Jake seemed to be a pretty big proponent of gravity-fed ATO systems. I've had a Neptune ATK on my 50 gallon for about a year. Lately it has started acting goofy, not working when it's supposed to, without any explanation. I'm about to shut this tank down and start up a 160 gallon system in a couple of weeks and was considering going gravity for it instead of using the ATK (I'm frankly sick of dealing with it). I'll have a 120 gallon tank with a 40 gallon sump, and my RODI system and mixing station on the same level out in the garage a couple of rooms away (see my tank thread for the specifics). I can easily run RODI tubing from the fresh water tank to the sump.
So what are the options for fail-safes with a gravity ATO?
Obviously a horizontal float switch in the sump is the most basic and obvious. And of course maintenance of said switch. I'm thinking of also including a Flow-Lok just outside the sump so if the sump ever overflows, it will shut off the ATO line (it would be plumbed to the 60 gallon RODI tank out in the garage that I fill only as-needed). I could also plumb the RODI line into the RODI tank at a higher level that wouldn't empty the WHOLE thing in the event it gets stuck in the open position.
Are solenoid's worth considering? I'd REALLY like the option to shut if off remotely, or program my Apex to shut it off if the sump level exceeds a certain depth or if other conditions are met (I have a Neptune LLS I'll be putting in the sump). Neptune's own solenoid is OOS at BRS, and doesn't have good reviews to begin with so if I can avoid it, great!
Any other options?
*edit*
Followup question... If I maintain/replace the float valve at appropriate intervals, am I overthinking this?
So what are the options for fail-safes with a gravity ATO?
Obviously a horizontal float switch in the sump is the most basic and obvious. And of course maintenance of said switch. I'm thinking of also including a Flow-Lok just outside the sump so if the sump ever overflows, it will shut off the ATO line (it would be plumbed to the 60 gallon RODI tank out in the garage that I fill only as-needed). I could also plumb the RODI line into the RODI tank at a higher level that wouldn't empty the WHOLE thing in the event it gets stuck in the open position.
Are solenoid's worth considering? I'd REALLY like the option to shut if off remotely, or program my Apex to shut it off if the sump level exceeds a certain depth or if other conditions are met (I have a Neptune LLS I'll be putting in the sump). Neptune's own solenoid is OOS at BRS, and doesn't have good reviews to begin with so if I can avoid it, great!
Any other options?
*edit*
Followup question... If I maintain/replace the float valve at appropriate intervals, am I overthinking this?
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