How to avoid a siphon from my ATO?

[kzaveri19]

I am travelling out of country for a couple of weeks. To keep up with evaporation, I bought a large brute trash can to sub as my ATO reservoir. The problem is that the water level in it is above the water level in the sump, which leads to a siphon.

I am thinking of hanging my ATO pump (Tom's aqualifter) from the side of my DT and attaching the output near the overflow on the DT as well.

The sensors (from autotopoff.com) will still be in the sump and will measure evaporation properly.

This of course will be temporary.

Any one try this? Any help will be appreciated?

[Elricsfate]

If the top of the trashcan is lower than the top of the tank, you could simply leave the pump in the can and put the output hose on the back of the DT as proposed. This is likely how I will set mine up permanently, due to the available space to place my reservoir and the height of my sump.

[Potatohead]

Just put some point of the tubing above the level of the water in the reservoir. You can also Tee off another line and run that up higher than the level, and high enough so the AL can't pump out of it, and that will break the siphon.

[farfromsea]

You can also put a long piece of pvc in the sump vertically and put the tubing into it keeping the tubing out of the water yet not letting the water spray everywhere (like a lazy man's shaft/tunnel)

Other idea: zip tie it to something in the sump to keep it above water level


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[ldballoon4]

Good luck on what you choose temporarily to top off during your trip. However, for the future, I suggest investing in a high quality top-off unit such as a Tunze Osmolater. You can thank me later.

[Elricsfate]

Originally Posted by farfromsea

You can also put a long piece of pvc in the sump vertically and put the tubing into it keeping the tubing out of the water yet not letting the water spray everywhere (like a lazy man's shaft/tunnel)

Other idea: zip tie it to something in the sump to keep it above water level


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This is an excellent idea! I may try this. I really want to keep all my stuff in the sump, but where I have to place the reservoir it would be a couple inches taller than the sump. This idea would fix that.

[xabo]

Originally Posted by kzaveri19

I am travelling out of country for a couple of weeks. To keep up with evaporation, I bought a large brute trash can to sub as my ATO reservoir. The problem is that the water level in it is above the water level in the sump, which leads to a siphon.

I am thinking of hanging my ATO pump (Tom's aqualifter) from the side of my DT and attaching the output near the overflow on the DT as well.

The sensors (from autotopoff.com) will still be in the sump and will measure evaporation properly.

This of course will be temporary.

Any one try this? Any help will be appreciated?

I have the tubing from the ATO pump mounted at the top of one of the overflows of the DT with a magnetic probe holder.

[Bluefish9]

Id just toss a cheapo petco pump w/ some vinyl tubing attached into the pail. Plug it into your sensor... DONE


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[125mph]

Originally Posted by Potatohead

Just put some point of the tubing above the level of the water in the reservoir. You can also Tee off another line and run that up higher than the level, and high enough so the AL can't pump out of it, and that will break the siphon.

This does not work.. Simply a point in the tub higher then the reservoir still causes a siphon.. I know cause I made that mistake The key is that the end of the tub needs to be higher than the reservoir.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by farfromsea

You can also put a long piece of pvc in the sump vertically and put the tubing into it keeping the tubing out of the water yet not letting the water spray everywhere (like a lazy man's shaft/tunnel)

Did this for years and it works fine. Output end of ATO hose needs to be higher than the water level in the brute though.

[Potatohead]

Originally Posted by 125mph

This does not work.. Simply a point in the tub higher then the reservoir still causes a siphon.. I know cause I made that mistake The key is that the end of the tub needs to be higher than the reservoir.

I think it depends on how you have it set up. If you are using an in-reservoir pump, you're probably right. I have a diaphragm pump and I looped the output side higher than the feed side and it stops the siphon every time, even with the end of the tube down lower. However I did test it with the output side lower, and it continued to siphon.

Edit - Here's a sweet diagram I made of how mine is, it works fine.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by Potatohead

Ideally there would be a siphon break at the top of your blue line. That is 'works' is fine, but ideally the output end of the blue line would be higher than the highest possible level in the reservoir.

[Potatohead]

Originally Posted by ca1ore

Ideally there would be a siphon break at the top of your blue line. That is 'works' is fine, but ideally the output end of the blue line would be higher than the highest possible level in the reservoir.

I might put one in just to be safer but it has been operating this way for quite a while. I think if anything I'd rather just run the line up and put it into my herbie emergency drain.

[ca1ore]

It's probably the diaphragm pump that's preventing back flow in your case. Acting as a check valve essentially.

[Ryan Peters]

Originally Posted by farfromsea

You can also put a long piece of pvc in the sump vertically and put the tubing into it keeping the tubing out of the water yet not letting the water spray everywhere (like a lazy man's shaft/tunnel)

Other idea: zip tie it to something in the sump to keep it above water level


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I have mine installed like this with Tom aqua lifter. Just insert the smaller tube into larger pipe to break the siphon.