Having problems with hydro smart level

[USNDoc]

I'm having problems setting up my Hydor smart level in my sump I musing the aqua lifter dosing pump sometimes it'll work great but then it will start beeping as if it's going over the alert line if I shut it off. And let it go below the load line and quite a bit the low low line and then turn it back on it'll start it'll go for a little while. It'll start beeping I got to shut it off turn it back on it'll go again and it'll be fine can anybody please tell me how to properly set this damn thing up. Drives me insane


James "DOC" Adamonis
NH Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
Chapter V-2

 

[USNDoc]

Right now I have it set up where there's a reservoir on the left-hand side of the tank and then I have the tubing run to the aqua lifter which is on the right-hand side of the tank or sump I should say where they return it because that's where my smart level is mind you this is 125 gallon tank so in length it's about 73 inchesi'm just wondering what I'm doing wrong


James "DOC" Adamonis
NH Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
Chapter V-2

 

[jamesdong009]

Is there a siphon break between the aqualifter pump and the tube filling the water. IME with those pumps, water will continue to flow out unless the siphon is broken or the outlet tube of the pump is higher than the pump itself.

When I first set up the smart level, I accidently put the sensor on backwards and was getting alerts all the time. Double check to make sure that isn't the case with yours. It's been working flawlessly ever since.

 

[IPWitan]

Not sure if this answers your question, but can at least help with Aqualifters as I am guessing that that is the root of your problem.

1 - Aqualifters suck. Their lift is about 2 feet tops. They also seem to allow a siphon and get clogged if using kalk. To compensate, I have my water supply elevated to be about the height of the sump. Thus, the max lift is only about the depth of the water reservoir itself at worst - in my case a 10 gal tank. To prevent the siphon, the water tube into the sump is raised above the top of reservoir. To secure the water tube, I actually secured a pvc pipe in the tank which sticks up about 8 inches above the sump. I then secured the water tube inside the pvc pipe, but up high. This way the water tube is elevated but doesn't drip 8 inches down. When water is flowing, it tended to wiggle a little bit. By securing the tube to the pvc, I know it won't get knocked out an accidentally drip in the stand or worse yet all over the floor.

2 - instead of aqualifters, I will eventually use a very small pond pump. These seem cheap and pump a lot. You could use a high rated doser, but those cost about $100. My ATO system uses an AC power plug which can be limiting.

3 - Some ATOs have a warning system that stops everything if the pump is on longer than a certain period of time, say 10 minutes. So if the pump takes longer, the alarm will sound. Aqualifters are not fast, so it may be taking too long to fill, at least that is what your controller thinks. To solve, use a faster pump.