ATO Siphon Issue

[Pntbll687]

What about just using another flat valve on the end of the line?

And from the sounds of it, you could just use a gravity feed and not have to even use the osmolater. Just install a flat valve, and it'll stop the siphon by closing, and as water evaporates it opens again.

 

[Jay Z]

I put siphon breaks on mine. But if it gets clogged, you know how that goes.

 

[Marco S]

What about just using another flat valve on the end of the line?

And from the sounds of it, you could just use a gravity feed and not have to even use the osmolater. Just install a flat valve, and it'll stop the siphon by closing, and as water evaporates it opens again.

I thought about that, but the gravity feed would only work until the ATO was a little over half full and then the water level would be even and gravity wouldn't work anymore. I actually have the float that came with the Red Sea for the included ATO so that would have been a good solution if the ATO was higher.

 

[Pntbll687]

I thought about that, but the gravity feed would only work until the ATO was a little over half full and then the water level would be even and gravity wouldn't work anymore. I actually have the float that came with the Red Sea for the included ATO so that would have been a good solution if the ATO was higher.

Just add the float to the current setup. The float will stop the siphon, then when water in the ato gets below the soon point it functions as normal ato

 

[EmptyWallet]

If you simply install the ATO output line slightly above the water line in your sumps return chamber (your sump water level shouldn't be near the top of the tank or it will overflow if the return pump goes off), it can't back syphon and shouldn't splash.

Even if the return pump fails or is turned off lifting the water line above your ATO line to submerge it, the sensor (also in the sump return chamber) would have cut the ATO from pumping in new water before the sump water level raised over your ATO output line

 

[Marco S]

If you simply install the ATO output line slightly above the water line in your sumps return chamber (your sump water level shouldn't be near the top of the tank or it will overflow if the return pump goes off), it can't back syphon and shouldn't splash.

Even if the return pump fails or is turned off lifting the water line above your ATO line to submerge it, the sensor (also in the sump return chamber) would have cut the ATO from pumping in new water before the sump water level raised over your ATO output line

I'm not sure why so many people think I had a, "Back siphon issue". I never said that. My problem was , when the pump kicked on and then stopped because it reached the level of the sensor, the water continued to flow forward, (not backward) from my ATO to my sump because it created a siphon since the water level in the ATO was higher than any point in the sump I could have placed the return hose. Again...the water kept flowing, (forward, not backward) from my ATO into the sump, not from my sump back into the ATO.

Not sure how much clearer I can make that...

Either way though, I have resolved the issue already so thank you to all that replied!

 

[EmptyWallet]

Generally when many people think something based on what you say, it was how you said it in the first place that's the problem.

 

[Marco S]

 

[EmptyWallet]

nice tone pal

all the best

 

[Pntbll687]

I'm not sure why so many people think I had a, "Back siphon issue". I never said that. My problem was , when the pump kicked on and then stopped because it reached the level of the sensor, the water continued to flow forward, (not backward) from my ATO to my sump because it created a siphon since the water level in the ATO was higher than any point in the sump I could have placed the return hose. Again...the water kept flowing, (forward, not backward) from my ATO into the sump, not from my sump back into the ATO.

Not sure how much clearer I can make that...

Either way though, I have resolved the issue already so thank you to all that replied!

I got it, it was pretty clear the way you started it. It was a siphon from ato to the sump.

But ANYWAY ...

how did you correct the issue?

 

[Marco S]

I got it, it was pretty clear the way you started it. It was a siphon from ato to the sump.

But ANYWAY ...

how did you correct the issue?

I already had the return line running up to the DT and my main concern was that the sensor was down in the sump, so I wasn't sure if the amount of time it took for the water level in the return area of the sump to catch up to the additional water being added to the DT would be enough to overfill it to set the alarm off or not. I liked a few of the ideas and had the connector to try the T-Connector with the line running up the tank for air to break the siphon like @Mastiffsrule suggested, but I figured if I had to have a line running up the tank I might as well just leave it as is and not complicate it any more. I did however, move the return line over to the overflow section so it is running directly into the sump like @Journeyman suggested and have been keeping an eye on it. So far it seems to be working fine and has gone off and on several times now with no alarm.

I will keep an eye on it for a while, but I think it will be fine.

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sensor or float Likely the issue

 

[Marco S]

Sensor or float Likely the issue

I am not sure what you are talking about, but the issue was that the water level in the ATO was higher that any point I could have put the return line in the sump so it was causing a siphon. I relocated it to the DT and all is fine now. I never had an issue with the sensor or the float.

 

[Raptor72]

I was experiencing the same thing in my RS 170 when I set it up. I bought a piece of rigid tubing and placed it vertically in the sump with the bottom end just above the water line and the top end above the height of my ATO container. I placed the tip of the ATO line into the rigid tubing and that took care of the issue.

 

[LesPoissons]

Can you use a PVC tube? Mount the top of your line above the water line of your top off tank and put the end of the line in a PVC tube that goes into sump.

 

[Marco S]

@Raptor72 and @Maya Ybry-Yagy ,

Thanks for the replies and the pics! I have it running up to the display for now and it works fine for now, but I will probably end up doing something similar with PVC or some other larger pipe when I have some time this weekend or next.

 

[ukminipainter]

I know this thread is 100000yrs old but I found a solution if anyone is having an issue like this using the Tunze bracket that comes with the ato and some rubber hose

no more syphoning as return line from pump is higher than water line and the rubber hose is low enough to stop splashing etc …… and it’s as solid as a rock