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IceCap Eye Sensor IR for ATO / Klir V1
SKU: IP-ATO-BIRS
100% Genuine OEM Factory Part: Manufactured directly by IceCap as an exact drop-in structural match to replace scratched, mineral-crusted, or dead optical sensors.
Dual-Platform Integration: Cross-compatible core part optimized to drive water level monitoring for both the IceCap ATO and the Klir V1 Drop-In Fleece Filter.
CoralVueSolid-State Optical Infrastructure: Engineered without mechanical moving parts to prevent jamming from snails, organic sludge, or floating debris.
Aqua Lab AquariaPre-Threaded Compression Mount: Features a molded threaded collar shank that locks directly into Klir bracket slots or standard magnetic mount bases.
Hermetically Sealed Casing: Fully potted inside a dense, marine-grade polymer body to eliminate water intrusion or electrical micro-shorts.
IceCap
Premium aquarium equipment without the premium price. Protein skimmers, pumps, reactors, heaters & more.
IceCap Replacement Infrared Eye Sensor for ATO & Klir V1 (SKU: IP-ATO-BIRS)
The IceCap Replacement Infrared Eye Sensor (SKU: IP-ATO-BIRS) is an authentic, multi-platform OEM solid-state tracking component distributed by CoralVue to sustain flawless automation inside modern reef sumps. Automated systems like top-offs and mechanical roller filters rely entirely on clean, lightning-fast level tracking to protect your home. Over years of non-stop operation inside chaotic sump environments, continuous exposure to aggressive salt creep, hard calcium scaling, or unintentional micro-scratches along the sensor tip can blind the internal infrared prism. When a sensor fails, it can leave an automatic top-off from firing or prevent a fleece filter from advancing—leading to parameter swings. Swapping out a compromised eye for this fresh black-housing factory sensor completely resets your system's monitoring loops back to original parameters.
Molded to meet tight factory tolerances, the IP-ATO-BIRS utilizes an internal infrared emitter and receiver network housed under a transparent optical dome. Unlike old-school mechanical float switches that constantly bind, tilt, and get stuck from salt crusting or stray asterina snails, this solid-state eye reads fluid tension strictly through light refraction metrics. It stands as the direct replacement core for the Klir V1 4-Inch and 7-Inch automatic fleece rollers alongside the primary tracking channel of the classic IceCap ATO system. Swapping in this fresh original part instantly eliminates system timing delays, ensures pinpoint fleece advancement, and secures your evaporation loop against sudden failure.
Key Features
Corrects Intermittent Fleece Roll Advance: Restores immediate advancing action to your Klir filter motor assembly the exact millisecond your sock tray water line triggers the prism face.
Eliminates Mechanical Binding Vulnerabilities: Solid-state electronic layout means there are zero external rings, pivots, or physical components that can lock up due to debris.
Tool-Free Replacement Thread Ring: Arrives pre-fitted with a matched thumb-nut fastener to securely lock the sensor shank into place inside your filter body template.
(Note: This retail SKU contains (1) individual standalone Black IR Eye Sensor with an attached pre-wired connection cord. Magnetic mounting brackets, replacement fleece rolls, updated V2 motor assemblies, and central ATO controllers are sold under separate product categories).
IceCap Optical Sensor Matrix
Before checking out, cross-reference your specific backup layout needs with official factory part designations:
IP-ATO-BIRS (This Part): Main black-bodied optical tracking sensor custom-fitted for Klir V1 filter bodies and classic IceCap ATO systems.
CoralVue Outlet & Parts StoreIP-ATO-WIRS: Secondary white-bodied optical safety backup sensor explicitly calibrated to prevent reservoir overflow scenarios.
What’s Included:
(1) IceCap Replacement Black Eye Sensor IR Module with Integrated Signal Cable
(1) Corrosion-Resistant Plastic Threaded Compression Locking Nut
Technical Specs:
Official Manufacturing Title: Eye Sensor IR for IceCap ATO and Klir
SKU / Factory Part Identifier: IP-ATO-BIRS
Core Sensor Methodology: High-Refraction Infrared Solid-State Optical Prism Matrix
Primary Casing Material Foundation: Non-Leaching, Saltwater-Safe Hardened Polycarbonate Blend
Structural Body Accent Trim: Deep Marine Black
Platform Component Fitment: Fits Classic IceCap Auto Top Off and Klir V1 Automatic Fleece Filter Systems
- Unplug the main power supply brick to your Klir filter controller or IceCap ATO module from its wall socket to cut live current paths.
- Disconnect the old sensor cord jack from the receiving terminal input on your central controller block.
- Unthread the plastic thumb-nut on the back side of the old sensor body shank, and slide the spent optical eye out of the Klir frame slot or your magnetic mounting base.
- The Critical Bracket Cleaning Step: Take this opportunity to clean the mounting bracket track. Wipe away any accumulated organic slime, sponge growth, or salt creep with a soft rag dipped in warm vinegar.
- Push the threaded neck of your fresh IP-ATO-BIRS sensor through the mounting hole, orient the cord straight upward, and hand-tighten the plastic retention nut until secure.
- Plug the sensor jack firmly back into your central controller slot, run the power cord clean of open water paths using a secure drip loop, restore power, and check system operations.
Pro Tips:
- Execute a Brief Vinegar Wipe Every Month to Stop Blindness from Bacterial Slime. Because this infrared sensor operates by reading how light bounces through its clear plastic tip depending on whether it is touching air or water, anything that coats that tip will block the light beam. Over 4 to 6 weeks of continuous sump action, a thin, clear film of bacterial mulm, organic lipids, or white calcium scale will naturally coat the prism dome. This film can trick the controller into thinking the water level is high when it isn't, causing a fleece filter to lock up or an ATO to stop topping off. Simply wipe the tip with a soft vinegar-soaked microfiber cloth once a month to keep it clean and accurate.
- Never Use Coarse Scouring Brushes on the Plastic Sensor Tip Dome. When clearing away stubborn coralline algae spots or calcium crust from the face of your new IP-ATO-BIRS sensor, never scrub the clear tip with rough green kitchen scratch-pads, wire brushes, or razor blades. The optical prism face is molded from high-impact clear polymer that can scratch if treated roughly. Coarse scratches scatter the internal infrared light beams, permanently blinding the sensor and rendering it useless. Always dissolve tough mineral buildup safely by letting the sensor soak in a warm vinegar or citric acid bath for 15 minutes.
- Ensure the Clear Optic Prism is Free of Pinpoint Micro-Bubbles. If you are installing this replacement sensor on a Klir filter or inside an ATO return pump compartment that sits right next to a high-turnover protein skimmer or a turbulent drain pipe, micro-bubbles can cause tracking issues. Tiny bubbles traveling through the water column will naturally latch onto the clear sensor dome. If enough micro-bubbles cluster together over the prism face, they trap a pocket of air around the eye, tricking the sensor into thinking the water line is low. Always position the sensor face in a calm, low-turbulence zone of your sump, or gently tap the sensor bracket after installation to displace any clinging micro-bubbles.