RKL destroying my tank, help plz!

Snausy · 08/15/2012, 04:55 PM

First let me start by saying my tank flooded last night because of the RKL ATO so I'm "freshly" upset about it. If I sound upset I'm sorry, I'm trying to keep this civil but the amount of pain and suffering this unit has given me in the last month dwarfs anything I've had to deal with on my tank in the last ten years.

When I got my RKL+, I got it to replace my old ATO that was no longer working. A nice JBJ that fell in the sump one day and got fried. I thought that the RKL was an excellent idea to replace it. I KNOW many many of you are totally happy with yours and never had trouble, but for me...this was the worst Idea I've had in along time.

When I got my product delivered one of the float-switch brackets/hangers hadn't been threaded. No way to adjust the bracket level. Screws were there but there was nothing to screw into. Just smooth holes. Really? How does an ATO attatchment go out without some CQ checking? Bad sign.

Oh fine, I figure I'll just use some duct tape to secure it to the level I want. Lame I know but I'm usually pretty relaxed about things. Hey, I'm a fishtank guy, most of us are.

HOWEVER, I wasn't figuring the ATO would get stuck on at random times in the middle of the night and totally drain my 30 gallon resevoir into the tank, flooding my entire livingroom with tank saltwater when the sump overflowed. This has happened three times in the last month and lowered my salinity to .015 from .023

The first time I couldn't get the thing to turn off. The float-switch was totally unresponsive and I had to unplug the whole setup for it to reset, which it finally did after a few tries.

The last two times I came down in the morning to find my livingroom carpet flooded and my sump totally full of water. Resevoir was empty of course, but the ATO was off now. It obviously turned on, drained the entire resevoir then somehow turned off again? The float-switch is under ten inches of water at this point. No it wasn't a siphon or anything like that. It TOTALLY drained the resevoir until the pump at the bottom was running dry.

Total disaster. I'm just glad I wasn't keeping thousands of dollars worth of corals. My fish are hardy and are all still alive thank goodness. A couple are looking sick but I'm bringing it back up slowly and I have hopes they will be fine. I'm spending a ton of money on salt just to try to get my salinity levels back to normal. It's a 300 gallon tank, it takes a LOT!

I'm on a budget as a new parent, I can't afford this.

I have a new son that I am the primary caregiver and I don't have time to work on my tank like this to save it like I used to. It's one of the reasons the controller was such an awesome idea...to NOT do so much work. I'm very dissappointed and my livingroom smells like a swamp. I paid for a professional cleanup the first time but not the last two times. I'm not rich.

I switched the float-switches, I swapped out the wires...same thing is happening. I think it's in the headunit..not the hardware. It really sucks that it happens in the middle of the night and when I get up everything is flooded. I have no oportunity to stop it and have spent so much money and time trying to clean up the damage it's quite distressing. My new ATO isn't helping me. It's hurting me bigtime.

I even setup the second floatswitch(initially used on the resivoir) as a failsafe above the sump waterlevel and it STILL overflowed the last two times. THIS is why I think it's the entire headunit and not the ATO hardware.

Can someone help me get this resolved please? Currently the ATO is unplugged and it's just a VERY expensive thermometer/light controller. I don't know if I can trust anything in this unit. My PH drifts all over the place.

Again, i'm sorry if I seem upset...I don't hold anyone personally responsible. I'm sure you can understand a little bit hearing what's happening to me. I come downstairs at 6:30am with a baby and a poop-diaper to change and step in a marsh this morning...again. NOT GOOD!

wmo168 · 08/16/2012, 01:12 PM

did you mount your float switch with fail safe method? In other words One up and one down, incase your sump over flow it shut off by it self.

2 float switch mount 1 up side down and do a serial on the wire. Having one float switch for ATO is not a good idea as it may get stuck or jam.

Second, you need to plug your pump in PC 1 or PC4 as they are low voltage which may stay on even it suppose to be off,

Low voltage items need to go on outlets 1 and 4. Outlets 2 and 3 will have some stray electricity that will run the low voltage items. I run my dosers on 1 and 4.

