auto top off/back siphon ???

[Dowtish]

So I just hooked up a jbj ato, and the pump is in a 15 gallon tank right next to my sump. It has a small maxijet pump, and I am running it on mode b. which means both float switches are in the sump. one for a maximum level and one for a minimum level. I had to put the hose at least a foot above the water level just so it won't back siphon. Someone suggested an aqualifter pump instead, but from everything I have read about jbj's is that they don't perform the way the should. Is there a better way to do this or any other suggestions? I would really rather have the hose a little closer to the water level to avoid splashing.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Hmm that seems about normal to me. Or least what I have always had to do.

 

[findad]

run a bigger pipehose from the end of your ato line down to the water line in the sump. where your ato ling goes into the "drain pipe" will break the siphon so it doesn't suck your top off tank dry, and you can put the other end as close to the water as you want (I guess you could put it under water?) to minimize the splash

 

[JackoChang]

I ziptied mine right above the water line, I used to get the back-siphon as well.

 

[jaysauce]

I've been using an autolifter with my JBJ for over a year and haven't had any problems. I have mine setup similar to yours except with smaller tubing. I stuck the end of my hose in PVC pipe to prevent splashing.

 

[slugwall]

I've been using an autolifter with my JBJ for over a year and haven't had any problems. I have mine setup similar to yours except with smaller tubing. I stuck the end of my hose in PVC pipe to prevent splashing.

What a great idea!!! Thanks

 

[ToXIc]

is there a check valve big enough for the tube you're using?

i have a tunze and it uses the small airline size tubing so i places a small check valve to prevent siphoning

 

[Dowtish]

Well, this morning it was just a half inch from initiating power, so I helped it along, and it turned on, filled and cut off and immediately broke siphon, with no splashing, it's only on for maybe 3 seconds, so this might work as long as the hose never moves...never:neutral:

 

[dccordell]

If the output of the pump is lower than the level of the water in your top-off water container, the water will continue to flow once the pump turns off, as you now know. I use an aqualifter but it's the same idea with any pump. Check valves are risky and will eventually give you wet floors. Do as suggested above and right where you have the end of your hose in the sump, put a piece of rigid pvc pipe that is slightly bigger than your hose all the way down into the sump water level, so that the hose will go down in it a couple inches or more. That will channel the water down to the sump water level without splashing, and will break the siphon when the pump stops.

Make sure your green hose there stays above the water line in your top-off water tank, or else it will siphon until the top-off water level drops below the bottom of the green hose. Hope that makes sense...