ATO

[rdang]

What ATO's are you guys and gals using?

I have a 29 with a 20L sump.

I bought one of amazon and I'm returning it because it shuts off before it gets level.

Any recommendations?

 

[Sniperhank]

I run a JBJ ATO with an aqualifter pump.

 

[carey]

I use a JBJ as well with a maxijet for the return pump. An aqualifter will work just fine as well.
Great ATO, I actually have a few of them running.

 

[rdang]

I have the jbj and the aqua lifter and it's not staying on long enough to fill to level

 

[Sniperhank]

I'd check to see where the float valve is then. Just putting it in the simple one switch mode will provide easiest results.

 

[rdang]

I looked at it today and the float valve was not touching any water. Maybe the pump is too weak?

 

[Sniperhank]

Sounds more like you have it hooked up wrong.

 

[rdang]

Set to mode "a" with one float in the sump?

 

[carey]

ANd where is the other float at? should be in your reservoir.
i found the aqualifter to take too much time to run to fill the sump up so I switched to a higher output pump. Coudl be risky though if you dont have enough room in your sump to hold alt of water just in case the pump doesnt shut off.

 

[Blenny]

There is a automatic timer shut off on the JBJ ATO. Maybe that is what is preventing the pump to fully fill. It's a safety feature.

You can modify the time before shut off :

http://www.jbjlighting.com/prod-ato-faqs.html

The aqualifter can slow down a lot with any significant lift height.

I use just an aqualifter set as a drip line as an ATO. It works fine.

 

[Vdub99aml]

I used the aqualifter pump with the jbj ato system, and it was to slow and time out. Since then I've been using a pico pump and it works great.

 

[rdang]

Thanks Blenny! I'm going to adjust the time and see if that solves it. The aqualift might be the issue here because it's so slow.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Sniperhank]

I'm not sure what everyone is saying about timing out. I do my water changes through my top off. I'll let 5 gallons trickle through the aqua lifter.

 

[rdang]

Yeah. It has a timer that will stop the pump after 14 minutes.