How do you prevent a syphon?
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Mebbid
Aquarium Advice Addict
How does your ato work?
Grizz
Aquarium Advice Addict
My old system had the same problem I plumbed the the ATO into a HOB filter box that then dumped into the sump. I did need to raise the filter box up so it sat even with the ATO res.
chenzo9999
Aquarium Advice Freak
I ran a piece of 1/2 PVC about a quarter inch off the bottom of my sump. The PVC is taller than my top off container. I then use narrow tubing from my ato pump to just inside the PVC. It is about two inches into the PVC.
The water runs down the PVC, but since the pump tubing is narrower it doesn't seal - no siphon
The water runs down the PVC, but since the pump tubing is narrower it doesn't seal - no siphon
Gti_Leo
Aquarium Advice Addict
drill a hole in the tubing or pipe and superglue a check valve in it but put it so that the water can't go out but when you get a siphon that pulls it'll open and pull in air and break the siphon
chenzo9999
Aquarium Advice Freak
I don't think a check valve will work in this case because the siphon flow and the pump flow would be the same direction.
Gti_Leo
Aquarium Advice Addict
sure it would it'll send air into the line which will block out the syphon whichever way it is. one the water stops pushing and starts pulling the valve will open sending air in. its easier to pull air then water
you could also just raise the sump slightly higher then the ATO tank and keep the hose or pipe out of the water so the water just falls back and sucks air
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Mebbid
Aquarium Advice Addict
Wow. A ton of suggestions and we don't even know the specific set up...
Assuming its a gravity fed ato with 1 hose leading to the sump I can see where your problem lies. A successful ato system needs two hoses. 1 in the bottom of the resivoir to feed water into the sump and another hose coming out of the top of the container. Keep the top hose where you want your fill line to be and the water line closer to the bottom.
When the water level drops below the top hose it allows air to flow through letting the water flow into the sump until the water level reaches the top tube.
The bucket has to be air tight for this to work.
Assuming its a gravity fed ato with 1 hose leading to the sump I can see where your problem lies. A successful ato system needs two hoses. 1 in the bottom of the resivoir to feed water into the sump and another hose coming out of the top of the container. Keep the top hose where you want your fill line to be and the water line closer to the bottom.
When the water level drops below the top hose it allows air to flow through letting the water flow into the sump until the water level reaches the top tube.
The bucket has to be air tight for this to work.
chenzo9999
Aquarium Advice Freak
Sorry - I had a gate or ball check valve in my mind. I have never used an air one.
This is the same thing I accomplish with my small piece of PVC. I just didn't have the room to raise the sump any.
Yikes! Gravity fed ATO. That's playing with fire... I mean water... Well, you know.
Upgrade to a proper ATO.
Also, not trying to nitpick here but, what you describe holds a very good chance of fouling your ATO water with a reverse syphon if great care is not taken. Maybe I am envisioning it incorrectly?
thank you guys for trying to help.
(forget about top offs and everything that might confuse you)
i was thinking of using 1/2" pvc and like chenzo9999 having it go into a 3/4" pvc to let air in and stop the syphon. will that be messy? and most important will it work 100times out of 100?
(forget about top offs and everything that might confuse you)
i was thinking of using 1/2" pvc and like chenzo9999 having it go into a 3/4" pvc to let air in and stop the syphon. will that be messy? and most important will it work 100times out of 100?
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Mebbid
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yikes! Gravity fed ATO. That's playing with fire... I mean water... Well, you know.
Upgrade to a proper ATO.
Also, not trying to nitpick here but, what you describe holds a very good chance of fouling your ATO water with a reverse syphon if great care is not taken. Maybe I am envisioning it incorrectly?
Actually, from what I understand of the mechanics of it it's a pretty sound concept. I don't run it personally but I don't see any real chance for there to be a back siphon into the supply. It's hard to explain without pictures. I'll draw a pic of what I mean when I get a chance.
Mebbid
Aquarium Advice Addict
The siphon is pulling water into the ATO from the refugium correct?
If that's the case then this is the way to solve it.
If that's the case then this is the way to solve it.
jeffaquarius
Aquarium Advice Addict
That configuration is the opposite to what he got. The sump water level is below the ato containe level. To make it simple use an Aqua Lifter instead of a regular pump. You mount it outside above the ato container to stop the siphon.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aaqua%20lifter
Or you can just cut the end of the tube as short as possible.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aaqua%20lifter
Or you can just cut the end of the tube as short as possible.
Gti_Leo
Aquarium Advice Addict
this. if the level of the outlet is below the waterlevel in the ATO tank then the water will fall and keep sucking the water out, if the level is higher you shouldn't have any real issues with pressures pulling down on the outlet side
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