A Quick ATO question

[JMorris271]

My ATO is set up one the outside of my pump chamber. Now is it suppose to only maintain the sump water level or indirectly the tank? I have never done this before so please bare with me :smurf:

 

[cr2jones]

What type of ATO system are you using. I always put my switches, either a float valve, Spectrapure or Tunze switches, in the pump chamber of the sump. All other chambers are built to be a consistant water level.

 

[homer1475]

With a sump design, you lose water volume in your sump first, your return + drain height keeps the tank level constant.

You want your ATO refilling the return section since the other chambers are designed to maintain a water level provided there is water coming in from the display.

 

[cheucklate]

Assuming you have a 3 chamber sump, normally the ATO should only maintain sump water level of the pump chamber for maximum stability. Is your sump water level correctly set up? Each chamber should have it's own water level, otherwise adjust baffles till it's fixed.

 

[CStrickland]

Your overflow sets the level of the tank.
As water evaps, the level will drop in the last sump section, because of how it has to go over a baffle to get there, but the pump is always sucking the same amount out. The ato will keep that level steady, which maintains the right amount of water in the whole system.

 

[JMorris271]

Dup

 

[JMorris271]

Assuming you have a 3 chamber sump, normally the ATO should only maintain sump water level of the pump chamber for maximum stability. Is your sump water level correctly set up? Each chamber should have it's own water level, otherwise adjust baffles till it's fixed.

The 3 chamber sump is running fine. I just want to get the ATO online.

 

[JMorris271]

Your overflow sets the level of the tank.
As water evaps, the level will drop in the last sump section, because of how it has to go over a baffle to get there, but the pump is always sucking the same amount out. The ato will keep that level steady, which maintains the right amount of water in the whole system.

OK. Thank you for that explanation.
So I need to put the sensor on the pump chamber then. What is the best most effective level to place that sensor?

 

[scooter31707]

Correct. The water from the ATO reservoir will be going into the sump. Take it, if you have the SMART ATO, the sensor-magnet part will go in the section where your return pump is located. You should only see the level of water there go down, unless you are not topping-off. Hope that helps.

 

[JMorris271]

Correct. The water from the ATO reservoir will be going into the sump. Take it, if you have the SMART ATO, the sensor-magnet part will go in the section where your return pump is located. You should only see the level of water there go down, unless you are not topping-off. Hope that helps.

It does.Thank you. Yes I do have the Smart ATO.

 

[CStrickland]

The level is kindve up to you. You want enough water so the pump doesn't suck air or anything, and the waters not falling so far down the last baffle it kicks up bubbles if that's how your bubble trap is designed. But you want enough room in the sump so there's room for all the water that will drain down from your plumbing if the pump cuts off in a power outage or tripped breaker.

It should be easy to play with by moving the sensor around til you hit the sweet spot.