Go to DA forums and there are many solution and discussion on it.

n2585722 · 08/16/2012, 07:24 PM

Can you answer a couple of questions?

What pump are you using for an ATO?

Can you post the programming you have for the ATO output including any alarms and timers?

chris s · 08/17/2012, 09:33 AM

One other option. Any chance the ATO hose is creating a siphon? Probably not but it's worth asking.

I'm with wmo168 on this most ATO pumps are very low current and if plugged into outlet 2 or 3 don't draw enough to allow the outlet to shut off.

Snausy · 08/18/2012, 12:09 AM

MaxiJet 1200 is the pump. No siphon it's definately the pump staying on and it's plugged into #4 and always has been.

n2585722 · 08/18/2012, 12:48 AM

How do you have it programmed? Example below. You will have to change the times in the timer for your system. With a Maxijet you may have to shorten on time as the pump will run for that length of time regardless of the switch. You may want to increase the time off to several hours to limit the number of times in a day that the pump will operate.

ATO pump

Mode …………………... Auto
Function ………………. Switch
………. Device ……….. 08:SWA …. ; Change appropriately for your system’s full switch
………. On When …. Open …………. ; Full switch Change to what is appropriate for your switch
………. Device …….. None
………. Off When …. Open
Timer ………………..… 10
Default ………………… Off
Standby ……………….. - - - -
Mode …………………... 0000
Alarm …………………... None
………. Mode …………. OFF

Timer 10 ………………………………… ; Leave everthing at default except for time on and time off

DOW …………………... SMTWTFS
Start …………………… 12:00:00AM
Time On ………………. 00:00:30 ……… ; Change time on as required by your system
Time Off ………………. 00:30:00 ……….; Change time off as required by your system
Repeat …………………. None
Random ……………….. No
Oscillate ………………. No

chris s · 08/18/2012, 09:17 AM

I've used a maxijet as an ATO pump on a RKE with no issues. Can you try using it on outlet #1. I did have a PC4 that had a relay outlet go bad. I can't remember if it was #1 or #4 but it started sticking on. I would come home and my lights would be on after they should have been off. I would tap the PC4 and they went off. It happened randomly for a few weeks until they just stayed on. DA fixed it under warranty.

Just to add another possible layer of protection. I like to setup my float switches to close and trigger the ATO when the water gets to low. They remain open when everything is ok. My thinking is that if the float gets unplugged the ATO won't operate. If my setup opened the switch when the water got low an unplugged float would trigger the ATO.

Snausy · 08/18/2012, 02:06 PM

Yeah but the thing is, my JBJ ATO worked with no problems and it was idiot proof.

You guys are all suggesting variables and factors and this and that...and I really appreciate the help. But to be honest it should just WORK....period...and continue to work without issues for a couple years at least. I had it set up right, it worked great for a couple months. Then boom it starts just failing and makes my life miserable. Big tank overflows are no fun.

This isn't something you can get ready for, do differently so it's better, etc etc. It was set up correctly from the get go. The only thing I wonder if I could've done better is if I should've set the ATO to fun for 20 seconds to fill it up a bit so it didn't come on so often.

This isn't ok. Hearing that your PC4 would stick on isn't ok either. A light, not a big deal. ATO is another matter entirely...I figure that's what's happening to me.

I'll call them I guess now that I'm not PO'd and can have a civil conversation. haha jk jk

ddmiller38 · 08/19/2012, 08:32 AM

+1 on setting up a timmer on the RK for ato. I learned that the hard way

08/18/2012, 12:09 AM	#5
Snausy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 863	MaxiJet 1200 is the pump. No siphon it's definately the pump staying on and it's plugged into #4 and always has been. __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 300gal FOWLR- Emperor Angel, Rainbow Wrasse, Green Bird Wrasse, Dogface Puffer, Australian Harlequin Tusk, Bluethroat Trigger, Flame Hawkfish, Matted Filefish

