Help with Hydor Smart Level! I am losing my mind!!!

[tomxreef]

I have been struggling with this ATO for weeks. I have the sensor setup in my pump chamber of my IM Lagoon 25. The ato is paired with an aqualifter pump with a 5.5 gallon reservoir in the stand. I have the reservoir on the bottom shelf of the stand and the aqualifter on the top shelf of the stand and the tube going directly to my pump chamber being held by my apex probe holder. I turn on the ato, let it calibrate, and I go and do my own thing. I come back in like an hour and the alarm is going off. I look in the pump chamber and the water level has barely moved up. Does anyone have this unit and could offer advise?

 

[mcarroll]

Sounds like it's timing out - probably to prevent a flood/over-fill. Do they recommend any pump in the manual?

The Aqualifter is slower than any ordinary pump by at least one order of magnitude, possibly two....so this could be an expected problem.

The only thing you can do is check and make sure that the Aqualifter flow is steady through the whole fill cycle....it could start off strong and die out during the run.

For example, if there's no way for air to get into your ATO reservoir, pumping water out will eventually create a vacuum strong enough to resist the pressure the pump applies to pump water out - eventually giving you zero flow rate.

If this isn't your issue, then you may need to upgrade to a "normal" pump or a different ATO.

Any chance the ATO system has an adjustable timeout?

 

[tomtom2245]

It could also be you have too much head pressure for the aqualifter.

 

[Brian Kim]

I have been struggling with this ATO for weeks. I have the sensor setup in my pump chamber of my IM Lagoon 25. The ato is paired with an aqualifter pump with a 5.5 gallon reservoir in the stand. I have the reservoir on the bottom shelf of the stand and the aqualifter on the top shelf of the stand and the tube going directly to my pump chamber being held by my apex probe holder. I turn on the ato, let it calibrate, and I go and do my own thing. I come back in like an hour and the alarm is going off. I look in the pump chamber and the water level has barely moved up. Does anyone have this unit and could offer advise?

I had similar experience with my JBJ ATO set up exactly the same way you have. Turns out aqualifter was not strong enough so I just sold them and got myself a Tunze, couldn't be happier!

 

[tomxreef]

I shortened the silicone tubing and drilled through the shelf and *crosses fingers* it is working for now. It is definately pumping quicker. If it doesn't work out I will be grabbing an Avast Diaphragm Pump.

 

[mcarroll]

got myself a Tunze, couldn't be happier!

Did you have to do anything special to make the Tunze pump work with that ATO system?

If it doesn't work out

I think that's only about double the Aqualifter's flow rate, so make sure that'll actually cover the top-off needs within the ATO's timer! The Tunze or a "regular" pump might be better. I ended up using a regular Eco+ pump (1/2" threaded outlet) with a drip-irrigation adapter, which is much more durable than the Aqualifter, but still has a nice, moderate flow rate.

Like this, but my local big-box hardware store had it in stock in the irrigation section:

(I had to use a 1/2" 'close nipple' to connect the pump to the adapter....both are female threads. Also in stock at my local Lowes, but not elsewhere.)

Oh, I should mention that I did this to be able to connect the pump to my Tunze kalk reactor which uses airline-size tubing. It's probably not quite enough flow ideally for this app. FWIW.

Last, if you are moderating your ATO flow rate as a preventative, then I would not feel so obligated to such an ultra-low flow rate.....the (limited) reservoir size is your real safety against the ATO sticking "ON". If that was your only reason for using the Aqualifter, I'd recommend just getting a very small impeller-pump instead...or maybe the Tunze mentioned above. Don't know a lot about that option yet, but I like Tunze's hardware!

 

[mcarroll]

You should read Hydor's FAQ on the product....some goodies......but here's one:
http://www.hydor.com/eng/supporto-clienti.php?idp=10

I've read that the tolerance between the minimum and maximum levels is 8-12 mm. How can I guarantee the minimum result (8 mm)?
The SMART LEVEL sensor is subject to a sort of inertia, necessary in order for the instrument to read the long evaporation times. This means that the SMART LEVEL sensor works better when it has plenty of time. Laboratory tests have indicated that SMART LEVEL works most effectively when the top-off pump intervention lasts approx. 2.5-3 minutes. To obtain this result, the pump must be split by intervening on a valve.

You should be able to make a good educated guess at the correct pump/flow rate to hit their 2-3 minute target. :):):)

Having a slightly larger pump on a ball valve might be the best way to get there...

 

[tomxreef]

The avast diaphragm pump is en route. The aqualifter was working, but did not pump quite fast enough. With the flow rate of the avast almost double and with a much better head rating it should work out for the best.