ATO back siphon into holding Container

praveen956 · 09/29/2017, 12:39 PM

Please help me understand this.

1. I setup Tunze osmolator few days back with a 5 gallon freshwater container into the display tank.
2. The tube was inside the water in display tank.
3. When the electricity went out, the water from the display tank started siphoning into the holding container.

I dont understand how did the water started siphoning into the holding container while it positioned much lower than the DT.

Wazzel · 09/29/2017, 01:11 PM

Centrifugal pumps are not sealed pumps. When not pumping the water will back flow through the line if the outlet end is submerged. It has been doing that since you set it up. It is just when the water dropped the pump kicked back on and retopped the tank. Simple fix is to get the outlet side out of your tank. Another option is a check valve. There are some 1/4" guest style out there for about $10 each. I use a check valve since my osmolator feeds my kalk stirrer.

LQT · 09/29/2017, 01:52 PM

DO NOT submerge the ATO tube into the display tank. By keeping the tube submerged, you are not providing a siphon break, thus when the ATO pump turns off, water will follow the path of least resistance (gravity) back down to your ATO reservoir. Elevate the ATO tube above the waterline in your display tank and the problem will be solved.

newbie2014 · 09/30/2017, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by praveen956

Please help me understand this.

1. I setup Tunze osmolator few days back with a 5 gallon freshwater container into the display tank.
2. The tube was inside the water in display tank.
3. When the electricity went out, the water from the display tank started siphoning into the holding container.

I dont understand how did the water started siphoning into the holding container while it positioned much lower than the DT.

I'm surprised that you haven't noticed that your ATO pump has been going on and off every couple minutes since you set it up. Even more amazing that your ATO reservoir has not overflowed.

My ATO jug overflowed 15 mins after I set it up. That's when I realized I was an idiot...........

ca1ore · 09/30/2017, 06:58 AM

It's been true since the formation of the universe and the setting of rules for the physical world that water will siphon from a higher vessel to a lower one unless there's ....... Wait for it ...... a siphon break. Either raise the end of the tube out of the water (best) or use a check valve.

praveen956 · 09/30/2017, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbie2014

I'm surprised that you haven't noticed that your ATO pump has been going on and off every couple minutes since you set it up. Even more amazing that your ATO reservoir has not overflowed.

My ATO jug overflowed 15 mins after I set it up. That's when I realized I was an idiot...........

OMG.. I figured out about the back siphon shortly after posting here. but it did not make sense at all that this back siphon did not happen in the past few days the ATO was active. So looks like the water was siphoning out into the ATO container that has triggered the pump to push water back into the aquarium. Finally when I turned off the ATO for maintenance, the cycle broke and the back siphon kept going.

Corrected my mistake and kept the tube above the water line. Will install a check valve as well in few days.

Thanks for the input.

praveen956 · 09/30/2017, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

It's been true since the formation of the universe and the setting of rules for the physical world that water will siphon from a higher vessel to a lower one unless there's ....... Wait for it ...... a siphon break. Either raise the end of the tube out of the water (best) or use a check valve.

LOL. Got it

praveen956 · 09/30/2017, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LQT

DO NOT submerge the ATO tube into the display tank. By keeping the tube submerged, you are not providing a siphon break, thus when the ATO pump turns off, water will follow the path of least resistance (gravity) back down to your ATO reservoir. Elevate the ATO tube above the waterline in your display tank and the problem will be solved.

Thank you. Corrected it..

Mike Ordner · 09/30/2017, 04:56 PM

If the tube is above the water line you do not need a check valve. Just make sure the water level in your ATO is lower than water level in DT. Keep it as simple as possible.

09/29/2017, 12:39 PM	#1
praveen956 Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 127	ATO back siphon into holding Container Please help me understand this. 1. I setup Tunze osmolator few days back with a 5 gallon freshwater container into the display tank. 2. The tube was inside the water in display tank. 3. When the electricity went out, the water from the display tank started siphoning into the holding container. I dont understand how did the water started siphoning into the holding container while it positioned much lower than the DT.

09/29/2017, 01:11 PM	#2
Wazzel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 4,743	Centrifugal pumps are not sealed pumps. When not pumping the water will back flow through the line if the outlet end is submerged. It has been doing that since you set it up. It is just when the water dropped the pump kicked back on and retopped the tank. Simple fix is to get the outlet side out of your tank. Another option is a check valve. There are some 1/4" guest style out there for about $10 each. I use a check valve since my osmolator feeds my kalk stirrer. __________________ Mark Beware the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it's a train. Current Tank Info: 120, LED, Bare Bottom, SPS/LPS

09/29/2017, 01:52 PM	#3
LQT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 1,516	DO NOT submerge the ATO tube into the display tank. By keeping the tube submerged, you are not providing a siphon break, thus when the ATO pump turns off, water will follow the path of least resistance (gravity) back down to your ATO reservoir. Elevate the ATO tube above the waterline in your display tank and the problem will be solved. __________________ - Leon (aka - Water Dog) Deep Blue 57 Edge ATI Acro Garden Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25573384#post25573384 Current Tank Info: DeepBlue 57 Edge

09/30/2017, 06:58 AM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	It's been true since the formation of the universe and the setting of rules for the physical world that water will siphon from a higher vessel to a lower one unless there's ....... Wait for it ...... a siphon break. Either raise the end of the tube out of the water (best) or use a check valve. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/30/2017, 04:56 PM	#9
Mike Ordner Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 415	If the tube is above the water line you do not need a check valve. Just make sure the water level in your ATO is lower than water level in DT. Keep it as simple as possible.