ATO placement in a AIO nano tank

BeachVacationer · 11/12/2018, 08:07 PM

I have the Fluval Spec 16 and thinking of getting the ice cap ATO. I've seen vids of people putting the sensor in the back chamber. I was thinking of putting it in the display. Does it make any difference? Is it more reliable in a particular location?

mcgyvr · 11/12/2018, 09:18 PM

In a rear chamber it would be more protected from animals....Thats about it..

Uncle99 · 11/13/2018, 09:53 AM

If it uses an IR sensor, best suited where the water is calm.

mcgyvr · 11/13/2018, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

If it uses an IR sensor, best suited where the water is calm.

Same can apply to floats.. I typically put a "snail guard" around my floats which not only protects from a snail hanging on them but also helps dampen any "waves" in the surrounding water from powerheads/pumps,etc...

Many of the nicer ATO systems have enough hysteresis built in where "waves" aren't an issue but some will just click on/off with each passing wave..

Crooked Reef · 11/13/2018, 11:14 AM

Isn’t the rear chamber sectioned off into two areas on that tank, a media area and a return? Do both rear chambers stay the same water level? It seems like the return area would have a lower water level to account for water leveling out in the event of a power outage. If so I would put the sensor in the return area.

LQT · 11/13/2018, 07:54 PM

You definitely want the ATO sensor in the return chamber. In AIO tanks, the display and other chambers maintain a constant water level due to the weir and baffles. It’s the return section that fluctuates it’s water level due to evaporation, so that’s where your ATO sensor must be.

BeachVacationer · 11/15/2018, 07:12 AM

Ok, sounds like the return section is the best location. Thanks guys!

11/12/2018, 08:07 PM	#1
BeachVacationer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 546	ATO placement in a AIO nano tank I have the Fluval Spec 16 and thinking of getting the ice cap ATO. I've seen vids of people putting the sensor in the back chamber. I was thinking of putting it in the display. Does it make any difference? Is it more reliable in a particular location?

11/12/2018, 09:18 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	In a rear chamber it would be more protected from animals....Thats about it.. __________________ Who me?

11/13/2018, 11:14 AM	#5
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Isn’t the rear chamber sectioned off into two areas on that tank, a media area and a return? Do both rear chambers stay the same water level? It seems like the return area would have a lower water level to account for water leveling out in the event of a power outage. If so I would put the sensor in the return area. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

11/13/2018, 07:54 PM	#6
LQT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,516	You definitely want the ATO sensor in the return chamber. In AIO tanks, the display and other chambers maintain a constant water level due to the weir and baffles. It’s the return section that fluctuates it’s water level due to evaporation, so that’s where your ATO sensor must be. __________________ - Leon (aka - Water Dog) Deep Blue 57 Edge ATI Acro Garden Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25573384#post25573384 Current Tank Info: DeepBlue 57 Edge

11/13/2018, 09:53 AM	#3
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	If it uses an IR sensor, best suited where the water is calm.

11/15/2018, 07:12 AM	#7
BeachVacationer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 546	Ok, sounds like the return section is the best location. Thanks guys!