08/18/2012, 02:06 PM	#8
Snausy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 863	Yeah but the thing is, my JBJ ATO worked with no problems and it was idiot proof. You guys are all suggesting variables and factors and this and that...and I really appreciate the help. But to be honest it should just WORK....period...and continue to work without issues for a couple years at least. I had it set up right, it worked great for a couple months. Then boom it starts just failing and makes my life miserable. Big tank overflows are no fun. This isn't something you can get ready for, do differently so it's better, etc etc. It was set up correctly from the get go. The only thing I wonder if I could've done better is if I should've set the ATO to fun for 20 seconds to fill it up a bit so it didn't come on so often. This isn't ok. Hearing that your PC4 would stick on isn't ok either. A light, not a big deal. ATO is another matter entirely...I figure that's what's happening to me. I'll call them I guess now that I'm not PO'd and can have a civil conversation. haha jk jk __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 300gal FOWLR- Emperor Angel, Rainbow Wrasse, Green Bird Wrasse, Dogface Puffer, Australian Harlequin Tusk, Bluethroat Trigger, Flame Hawkfish, Matted Filefish

08/19/2012, 08:32 AM	#9
ddmiller38 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Randolph, Ohio Posts: 504	+1 on setting up a timmer on the RK for ato. I learned that the hard way __________________ Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't Erica Jong Current Tank Info: Fluval Osaka 320, 2 x AI Sol Super Blue, MAG 9.5 Return, Bubble Magus Nac 6 Skimmer, 20 Gallon Sump, BRS GFO/Carbon Reactor, RO/DI, ReefKeeper Elite w/NET, HUB, SL1, SL2, ATO, ALC and APC controlling 2-Tunze 6095, BRS 3x Dosing pumps

08/15/2012, 04:55 PM	#1
Snausy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 863	RKL destroying my tank, help plz! First let me start by saying my tank flooded last night because of the RKL ATO so I'm "freshly" upset about it. If I sound upset I'm sorry, I'm trying to keep this civil but the amount of pain and suffering this unit has given me in the last month dwarfs anything I've had to deal with on my tank in the last ten years. When I got my RKL+, I got it to replace my old ATO that was no longer working. A nice JBJ that fell in the sump one day and got fried. I thought that the RKL was an excellent idea to replace it. I KNOW many many of you are totally happy with yours and never had trouble, but for me...this was the worst Idea I've had in along time. When I got my product delivered one of the float-switch brackets/hangers hadn't been threaded. No way to adjust the bracket level. Screws were there but there was nothing to screw into. Just smooth holes. Really? How does an ATO attatchment go out without some CQ checking? Bad sign. Oh fine, I figure I'll just use some duct tape to secure it to the level I want. Lame I know but I'm usually pretty relaxed about things. Hey, I'm a fishtank guy, most of us are. HOWEVER, I wasn't figuring the ATO would get stuck on at random times in the middle of the night and totally drain my 30 gallon resevoir into the tank, flooding my entire livingroom with tank saltwater when the sump overflowed. This has happened three times in the last month and lowered my salinity to .015 from .023 The first time I couldn't get the thing to turn off. The float-switch was totally unresponsive and I had to unplug the whole setup for it to reset, which it finally did after a few tries. The last two times I came down in the morning to find my livingroom carpet flooded and my sump totally full of water. Resevoir was empty of course, but the ATO was off now. It obviously turned on, drained the entire resevoir then somehow turned off again? The float-switch is under ten inches of water at this point. No it wasn't a siphon or anything like that. It TOTALLY drained the resevoir until the pump at the bottom was running dry. Total disaster. I'm just glad I wasn't keeping thousands of dollars worth of corals. My fish are hardy and are all still alive thank goodness. A couple are looking sick but I'm bringing it back up slowly and I have hopes they will be fine. I'm spending a ton of money on salt just to try to get my salinity levels back to normal. It's a 300 gallon tank, it takes a LOT! I'm on a budget as a new parent, I can't afford this. I have a new son that I am the primary caregiver and I don't have time to work on my tank like this to save it like I used to. It's one of the reasons the controller was such an awesome idea...to NOT do so much work. I'm very dissappointed and my livingroom smells like a swamp. I paid for a professional cleanup the first time but not the last two times. I'm not rich. I switched the float-switches, I swapped out the wires...same thing is happening. I think it's in the headunit..not the hardware. It really sucks that it happens in the middle of the night and when I get up everything is flooded. I have no oportunity to stop it and have spent so much money and time trying to clean up the damage it's quite distressing. My new ATO isn't helping me. It's hurting me bigtime. I even setup the second floatswitch(initially used on the resivoir) as a failsafe above the sump waterlevel and it STILL overflowed the last two times. THIS is why I think it's the entire headunit and not the ATO hardware. Can someone help me get this resolved please? Currently the ATO is unplugged and it's just a VERY expensive thermometer/light controller. I don't know if I can trust anything in this unit. My PH drifts all over the place. Again, i'm sorry if I seem upset...I don't hold anyone personally responsible. I'm sure you can understand a little bit hearing what's happening to me. I come downstairs at 6:30am with a baby and a poop-diaper to change and step in a marsh this morning...again. NOT GOOD! __________________ A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 300gal FOWLR- Emperor Angel, Rainbow Wrasse, Green Bird Wrasse, Dogface Puffer, Australian Harlequin Tusk, Bluethroat Trigger, Flame Hawkfish, Matted Filefish

