ATO siphoning water

m0nkie · 05/23/2014, 01:35 AM

I think my Tunze ATO is siphoning water out of my water reservoir. Not 100% sure but please help.

I set up the Tunze ATO. Eyes and float valve the way they should be. The thing works great. I tested several times, once water level drops, it will pump. However, after I hear the pump stop, I can see the water flowing through the black tube still. It wouldn't stop until I pull the tube out of the motor.

several times the tube fills until my ATO alarm rings.

here's the placement. The reservoir is outside next to the sump. The ATO is placed halfway in the sump, about 9" from floor. The ATO pump is at bottom of reservoir. Please ignore the wire management.. still working on it. The thick black tube is the water inlet

this is when pump is off.. water still keeps coming

Is it back siphoning?

The water tube is not under sump water level. It's hanging in the air.
Should i shorten the tube distance? it's full length from box.

thanks

m0nkie · 05/23/2014, 01:56 AM

edit: the only way to stop the water is by pulling the pump out of the water reservoir for air to get inside. Or by pulling the tube out of pump

m0nkie · 05/23/2014, 02:04 AM

I'm thinking maybe I can drill the tube above the pump. Keep that hole somewhere in the reservoir but never in the water. Prevent siphon back into the sump.

Anyone got better idea?

ndolf · 05/23/2014, 04:05 AM

This would only work with a big IF.
1. Only if the hole is much smaller and most water will still be pushed to your sump.
2. Only if the hole is not too small that the siphon would suck air bubbles and still siphoning water from your reservoir(with air bubbles this time)

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0nkie

I'm thinking maybe I can drill the tube above the pump. Keep that hole somewhere in the reservoir but never in the water. Prevent siphon back into the sump.

Anyone got better idea?

Mark9 · 05/23/2014, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0nkie

I think my Tunze ATO is siphoning water out of my water reservoir. Not 100% sure but please help.

I set up the Tunze ATO. Eyes and float valve the way they should be. The thing works great. I tested several times, once water level drops, it will pump. However, after I hear the pump stop, I can see the water flowing through the black tube still. It wouldn't stop until I pull the tube out of the motor.

several times the tube fills until my ATO alarm rings.

Is it back siphoning?

The water tube is not under sump water level. It's hanging in the air.
Should i shorten the tube distance? it's full length from box.

thanks

I had this same issue.
Basically, the water level in my reservoir was too high compared to the sump level.
Raise the end of the fill tube a bit higher if you can and mark a MAX line on the RODI bucket .
As long as i didn't fill my RODI bucket past the max line, water did not continue to flow when the pump was off.

ndolf · 05/23/2014, 05:44 AM

Base on Mark's comment, this is what I think would work great for you. See attached picture. Basically you can add a PVC tube that is as high as your reservoir. And attach your fill tube all the way up in the PVC tube(higher than your reservoir. And that way, it is always too high to activate siphon and you have full use of your reservoir. Note I am assuming your height/clearance under your tank is higher than your reservoir and you might need to adjust that. Also, MAKE SURE your pvc pipe is raised from the bottom of the tank or drilled or something that allows to water to flow to the sump and not overflow inside the PVC. Hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark9

I had this same issue.
Basically, the water level in my reservoir was too high compared to the sump level.
Raise the end of the fill tube a bit higher if you can and mark a MAX line on the RODI bucket .
As long as i didn't fill my RODI bucket past the max line, water did not continue to flow when the pump was off.

thegrun · 05/23/2014, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndolf

base on mark's comment, this is what i think would work great for you. See attached picture. Basically you can add a pvc tube that is as high as your reservoir. And attach your fill tube all the way up in the pvc tube(higher than your reservoir. And that way, it is always too high to activate siphon and you have full use of your reservoir. Note i am assuming your height/clearance under your tank is higher than your reservoir and you might need to adjust that. Also, make sure your pvc pipe is raised from the bottom of the tank or drilled or something that allows to water to flow to the sump and not overflow inside the pvc. Hope this helps.

this!!!!!

