Neptune FMM for ATO (1 Viewer)

[steveb]

Currently I have tunze that I'm driving a 12v spectrapure peristaltic pump with. I have had some issues with the pump being able to deliver water fast enough (long story).

If you have a tunze ATO you know that if water level drops low the pump turns on to refill. But the pump will only run for a period of time and if level has not returned to normal the ATO will go into an error condition and shut the pump down (ATO pump run dry protection). My 12v peristaltic pump just doesn't seem to be able to pump water fast enough if it has to make up any large water change (say a gallon or two). It's happened four times now. Twice while I was diddling with the system and twice while I was out of town.

I have thought about just getting the 120v A/C adapter for the tunze and then get a larger peristaltic pump (or use one of the Masterflex pumps I have) but was also mulling around with getting the FMM for ATO and use that to to turn an outlet on/off in the fish room so pump could push rather than pull water from the ATO reservoir. I cannot use the PMUP or regular Tunze pump due to siphoning when pump is off.



Who is using the FMM and optical sensors?

Have the optical sensors been reliable?

Has the ATO programming for the FMM been reliable?

 

[Rio1969]

I have had mine just over two years and have had to replace two sensors. The first one was replaced under warranty, the second one failed about 3 months ago. For some reason every so often the ATK turns off by itself, I am using it with an Apex.

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

I haven't been using it very long, about 6 weeks, but it's been very reliable so far. I have a couple tunze ATO set up on other tanks and I like the FMM more, feels safer and more precise. Only thing I can complain about is that the alarm still yells at me when I turn it off for things like cleaning and the water level drops.

 

[gregg]

I use the fmm to run my Atk for several years now.. I also use the pmup but I have a siphon preventer on it. Every few months I gotta get a tooth brush in there to clean off the bottom optical sensor. But yes when there is a large need for water in the sump I do get that error and a text alert so I manually turn back on the atk. Since the atk also has a float valve as well it prevents the sump from over filling.

 

[steveb]

Yeah I was thinking of ordering just the FMM and two optical sensors w/magnets. I can't use the pump and already have a float valve plumbed in the sump.

Those using FMM/ATO do you use feed mode on your APEX? If so does it cause any issues when you shut return pump down for feeding? Right now my Tunze will just scream at me while sump is full of water but I don't have to do anything to it when pump powers back on.

 

[Stickboy97]

Spectrapure makes a very good atp that runs u til the sensor detects water at a predetermined level. Works very well.

I have an older version of one.

SpectraPure - Innovators in Water Technology

SpectraPure, Inc. is an Industry Standard in the Water Purification world. From Drinking Water to Aquarium Systems, you don't just want pure water, you want the PUREST Water! Get it with SpectraPure!

spectrapure.com

 

[steveb]

In regards to alarming while pump is stopped for maintenance or feeding... I found this...

Question: ATK alarm goes off during feeding

Hello Just like many I like to turn off my pump during feeding. When I turn off my pump it will cause the water level to rise in the sump and the ATK sensors will be under water which in turn will activate the alarm and then I have to power cycle the ATK to cancel the alarm. There has to...

forum.neptunesystems.com

The most common way around this is to move the monitoring of your ATK_Hi sensor out of the EmailAlm program and put it into a virtual output. Place additional conditions on it that you'd want to ignore high water, such as Feed mode or a pump is off:

[Alert_ATK_Hi] <-- new virtual output
Set OFF
If ATK_Hi CLOSED Then ON
If FeedA 000 Then OFF
If Output ReturnPump = OFF Then OFF
Defer 000:30 Then ON

Then in your EmailAlm program, just check the status of the new virtual output:

[EmailAlm]
Set OFF
If Output Alert_ATK_Hi = ON Then ON

See my tutorials on Virtual Outputs and Apex Alarm Programming for more examples and ideas:

Beginner Topic - Neptune Apex Programming Tutorials, Part 5: Virtual Outputs

Beginner Topic - Neptune Apex Programming Tutorials, Part 6: Alarms

 

[Seaworthy Aquatics]

In regards to alarming while pump is stopped for maintenance or feeding... I found this...

Question: ATK alarm goes off during feeding

Hello Just like many I like to turn off my pump during feeding. When I turn off my pump it will cause the water level to rise in the sump and the ATK sensors will be under water which in turn will activate the alarm and then I have to power cycle the ATK to cancel the alarm. There has to...

forum.neptunesystems.com

Thanks! Still very new to the apex and spent a while trying to figure it out but this looks to have done the trick.

 

[steveb]

Spectrapure makes a very good atp that runs u til the sensor detects water at a predetermined level. Works very well.

I have an older version of one.

SpectraPure - Innovators in Water Technology

SpectraPure, Inc. is an Industry Standard in the Water Purification world. From Drinking Water to Aquarium Systems, you don't just want pure water, you want the PUREST Water! Get it with SpectraPure!

spectrapure.com

I'm actually using a litermeter pump module currently. Just cut the plug and off and attached to my Tunze ATO (both operate at 12vdc). I wish the Tunze didn't have the run dry timer... or that I could adjust it up.

SpectraPure® LiterMeter® III Water Exchange Module

The SpectraPure® LiterMeter® III Water Exchange Module is a compact LiterMeter® III pump module with a built in water level sensor controlled switch. The WXM is designed to be used as a LiterMeter® remote pump module, where power is interrupted when tank water rises to the preset level...

spectrapure.com

 

[Rio1969]

I have had mine just over two years and have had to replace two sensors. The first one was replaced under warranty, the second one failed about 3 months ago. For some reason every so often the ATK turns off by itself, I am using it with an Apex.

I have to make a correction here, I just tested the second sensor that I thought had failed and it is working correctly. One of the original sensors is still going strong.

 

[steveb]

Got the FMM installed with two optical sensors.

Using Stenner 50gpd pump now.

 

[smcevoy]

I use the fmm to run my Atk for several years now.. I also use the pmup but I have a siphon preventer on it. Every few months I gotta get a tooth brush in there to clean off the bottom optical sensor. But yes when there is a large need for water in the sump I do get that error and a text alert so I manually turn back on the atk. Since the atk also has a float valve as well it prevents the sump from over filling.

I absolutely hate my ATK system. I can never get it to work right for more than a few days and have dealt with Neptunes several times about this and never really any results that last. When I get around to being able to spend another $200 I will be going with Tunze


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[steveb]

I absolutely hate my ATK system. I can never get it to work right for more than a few days and have dealt with Neptunes several times about this and never really any results that last. When I get around to being able to spend another $200 I will be going with Tunze


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What type of issues are you encountering?

 

[smcevoy]

Constant alarms, not coming on when below sensors, turning itself off all the time, and more these are the main ones. Just flat out is not consistent


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[gregg]

I absolutely hate my ATK system. I can never get it to work right for more than a few days and have dealt with Neptunes several times about this and never really any results that last. When I get around to being able to spend another $200 I will be going with Tunze


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start a thread and let us help you with your issue....

 

[smcevoy]

start a thread and let us help you with your issue....

Started a thread asking for help with my work around. I need some coding assistance.


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