08/16/2012, 01:12 PM	#2
wmo168 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 210	did you mount your float switch with fail safe method? In other words One up and one down, incase your sump over flow it shut off by it self. 2 float switch mount 1 up side down and do a serial on the wire. Having one float switch for ATO is not a good idea as it may get stuck or jam. Second, you need to plug your pump in PC 1 or PC4 as they are low voltage which may stay on even it suppose to be off, Low voltage items need to go on outlets 1 and 4. Outlets 2 and 3 will have some stray electricity that will run the low voltage items. I run my dosers on 1 and 4. Go to DA forums and there are many solution and discussion on it.

08/16/2012, 07:24 PM	#3
n2585722 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Tx Posts: 544	Can you answer a couple of questions? What pump are you using for an ATO? Can you post the programming you have for the ATO output including any alarms and timers?

08/17/2012, 09:33 AM	#4
chris s Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 90	One other option. Any chance the ATO hose is creating a siphon? Probably not but it's worth asking. I'm with wmo168 on this most ATO pumps are very low current and if plugged into outlet 2 or 3 don't draw enough to allow the outlet to shut off.

08/18/2012, 12:48 AM	#6
n2585722 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Tx Posts: 544	How do you have it programmed? Example below. You will have to change the times in the timer for your system. With a Maxijet you may have to shorten on time as the pump will run for that length of time regardless of the switch. You may want to increase the time off to several hours to limit the number of times in a day that the pump will operate. ATO pump Mode …………………... Auto Function ………………. Switch ………. Device ……….. 08:SWA …. ; Change appropriately for your system’s full switch ………. On When …. Open …………. ; Full switch Change to what is appropriate for your switch ………. Device …….. None ………. Off When …. Open Timer ………………..… 10 Default ………………… Off Standby ……………….. - - - - Mode …………………... 0000 Alarm …………………... None ………. Mode …………. OFF Timer 10 ………………………………… ; Leave everthing at default except for time on and time off DOW …………………... SMTWTFS Start …………………… 12:00:00AM Time On ………………. 00:00:30 ……… ; Change time on as required by your system Time Off ………………. 00:30:00 ……….; Change time off as required by your system Repeat …………………. None Random ……………….. No Oscillate ………………. No

08/18/2012, 09:17 AM	#7
chris s Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 90	I've used a maxijet as an ATO pump on a RKE with no issues. Can you try using it on outlet #1. I did have a PC4 that had a relay outlet go bad. I can't remember if it was #1 or #4 but it started sticking on. I would come home and my lights would be on after they should have been off. I would tap the PC4 and they went off. It happened randomly for a few weeks until they just stayed on. DA fixed it under warranty. Just to add another possible layer of protection. I like to setup my float switches to close and trigger the ATO when the water gets to low. They remain open when everything is ok. My thinking is that if the float gets unplugged the ATO won't operate. If my setup opened the switch when the water got low an unplugged float would trigger the ATO.