ATO backsiphoning

[jharding08]

I have my ATO set up with a Aqualifter tied to a 5 gallon water reservoir and then into my sump. I use a float switch on my Apex to control the timing.

I noticed that when the outlet for the ATO turns off, that the water will still drip out of the outlet. I believe this is because the water reservoir is full and is sitting higher than the sump. Once I put the reservoir on the ground, the back siphoning stops.

I wasnt aware that aqualifters can create a siphon. I thought there was a valve effect in its mechanics.

If I wanted to keep my water reservoir in the cabinet where it is elevated, how could I prevent the back siphoning when the reservoir is full? The outlet is not under water in the sump.

[ggk1988]

Can you add a check valve to your ATO water line?

[jharding08]

Not sure they have one for flex airline tubing, unless something like this would work -

http://www.marinedepot.com/Dennerle_...FICOCV-vi.html

[fishgate]

That is a dangerous setup you are asking for trouble.

[4Hummer]

Its not the Aqua Lifter creating a siphon it's Gravity doing it.

Just place your Aqua Lifter Higher than the water in either the sump or fresh water container, and have your return hose OUT of the water where it goes into the sump.
This should force the water in the air line to drain into the Fresh Water container when the Pump goes off, and stop the siphon

[julie180]

Originally Posted by 4Hummer

Its not the Aqua Lifter creating a siphon it's Gravity doing it.

Just place your Aqua Lifter Higher than the water in either the sump or fresh water container, and have your return hose OUT of the water where it goes into the sump.
This should force the water in the air line to drain into the Fresh Water container when the Pump goes off, and stop the siphon

Yah, what he/she said

[danil]

I think last few posts didn't get it right. The problem wasn't in back siphon but rather 'forward' one. He need to stop RO flowing in the tank.
You have few option here.
1. If you tank is small you can use dosing pump. They prevent siphoning.
2. Find the place and put your RO container below your tank water line.
3. Use 12V solenoid switch. This set up needs some work though. The relay has to be paired with your ATO motor and open solenoid valve.
4. You can use T trick. You can make tube loop above your RO container and install T connector with open end above it.
Easiest way - lower your RO container.

[edsbeaker]

You don't need to lower your reservoir, you just need to get creative and raise the outlet from your ATO!

I needed to get creative when I had a similar issue. What I did was put a long piece of PVC pipe standing upright in my sump, drilled a hole about 2" from the top slightly smaller then my tubing from the ATO, and stuffed the tubing into that so that it was secure. The outlet for the ATO is now higher then the water level in my reservoir. No more problem!

My situation was much more extreme then yours. My sump is in my basement and my ATO container is in the crawl space behind it, and 6 feet above it. My PVC pipe is 7 feet high since my ATO reservoir is 6 feet above my sump. Just make sure that your tubing is aimed downward into the PVC pipe!

[Uncle Salty 05]

"I needed to get creative when I had a similar issue. What I did was put a long piece of PVC pipe standing upright in my sump, drilled a hole about 2" from the top slightly smaller then my tubing from the ATO, and stuffed the tubing into that so that it was secure. The outlet for the ATO is now higher then the water level in my reservoir. No more problem!"

This is the way to go if using an aqaualifter for your ATO.
As long as the outlet is higher than the surface in the full reservoir the siphon will stop when the pump turns off.

[jharding08]

Originally Posted by Uncle Salty 05

"I needed to get creative when I had a similar issue. What I did was put a long piece of PVC pipe standing upright in my sump, drilled a hole about 2" from the top slightly smaller then my tubing from the ATO, and stuffed the tubing into that so that it was secure. The outlet for the ATO is now higher then the water level in my reservoir. No more problem!"

This is the way to go if using an aqaualifter for your ATO.
As long as the outlet is higher than the surface in the full reservoir the siphon will stop when the pump turns off.

This is what I am going to do. I have plenty of height in the stand and some 1/2" PVC. Just to confirm, its the height of the output tube from the aqualifter, not the aqualifter itself., right?

[Uncle Salty 05]

Originally Posted by jharding08

This is what I am going to do. I have plenty of height in the stand and some 1/2" PVC. Just to confirm, its the height of the output tube from the aqualifter, not the aqualifter itself., right?

Correct.

[edsbeaker]

Originally Posted by jharding08

This is what I am going to do. I have plenty of height in the stand and some 1/2" PVC. Just to confirm, its the height of the output tube from the aqualifter, not the aqualifter itself., right?

Yes! The only thing you need to worry about is that the outlet from the ATO tubing will always be higher then the highest water level that you will ever have in your ATO container. It makes no difference where the aqua lifter itself is.

Also try not to make the hole in the PVC too close to the top of the PVC pipe. I had an issue with some water squirting out the top. My hole is about 2" down and the tubing is pushed in far enough that it is hitting the inside wall of the pvc and being forced to aim downward.

[Uncle Salty 05]

And remember if you are pumping kalkwasser you will need to run vinegar through the tubing and pump monthly.

[rworegon]

Or you could eliminate the pump all together. If your ATO reservoir is above your sump you could just use a float switch and let gravity do the work. Keep it simple.

[Uncle Salty 05]

Originally Posted by rworegon

Or you could eliminate the pump all together. If your ATO reservoir is above your sump you could just use a float switch and let gravity do the work. Keep it simple.

I wouldn't advise it.

[NTP66]

Originally Posted by danil

4. You can use T trick. You can make tube loop above your RO container and install T connector with open end above it.
Easiest way - lower your RO container.

I tried this a few weeks ago before going on vacation, and had no success. No matter what I did (length of tubing, etc.), the siphon would run until I manually intervened. I was trying to use a full 32g Brute filled with RO water, which was always going to be significantly higher than any other point in my sump, and didn't want to go other routes like placing a 4' tall PVC tube pipe in the sup and discharging at the top.

[edsbeaker]

Originally Posted by NTP66

I tried this a few weeks ago before going on vacation, and had no success. No matter what I did (length of tubing, etc.), the siphon would run until I manually intervened. I was trying to use a full 32g Brute filled with RO water, which was always going to be significantly higher than any other point in my sump, and didn't want to go other routes like placing a 4' tall PVC tube pipe in the sup and discharging at the top.

The only reason it wouldn't work is if your outlet height was at any time lower then your water level. That is what causes the siphon. Nothing else matters, length of tubing, height of pump, etc. The whole thing depends on that outlet height ALWAYS being above the ATO water level when that pump stops.

I have the top of my 40G brute reservoir 6 feet higher then my sump. It's in a crawl space, while the sump is 6 feet below it in the full basement. PVC is 7 feet tall. The outlet just needs to be above the highest water level of your ATO container.