RKL and float valve ATO

[rookie07]

Does anyone use the ReefKeepr Lite, and also have the float valve with an ATO? I have the SL-1 for one tank, and the SL-2 for another tank.

My question is, do I need two float valves per tank? I ask this b/c what if 1 float valve gets stuck and the ATO pumps 8 gallons(my whole ATO container is 8 gls) of RO water into my tank (which aside from the stress to fish and coral, I will have a 7 gallon flood).

Can the float valve get "stuck"?
What do you do to prevent this?

Thanks,
Phil

 

[beerfish]

Any float valve can get stuck. Cleaning them regularly can help, but a redundant switch is the best way to go. I only use one, but I have a 6g container and about 8g of room in my sump, so if it overflows, it may throw off my salinity a little, but won't flood anything.

I generally advise using 3 actually. Two switches to control the water level so that you don't flood your living room, and a third operating in reverse in the ATO container to shut off the pump in the even that you let the bucket get empty. (Although if you use a pump like an Aqualifter, it can run safely dry and so this 3rd one is unnecessary.)

 

[pweissma]

Hey Phil, another safeguard that some use is to only have the ATO on periodically. This isn't really a fail safe but it gives you more chance to react. This also ellimiates the frequent on/off which can be annoying if your ato pump is noisy.

 

[rookie07]

Phil

Would that mean that I do not even need the float valve? As I could just have the pump go on for 1 min every hour (or as much/little as needed), right?

 

[rookie07]

Any float valve can get stuck. Cleaning them regularly can help, but a redundant switch is the best way to go. I only use one, but I have a 6g container and about 8g of room in my sump, so if it overflows, it may throw off my salinity a little, but won't flood anything.

I generally advise using 3 actually. Two switches to control the water level so that you don't flood your living room, and a third operating in reverse in the ATO container to shut off the pump in the even that you let the bucket get empty. (Although if you use a pump like an Aqualifter, it can run safely dry and so this 3rd one is unnecessary.)

You are saying I should have 2 float valves in the tank, one that turns on the ATO, and 1 that turns off the ATO just incase

 

[beerfish]

Phil

Would that mean that I do not even need the float valve? As I could just have the pump go on for 1 min every hour (or as much/little as needed), right?

You'll never match the evap rate this way, but it gives you more time to catch a failed switch that way.

 

[beerfish]

You are saying I should have 2 float valves in the tank, one that turns on the ATO, and 1 that turns off the ATO just incase

Exactly. That way if one float fails, the other will avoid a flood.

 

[Mattl22]

Do they have any ato systems that just use a bucket higher then the sump with a hose leading to a sump with a float switch ?? Eliminateing the need for a pump ?

 

[masterswimmer]

Do they have any ato systems that just use a bucket higher then the sump with a hose leading to a sump with a float switch ?? Eliminateing the need for a pump ?

Yes, here is one that operates via gravity and no pumps:

TOM Auto Fill System (AFS)

Russ

 

[Mattl22]

Ruus do u need to drill a bulk head into ur sump for it to work ??

 

[masterswimmer]

Ruus do u need to drill a bulk head into ur sump for it to work ??

Yes. Easily accomplished.