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[Wjcastiglione]

Hey guys,

 

So I have a hydor ATO with a toms Aqua lifter hooked up to it. It's a brand new Aqua lifter - not even a month old. Hydor is only 6 mo old.

 

Sensor works - pump works. However, the pump runs supppperrrrrr slow. It just won't pump fast enough to keep up with what the tank needs from an Evap stand point.

 

I'm headed out of town next week and have my girlfriend watching the tank - I need a solution. It's only about 4 ft it's going up not even. Maybe three ft.

 

Is there someway to hook a powerhead to an airline and run this to the ATO?

[Houdini]

I have same exact setup. Mine is a little less than 3 ft lift. It is a drip drip drip operation, but it does keep my Nuvo 16 topped off. It takes a while but I personally like the slow fill. No sudden drop in salinity. I didn't think toms lifted 4 feet. It is not very powerful and is not suppose to be. More of a dosing pump. Try to find a way to shorten the lift even if it only temporary while your away for weekend. At one time I played around with idea of using a small pump lke one you'd use on a reptile tank (40 Gph) but stuck with Tom's because I really did like the idea of a slow fill to top off to keep water chemistry changes gradual.

[Neebles]

Yep 4 feet is too much for the pump. I use one to top off my 75 gallon tank, it works perfectly but the reservoir is right next to my sump. If you are going to be out of town, just put the reaervoir up on something. It's only temporary and you won't be there to have to look at it. You can work on something more permanent when you get home

[RowdyWest]

So, as long as the res is only 3ft. below the drip it's all good...doesn't necessarily mean only 3 ft. of tube right? If it were 3 ft. down and 1 ft. parallel with the ground it would be all good right?

 

Thanks!

[jbb]

It's actually not even a full 3ft . This is from the manufacturer

 

"The unique TOM Aqua Lifter Dosing Pump is designed to pump water up to 30 inches high and at a flow rate of 3-1/2 gallons per hour. "

 

Mine only pumps about 2ft total height and if I run too much line it won't pump at all.

[smeagol108]

Main point being its only 3 gallon per hour. The hydor also does not detect small water level changes and requires at least a half inch drop to activate. Tiny little fountain pump or aio pump should do the trick for you. i ended up getting a smart ato as its in my display. The smart ato literally drops two ounces in at a time. Activates with like a 1/8 inch or less of water drop.

[jbb]

There should also be an adjustment dial inside the control box that allows you to adjust the time it will allow the pump to run (up to 14minutes)

 

 

See here :

http://m.marinedepot.com/aquarium/dosing_pumps_top_off_jbj_ato_water_level_controller_information