Help ATO problem

[Custom05Taco]

Got up this morning heard the vacuum pump running dry. So I figured I could just add RO to the reservoir but I opened up the hood first on my biocube. I saw the back chamber was full with water,Not a good thing.
So I can figure out the problem with the ATO. But how do I fix the problem with all the extra water? I don't want any salinity spikes. I can't test anything right now I'm at work just want to know the safest way to do this when I get home.

 

[thirty5]

Did the tank overflow?? How much extra water was there actually in the tank? You need to test the salinity and see where it actually is right now.

Then from there SLOWLY bring it back to the regular reading by removing water and adding fresh SW to the system. DO NOT add salt right to the tank and do it slow.

If the salinity is off alot then you already shocked the animals, you dont want to shock them again with a big swing the other way.

Hard to give a real answer without knowing what your reading is though....

Just my opinion.

 

[Custom05Taco]

No the tank didn't overflow very close another cup full it would of.

 

[thirty5]

How much extra you think got added???? If it was not much, then you might not even have to worry about it... I guess you don't have a secondary float to stop overflow I know it is hard to fit so much stuff in an AIO

 

[jpellica]

How much water we talking? if you are adding RO water that would not be a spike it would be a drop and even if the Salinity dropped .01 - .02 most corals and fish would not be effected look in nature when huge storms come through there will be some dips and also in severe drought the salinity will raise some as well. The more important thing is to go get your self a more reliable ato like the Tunze. my 2 cents

 

[thirty5]

How much water we talking? if you are adding RO water that would not be a spike it would be a drop and even if the Salinity dropped .01 - .02 most corals and fish would not be effected look in nature when huge storms come through there will be some dips and also in severe drought the salinity will raise some as well. The more important thing is to go get your self a more reliable ato like the Tunze. my 2 cents

I agree, but remember we are talking a 14 gallon tank. So small amounts of water can have a decent swing.

 

[Custom05Taco]

How much water we talking? if you are adding RO water that would not be a spike it would be a drop and even if the Salinity dropped .01 - .02 most corals and fish would not be effected look in nature when huge storms come through there will be some dips and also in severe drought the salinity will raise some as well. The more important thing is to go get your self a more reliable ato like the Tunze. my 2 cents

I would say less than a gallon but it is a small tank So I'm just being paranoid probably

 

[thirty5]

I would say less than a gallon but it is a small tank So I'm just being paranoid probably

Paranoia sucks!!! I am the same way..

 

[Custom05Taco]

How much extra you think got added???? If it was not much, then you might not even have to worry about it... I guess you don't have a secondary float to stop overflow I know it is hard to fit so much stuff in an AIO

I have a secondary float switch they both failed! I just got this about 3 weeks ago.

 

[thirty5]

I have a secondary float switch they both failed! I just got this about 3 weeks ago.

Are you sure that they are installed properly. Weird that they both failed.....

 

[OOtzie]

remove the ATO right now and turn the system on as normal, see if any of your filter media is clogged/"used up" if it is then the system won't push water back out as fast as it takes it in creating a clog which in turn floods the display area.

 

[Custom05Taco]

Are you sure that they are installed properly. Weird that they both failed.....

When I changed my filter floss the other night. I must have moved the float switches over towards the back of the tank. I have a magnetic light back there I believe that it caused them to fail once I moved them away they both work properly.
Think I'm gonna take the light out I stopped using the fuge anyway.

 

[Custom05Taco]

Think I'm gonna order new float switches anyway when the group buy starts. I think the ones I have are kind of low quality compared to the ones I saw on the bulk reef supply website.