water level in the sump stable. I am using the integrated ATO that operates off a float valve that comes with the 250. When I pull the tube off the float valve water is flowing thru so I know it’s not clogged. I also have the valve fully open. The Red Sea instructions just say open to allow for about to drops per second. I have tried to figure this out on my own without success. This is my first DT tank. Please any suggestions are welcomed.

 

[NinnJinn]

Is the water level fluctuating up and down during the day? Or is it typically just High or low?

I do not have the same setup as you. But in my sump my ATI will kick on to fill up to the proper level and then 15 minutes later or so the alarm is going off that the water level is too high.

I have my optical sensors adjusted to where high and low is 1 inch apart. So far so good for the last 2 days

 

[SeaCreature]

Is the water level fluctuating up and down during the day? Or is it typically just High or low?

I do not have the same setup as you. But in my sump my ATI will kick on to fill up to the proper level and then 15 minutes later or so the alarm is going off that the water level is too high.

I have my optical sensors adjusted to where high and low is 1 inch apart. So far so good for the last 2 days

Dropping. I think its just evaporation and something about the float valve is not setup correctly because level in Dt seems stable.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Dropping. I think its just evaporation and something about the float valve is not setup correctly because level in Dt seems stable.

Could be that the seat for the valve is sticking or the joint for the float bulb is too tight and sticks. The float bulb should move easily up and down.

 

[OREGONIC]

I have a 170 and I was never able to get the included ATO to work properly. Bought a IM Hydrofill and have had no issues since (other then the fist pump dying after about 1 1/2 years of use). I do not trust float valves enough to use as the only source of maintaining water level, they are fine for redundancy.

 

[SeaCreature]

I have a 170 and I was never able to get the included ATO to work properly. Bought a IM Hydrofill and have had no issues since (other then the fist pump dying after about 1 1/2 years of use). I do not trust float valves enough to use as the only source of maintaining water level, they are fine for redundancy.

Thank you all for the replies.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I have a 170 and I was never able to get the included ATO to work properly. Bought a IM Hydrofill and have had no issues since (other then the fist pump dying after about 1 1/2 years of use). I do not trust float valves enough to use as the only source of maintaining water level, they are fine for redundancy.

Mechanical float valves are horrible if you use calcium hydroxide (kalkwasser) in your ATO Reservoir. It will cause build up around the seat in time and you will have a flood.

 

[NinnJinn]

Dropping. I think its just evaporation and something about the float valve is not setup correctly because level in Dt seems stable.

Is it one of those deals for a day or two everything is fine and then like on the third day it's like way way low? As if it dropped in a matter of a couple of hours? That's the problem I used to have

 

[SeaCreature]

Is it one of those deals for a day or two everything is fine and then like on the third day it's like way way low? As if it dropped in a matter of a couple of hours? That's the problem I used to have

No it seems to drop daily but reservior does not. I m pretty sure its the float. But I can push the float down.

 

[cmcoker]

No it seems to drop daily but reservior does not. I m pretty sure its the float. But I can push the float down.

Next time the sump is low and float has dropped, try squeezing the black tubing several times. I would get like a bacterial film or something on mine and this would clear it.