JBJ not working :(

can you explain a little more in depth zesty.....I had one float in the sump and it was at the bottom of the stick and one in my top off container and it was settled at the bottom of the stick too. I watched some utube videos and it showed that the float moves up once the water goes down and that should trigger the pump. The sensors only showed up on the device when I first plugged it in. The pump also made a noise when I first plugged it in and poof - sensor lights went off and pump silent. tried plugging both into other outlets, same thing would run briefly then poof pump off, sensor lights off and only the power light on the controller. I then tried hooking up a submersible pump (thinking maybe my pump was shorting the unit out) and same thing, both on briefly then poof. after the second pump attachment I figured it had to be the controller shorting out.

If I missed something on the floats, please let me know!!

 

What is your sensor in the top off container meant to do for you? Is that to turn off the pump if your water is too low?

What I mean by weighted floats is the white cylinders in the little grey box that has the white plastic hex nut holding them on. That white cylinder is weighted to where it could float up if the water is rising. It honestly doesn't sound like this is your problem as you have yours setup different than mine. Your float in the sump is normally floating towards the top of the little gray box and then as it comes down it activates your pump? I'm assuming your float in the top off is set to float up and if it floats down, it turns your pump off?

I hope I'm not confusing you more, I have been known to confuse people easily...

 

the sensor in the top off is set to turn off the pump when the water gets too low is my understanding.....the one in the sump if I understood the mechanisms correctly, will float up to activate the pump to let water in. I used the recommended settings - I believe it was mode A. I think the problem was two fold, the sensors did not appear to be being read and the pump was not turned on at all (shorted out right after plug in) so no water could be moved.

 

I had a JBJ ATO for 2 yrs and it never failed, I did perform regular maintenance on them cleaning the floats in vinegar every 6 months. I used the "B" setup where I have both floats in the sump

I have since upgraded to a Spectrapure ULPC-II. If you can afford $200 I highly suggest the unit

Auto-Top-Off System - UPLC-II Liquid Level Controller

 

az, why the upgrade? just curious if the jbj had worked well for you??

 

It was part wanting to experiment and hearing other people having issues with the JBJ, I also a few reefers in my area that have the UPLC-II and they allowed me to check out their setups and I was impressed

 

Sorry if i am a little late to the conversation but for my last two tanks i have used 5 gallon bucket hidden in a basket next to my tank. From there i have a Toms aqua lifter and a simple float from e-shopps. The whole set up cost about $50 not including my basket and I have never had a failure. I just keep it clean. You can even set it up as a cheep back up system for when you go away if you are afraid of your more high tech system failing.

 

Why use power/and the aqua lifter? - unless you can't take advantage of gravity maybe?

I mean, it's so cheap and so easy to set up a fool proof ATO- with no pumps, no sensors, no wires, nadda. No refilling or buckets either- nadda.
My system goes thru about 2g a day evaporation.

 

Todd, with all due respect, I read through your ATO system set up and it was way more than I could attempt