Disaster strikes :(

[traylor23]

I had a small flooding issue due to a auto-top off switch that stuck open:

Basically my MP40w driver is fried...
Also my Reefkeeper 2 isn't wanting to stay on...guess it somehow got wet...the head is definitely gone....

Does anyone have an old MP40w driver laying around?

Anybody got a ReefKeeper 2 that they'd be willing to sell me?

Please let me know!

Thanks,

Matt

 

[ddaddy2420]

Hate to hear that, did you have your ATO hooked directly to your RO/DI system?

 

[markl]

What kind of auto top off was it? I had one from autotopoff.com do the same thing last year.

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Ouch. Sorry to hear this, Man. Sounds like you had some costly equipment too. Any idea what caused the auto-top off switch to stick, and what kind do you have?

I'm running a autotopoff.com unit myself...

 

[markl]

My next ATO I'm going to spend some extra money and get the Tunze set up.

 

[traylor23]

MarkL;844597 wrote: What kind of auto top off was it? I had one from autotopoff.com do the same thing last year.

YUP! It even had the dual float switch, but I guess something happened in the project box

 

[davidinga]

I wonder if it is better to have an ATO setup that you run manually as needed or only run on auto if your going to be away or something?

Sent by Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 2

 

[traylor23]

CedzAquAddiction;844603 wrote: Ouch. Sorry to hear this, Man. Sounds like you had some costly equipment too. Any idea what caused the auto-top off switch to stick, and what kind do you have?

I'm running a autotopoff.com unit myself...

It was the same one you have...no clue...everything looks ok in the project box and seems to be working now.

Edit:

DavidinGA;844610 wrote: I wonder if it is better to have an ATO setup that you run manually as needed or only run on auto if your going to be away or something?

Sent by Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 2

Had this happened when I was away, my house would've burnt down...luckily the reefkeeper 2 has a GFI or something in it...but the main gfi didn't trip and the mp40w driver fried and was smoking.

 

[au alum]

I would contact ecotech and see if they can helpyou out, i've heard they have great customer service.

good luck

 

[jayu]

I'd contact ecotech. They're usually super helpful. Maybe you can get a discount on a new driver.

 

[jayu]

JayU;844619 wrote: I'd contact ecotech. They're usually super helpful. Maybe you can get a discount on a new driver.

^^^^^beat me to it.

 

[traylor23]

JayU;844620 wrote: ^^^^^beat me to it.

Yeah...that's the 1st thing I did...they could only offer upgrade to ES...was trying not to spend that right now.

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

I had a near bad situation with mine as well. Top-off container ran out of water, and I came home after working late one night, and my top-off water pump was running wide open and dry for I don't know how long. I've since gotten a bigger container until I figure out a way to automate that in an even safer manner (like a tunze).

+1 on contacting ecotech.

 

[davidinga]

Buy a WP40 this time around and pocket the savings over the overpriced mp40


Sent by Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 2

 

[nsconductor]

Isn't overpriced only a fact when buyers aren't willing to pay asking price?

 

[snowmansnow]

DavidinGA;844610 wrote: I wonder if it is better to have an ATO setup that you run manually as needed or only run on auto if your going to be away or something?

Sent by Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 2

no.. just get a good one

 

[traylor23]

DavidinGA;844642 wrote: Buy a WP40 this time around and pocket the savings over the overpriced mp40


Sent by Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 2

I love the Vortech series...I wouldn't/couldn't buy new, but good deal used usually.

 

[traylor23]

Well...it's not all bad news...took apart the RK2 and let it dry out...wiped everything I could with RO water (not DI) and let it dry...It works...lcd is a little messed up (vertical lines), but nothing I can't handle. Yay! I think I'm going to get an Apex or something along those lines and keep this as a back up or for a frag tank.

 

[jhutto]

I have that type of auto top off for years and never had a problem. They say they can get gummed up in the float that is in the water. Supposed to clean so often. On mine I use double safe method by limiting the power to the selenoid to only twice A day for 15 minutes or so. So if it did freeze up the aqua lifter pump would stop after 15 minutes. I believe in trying to always have back ups where possible.

 

[chris s]

Glad to hear some good news.

I'm running a diy ATO. Just a few ideas. Size your ATO container so it can't overflow your sump. I have a float in the bottom of my ATO container that prevents the pump from running without water. Before I got my apex the switch was wired into the power for the pump. With the apex it signals the apex to not let the pump run. The low level switch also triggers an alarm on the apex that sends me an email letting me know I need top off water.

Another safety for people using a controller for their ATO is how to wire the float switches. Most floats can be flipped so you can choose if the switch is normaly open or closed. Having the switches activate when they close will prevent a problem should the switch get disconnected.