Resevoir size effect ATO siphoning?

Great ideas! Putting the output in the overflow sounds like a safe spot. I think I might hook up my ATO like this when I add the sump.

 

Cool, yeah I think the Tunze has 3 safety's but I will def look for some smaller reservoirs in case and measure how much exact space I have in the sump. I know I have a good amount if say there wasn't some freak thing and the power goes out and all 3 of the Tunze safety's failed, can't imagine .

 

Yeah I hadn't thought of it at all, was so focused on having it top off the sump

 

"When it rains..."

 

It should show it in the manual. You can put the water and sensors where ever you like. I went to the sump, but forgot about the tank. You can pump it to the tank, but it will pump slower, more time, because of more head pressure. But no real problems. In the manual too it should show you can put the alarm float on the tank or sump. I would put the alarm float where ever you put the water just incase for some reason your return pump is off or fails.

As far as resivor size... one of those little things over looked.... My 90g had a 60g sump with a 7g top off jug. My sump could easily take the 7 gallons even with the return pump off. That was deliberate and I didn't want bigger. It still lasted me 4-5 days. If your top off is larger than your system can handle, you run the risk of malfunction and a flood... not to mention all that fresh water added to your small system would probably kill everything. Some folks hook up RO/DI directly to their tank top off and I didn't for this very reason.

So a good safety is to only use what your tank can hold and not enough to kill everything if it goes wrong.

 

If the power goes out you don't have to worry about the Tunze.

And another thing is when you put your ATO to the sump.... the end of the tube also can't be in the water when the return pump is off and the sump fills up. For the same reason.... maybe the return is just off or failed.... you can still set up a siphon in that case. If your alarm float is on the tank, and not the sump.... then it will not turn off the ATO when the sump fills because the tank is not full.

Also, do not put the sensor on the tank.... because when ever you do turn off the return pump, the ATO will kick on. Keep the sensor in the sump return section for sure.

 

IMO, smaller = better. I changed from a 5-gal to a 3-gal because of space issues, and because of safety. I fill it up maybe twice a week, but it's no big deal, 30 seconds during a fish feeding.

What I dont want happening is a large volume of water getting dumped into my tank if for some reason a sensor gets bumped, or something fails. I also dont want a large volume of water getting dumped into my stand or floor if I forget to put the ATO tube back into the sump after messing around in there. (I've done that twice already... NO MORE!)

For the headache if something goes wrong (and it has twice already), I'll gladly fill the bucket more often. Still easier than doing daily top offs.

 

I didn't read this whole thread, so if repeat sorry.

I still say having a 20G reservoir is excessive for reasons I already gave. I only have enough in my reservoir that I can't possibly overflow my tank. But I also don't have to manually fill my reservoir (maybe that's the issue you need to fix?)

I also like the idea of pumping UP to the tank. Makes the whole conversation moot.

I also agree you can separate out the two sensors (they don't even have to be together - mine are on opposite ends of my tank and you could easily put one in the sump and one in the tank or whatever).

I also agree you can separate out the sensors from the tube.

BUT

When you're separating things out like that, be aware that you can run into some caveats when you, for example, shut off the return pump from sump to Display...

There are certain times you need to unplug the ATO so it doesn't get confused by the lack of water flowing through the system, etc...