Nano ATO sanity check

[Calm Blue Ocean]

I'd like to finally add an ATO to my IM 10g tank so I might be able to leave for the weekend. The tank can evaporate a crazy amount of water so just letting it go isn't an option.

The big issue I have with adding an ATO is that every now and then the overflow gets backed up and causes the return chamber to run dry (or close to). An ATO would take that as "add more water" and the result of that would be a wreck.

I'm trying to figure out how and where to maybe add an extra sensor to recognize an overflow chamber malfunction and shut down the ATO. Of course since we're talking nano, there isn't a lot of room to maneuver.

Not a complete solution but I'm considering running the ATO on a timer so that it won't come on for more than x seconds at a time, 2 or 3 times a day.

Any other ideas?

 

[terraincognita]

If you clean your floss/sock or whatever right before you leave, and just don't feed it for the 3 days your gone, your overflow should stay almost completely clean, and you shouldn't have to worry.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

If you clean your floss/sock or whatever right before you leave, and just don't feed it for the 3 days your gone, your overflow should stay almost completely clean, and you shouldn't have to worry.

I was even considering just pulling the floss all together when I need to leave the tank. I've only had it happen twice but when it clogs, things go crazy really fast!

 

[terraincognita]

Yeah if it’s just 3 days even removing the floss I’m sure you’ll be okay.

but keep things tight prior to leaving so you can “buy” yourself that small margin for any errors.