Mark9 · 05/23/2014, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndolf

Base on Mark's comment, this is what I think would work great for you. See attached picture. Basically you can add a PVC tube that is as high as your reservoir. And attach your fill tube all the way up in the PVC tube(higher than your reservoir. And that way, it is always too high to activate siphon and you have full use of your reservoir. Note I am assuming your height/clearance under your tank is higher than your reservoir and you might need to adjust that. Also, MAKE SURE your pvc pipe is raised from the bottom of the tank or drilled or something that allows to water to flow to the sump and not overflow inside the PVC. Hope this helps.

Nice picture.
I didn't do anything this fancy, I just used a ziptie to connect the ATO water line high up to the return pipe in the sump, pointing down of course.

Whistl3r · 05/23/2014, 08:25 AM

The water is draining due to the water level in the ATO being higher than the end of the drain tube at the sump side as Mark pointed out. If you look at the Tunze instructions you will notice they actually tell you to secure the tube up high at the display (I put mine in my overflow). The above suggestion from ndolf should solve your problem as well.

m0nkie · 05/23/2014, 09:43 AM

Thanks guys! The pvc is great, but my sump has limited space. I will try build a pvc around the stand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndolf

Also, MAKE SURE your pvc pipe is raised from the bottom of the tank or drilled or something that allows to water to flow to the sump and not overflow inside the PVC. Hope this helps.

thanks. almost didn't catch this.. so best is to have the pvc not touch sump water level. how does drilling work? drill small holes at the bottom of pvc and leave it under sump water level?

ndolf · 05/23/2014, 10:40 AM

Maybe I didn't explain this good enough. Here is an updated picture with water level and the two scenario I mentioned. See attached.

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0nkie

Thanks guys! The pvc is great, but my sump has limited space. I will try build a pvc around the stand.

thanks. almost didn't catch this.. so best is to have the pvc not touch sump water level. how does drilling work? drill small holes at the bottom of pvc and leave it under sump water level?

m0nkie · 05/23/2014, 12:36 PM

fully understood now! thanks

m0nkie · 05/23/2014, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m0nkie

fully understood now! thanks

edit: done! problem solved

05/23/2014, 01:35 AM	#1
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	ATO siphoning water I think my Tunze ATO is siphoning water out of my water reservoir. Not 100% sure but please help. I set up the Tunze ATO. Eyes and float valve the way they should be. The thing works great. I tested several times, once water level drops, it will pump. However, after I hear the pump stop, I can see the water flowing through the black tube still. It wouldn't stop until I pull the tube out of the motor. several times the tube fills until my ATO alarm rings. here's the placement. The reservoir is outside next to the sump. The ATO is placed halfway in the sump, about 9" from floor. The ATO pump is at bottom of reservoir. Please ignore the wire management.. still working on it. The thick black tube is the water inlet this is when pump is off.. water still keeps coming Is it back siphoning? The water tube is not under sump water level. It's hanging in the air. Should i shorten the tube distance? it's full length from box. thanks __________________ 560gal in the making Last edited by m0nkie; 05/23/2014 at 01:51 AM.

05/23/2014, 01:56 AM	#2
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	edit: the only way to stop the water is by pulling the pump out of the water reservoir for air to get inside. Or by pulling the tube out of pump __________________ 560gal in the making

05/23/2014, 02:04 AM	#3
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	I'm thinking maybe I can drill the tube above the pump. Keep that hole somewhere in the reservoir but never in the water. Prevent siphon back into the sump. Anyone got better idea? __________________ 560gal in the making

05/23/2014, 12:36 PM	#12
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	fully understood now! thanks __________________ 560gal in the making

05/23/2014, 08:25 AM	#9
Whistl3r Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Dallas, Ga. Posts: 80	The water is draining due to the water level in the ATO being higher than the end of the drain tube at the sump side as Mark pointed out. If you look at the Tunze instructions you will notice they actually tell you to secure the tube up high at the display (I put mine in my overflow). The above suggestion from ndolf should solve your problem as well.