Return Pump Issue

[Lucas Lembke]

Hello. I have a problem with my varios 2 return pump. About once a day the return pump chamber gets low and starts spitting out water like in the picture shown. Then I have to add saltwater back into the chamber until it is at the correct level. It is getting to be a hassle and I know I have to be doing something wrong. I have a Red Sea reefer 250. Could my ATO not be working?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hello. I have a problem with my varios 2 return pump. About once a day the return pump chamber gets low and starts spitting out water like in the picture shown. Then I have to add saltwater back into the chamber until it is at the correct level. It is getting to be a hassle and I know I have to be doing something wrong. I have a Red Sea reefer 250. Could my ATO not be working?

It looks like your return pump is sucking air either your automatic top off isn't working and your level in your sump is getting low or there may be a clog in your intake pipe that is causing the water level in your sump to get low

 

[Lucas Lembke]

It looks like your return pump is sucking air either your automatic top off isn't working and your level in your sump is getting low or there may be a clog in your intake pipe that is causing the water level in your sump to get low

How do I know if the ATO isn't working

 

[Crabs McJones]

How do I know if the ATO isn't working

Manually lower your water level and see if it kicks on. What kind of ato do you have?

 

[mjlash22]

I have the same tank currently. Your ATO float is more than likely clogged, preventing water from your reservoir from reaching the return chamber. When the water level in the return chamber gets too low, as to where the pump is exposed to air, what is happening in your picture is the result. The water level in your return chamber should stay constant if your ATO float is working properly. Take it apart and clean it with/soak in warm water/vinegar. I deal with this issues at least once or twice a month, hence my new tank will have a Tunze ATO.

 

[Ryan Rosales]

Check your water salinity. If your ATO isn’t working as suspected and you’re adding saltwater to compensate for the evaporated water, you might be just increasing your salinity.

 

[mjlash22]

Check your water salinity. If your ATO isn’t working as suspected and you’re adding saltwater to compensate for the evaporated water, you might be just increasing your salinity.

+1 I forgot to mention this in my post but if you’re compensating the evaporation with more salt water, you’re adding to the overall salt content of your tank. When water evaporates, the salt stays, that’s the purpose of the ATO, to balance out the water levels. Check you salinity, clean your float valve, and all should be good.

 

[Lucas Lembke]

Manually lower your water level and see if it kicks on. What kind of ato do you have?

It comes with the Red Sea tanks (reefer 250)

 

[Lucas Lembke]

Check your water salinity. If your ATO isn’t working as suspected and you’re adding saltwater to compensate for the evaporated water, you might be just increasing your salinity.

It's a 1.024

 

[Lucas Lembke]

+1 I forgot to mention this in my post but if you’re compensating the evaporation with more salt water, you’re adding to the overall salt content of your tank. When water evaporates, the salt stays, that’s the purpose of the ATO, to balance out the water levels. Check you salinity, clean your float valve, and all should be good.

Ill let you know how it goes, thanks!