Strange ATO problem!

I ran into a strange problem last night, something you all need to check on yours every once in a while. I looked in the back of my 28g last night as always before I went to bed and noticed my water level was about 1/2" higher than normal, I checked the float switch and it was underwater. Well the way my ato is setup when it comes on it is just a fast drip because it is pumping so high. I noticed the ato line was dripping water even though the float switch was underwater. Here is what the problem was. A sponge had grown on the bottom of the float switch and it finally grew onto the float and stem which caused the float to not be able to move and it got stuck in the on position so it was steady pumping water. Its a good thing it just drips water or I might have had a mess. I took out the switch and removed the sponge and cleaned it up with an old tooth brush and its back good to go again. Who woulda thought a sponge would grow on bottom of the switch.

You can use two float switches in away that they must agree that the water is below the first switch but not above the second- good way to ensure some redundancy

Jeff wrote:You can use two float switches in away that they must agree that the water is below the first switch but not above the second- good way to ensure some redundancy

Yeah, I know but I got enough gadgets hooked up on it now, I'll just keep the switch clean.

guess that complicated system of mine with the triple redundancy paid off after all