Auto top off breaking syphon

Firesole · 01/21/2009, 08:07 AM

I appear to be having a problem w/ my auto top off system not breaking syphon. I have an ATO that I created using two float switches, a relay, and a Maxjet 1200. I currently have it disabled for the time being so I have to top off manually. All I do is plug in the MJ to start filling and unplug to stop. I did this the other day and happened to notice later that night when I went to do some maintenance and shut off the pump that my sump almost overflowed. It came all the way to the top edge. I have my hose positioned so that the end isn't submerged in the sump's water. Apparently it seems as if that isn't enough to break the syphon the MJ creates. What else can I do? I don't need this thing to top off when I'm not around and continue to syphon my 35 gal r/o drum dry and onto my floor.

Jaded_Falcon · 01/21/2009, 08:31 AM

Is your MJ pump intake at a higher level than the outlet in your sump? This would cause a continuous syphon even if the outlet is above the waterline in your sump. The outlet has to be higher than the inlet, regardless of tube routing. Hope that makes sense and helps. It's 6:30 am. Past my bedtime!

THE ROOK · 01/21/2009, 08:36 AM

The problem is that the end of the hose @ the sump is below the highest point of the hose. If that makes sense. Three options:

1. Put a tee inside the RO drum so that will break the siphon. Just make sure the to restrict the tee & that it faces down because water will be pumping out it while filling the sump.

2. Fill into display, if that's high enough.

3. Run a piece of pcv from sump up behind display & dump your RO line in there. Makes a funnel to the sump.

Firesole · 01/21/2009, 11:25 AM

I'm certain that my output is higher than the input. The MJ sits on the bottom of my 35g R/O barrel. However, the output IS lower than the middle of the hose. The hose has to reach up and out of the top of the barrel which is about 3 feet high before it goes over to my sump which is only about 16 inches high.

Stray32 · 01/21/2009, 12:03 PM

Not sure if this would work with your setup, but I had the same problem on a much smaller scale (5 gallon reservoir feeding my sump), and I drilled a small hole in the tube at a point that remains out of the water at all times, but still within the reservoir.

A small amount of water leaks during filling, but right back into the reservoir, and once the pump turns off, the syphon is broken by this hole.

01/21/2009, 08:07 AM	#1
Firesole Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Athens, Ga Posts: 132	Auto top off breaking syphon I appear to be having a problem w/ my auto top off system not breaking syphon. I have an ATO that I created using two float switches, a relay, and a Maxjet 1200. I currently have it disabled for the time being so I have to top off manually. All I do is plug in the MJ to start filling and unplug to stop. I did this the other day and happened to notice later that night when I went to do some maintenance and shut off the pump that my sump almost overflowed. It came all the way to the top edge. I have my hose positioned so that the end isn't submerged in the sump's water. Apparently it seems as if that isn't enough to break the syphon the MJ creates. What else can I do? I don't need this thing to top off when I'm not around and continue to syphon my 35 gal r/o drum dry and onto my floor. __________________ I'm not good enough to play by the rules!! Current Tank Info: 55g reef ready w/ 30g sump/fuge. 80+ lbs LR.

01/21/2009, 08:31 AM	#2
Jaded_Falcon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 130	Is your MJ pump intake at a higher level than the outlet in your sump? This would cause a continuous syphon even if the outlet is above the waterline in your sump. The outlet has to be higher than the inlet, regardless of tube routing. Hope that makes sense and helps. It's 6:30 am. Past my bedtime! __________________ The solution for pollution is dilution. (Change your water!) Current Tank Info: 112 gal mixed reef or atleast my attempt at it!

01/21/2009, 11:25 AM	#4
Firesole Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Athens, Ga Posts: 132	I'm certain that my output is higher than the input. The MJ sits on the bottom of my 35g R/O barrel. However, the output IS lower than the middle of the hose. The hose has to reach up and out of the top of the barrel which is about 3 feet high before it goes over to my sump which is only about 16 inches high. __________________ I'm not good enough to play by the rules!! Current Tank Info: 55g reef ready w/ 30g sump/fuge. 80+ lbs LR.

01/21/2009, 12:03 PM	#5
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	Not sure if this would work with your setup, but I had the same problem on a much smaller scale (5 gallon reservoir feeding my sump), and I drilled a small hole in the tube at a point that remains out of the water at all times, but still within the reservoir. A small amount of water leaks during filling, but right back into the reservoir, and once the pump turns off, the syphon is broken by this hole. __________________ Thanks, Jared Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 Gal Frag Tank

01/21/2009, 08:36 AM	#3
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	The problem is that the end of the hose @ the sump is below the highest point of the hose. If that makes sense. Three options: 1. Put a tee inside the RO drum so that will break the siphon. Just make sure the to restrict the tee & that it faces down because water will be pumping out it while filling the sump. 2. Fill into display, if that's high enough. 3. Run a piece of pcv from sump up behind display & dump your RO line in there. Makes a funnel to the sump.