How to break siphon on a auto top off?

Norboo · 12/19/2006, 10:09 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank with a pump sitting next to the sump. When the auto top off turns on and off, siphon never breaks.

I thought about adding a T but that will spill water over the T.

Any ideas? Thanks.

amike5 · 12/19/2006, 10:20 PM

Place the holding container lower than the sump. If you can't, install a float valve and rid of the pump. If your container of FW is higher than your sump why do you need a pump? Just install a float valve and let gravity do its job.

Norboo · 12/19/2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amike5
Place the holding container lower than the sump. If you can't, install a float valve and rid of the pump. If your container of FW is higher than your sump why do you need a pump? Just install a float valve and let gravity do its job.

30 gallon tank is the FW tank and it sit next to the sump in the stand.

drummereef · 12/19/2006, 11:39 PM

I think they meant the fresh water reservoir can sit next to the sump but the water level in it must not be higher than the sumps water level. Thus would cause a siphon.

drummereef · 12/19/2006, 11:39 PM

...

beaniebeagle · 12/20/2006, 12:54 PM

there's a few ways to do this

get a longer piece of tubing, clamp it to higher portion in your stand, have the piece at the end hang just a few inches above the water line in your sump. no worrying about any siphon to break

other way, especially if your tubing is flexible and may move when the pump is on. have a stiff piece of pvc pipe that is wider than the diameter of your tubing. set it up so that the flexible tubing is inside the stiffer tubing a little bit so that you can secure it. then the water flows down the stiffer tubing by gravity after it leaves your flexible tubing

or make a "T" with wider tubing, so that the resistance after it leaves your flexible tubing is decreased and wont push it up and over the upper part of the "T"

Norboo · 12/20/2006, 09:29 PM

thanks. I will give it a try

12/19/2006, 10:09 PM	#1
Norboo Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Annandale, VA Posts: 368	How to break siphon on a auto top off? I have a 30 gallon tank with a pump sitting next to the sump. When the auto top off turns on and off, siphon never breaks. I thought about adding a T but that will spill water over the T. Any ideas? Thanks. __________________ I'll try anything once...well, almost anything.

12/19/2006, 11:39 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I think they meant the fresh water reservoir can sit next to the sump but the water level in it must not be higher than the sumps water level. Thus would cause a siphon. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

12/19/2006, 11:39 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	... __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

12/20/2006, 12:54 PM	#6
beaniebeagle Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: baltimore md Posts: 387	there's a few ways to do this get a longer piece of tubing, clamp it to higher portion in your stand, have the piece at the end hang just a few inches above the water line in your sump. no worrying about any siphon to break other way, especially if your tubing is flexible and may move when the pump is on. have a stiff piece of pvc pipe that is wider than the diameter of your tubing. set it up so that the flexible tubing is inside the stiffer tubing a little bit so that you can secure it. then the water flows down the stiffer tubing by gravity after it leaves your flexible tubing or make a "T" with wider tubing, so that the resistance after it leaves your flexible tubing is decreased and wont push it up and over the upper part of the "T" __________________ stupid questions do not exist, just too many stupid people Current Tank Info: 120g,1260 eheim,reef octo skimmer,vortechs x2,tek 8X54w, 2 false percs,1 bartlett anthia, 1 baby mandarin, 2 purple firefish, 2 green gobies, 1 citron goby, 1 bengai cardinal

12/20/2006, 09:29 PM	#7
Norboo Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Annandale, VA Posts: 368	thanks. I will give it a try __________________ I'll try anything once...well, almost anything.

12/19/2006, 10:20 PM	#2
amike5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 724	Place the holding container lower than the sump. If you can't, install a float valve and rid of the pump. If your container of FW is higher than your sump why do you need a pump? Just install a float valve and let gravity do its job.