Auto Top Off advice please

dave_C · #1 08-01-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gridley

We are working on our first tank and have just set up our ATO. We bought an ELOS system. In our test run, the pump worked fine, shut off and then the water continued to siphon from the ATO tank through the tube and into the sump. If I understand the dynamics of water, I would have to have the discharge of the tube above the water level in the ATO.

Is that correct?

That being the case, I would have to have the discharge from the tube quite high which would, I think, result in considerable splash. How do others get around this situation?

Thanks

You can also cut a little hole in the hose near the top of your holding tank

this will give you a siphon break

Thanks Dave

gridley · #2 08-01-2012, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave@conceptaquatics

You can also cut a little hole in the hose near the top of your holding tank

this will give you a siphon break

Thanks Dave

When you say "cut a little hole" - how small of a hole would this be?

Seriak · #3 08-01-2012, 04:03 PM

It can be very small as it only needs to let a little air in. Make sure it doesn't get clogged with anything though. I just ran my ATO up to my overflow. It works great.

Spyd · #4 08-01-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seriak

It can be very small as it only needs to let a little air in. Make sure it doesn't get clogged with anything though. I just ran my ATO up to my overflow. It works great.

I agree. This is an easy fix. Just a small hole at the top of the holding tank will allow air into the tube and stop the syphon.

Leon71 · #5 08-01-2012, 06:15 PM

Have a good look at the picture above. It doesn't get any easier than that. Why take the time to drill a tiny hole in 1/4" tubing and risk the possibility of it plugging and then you are back to square one.

Just my 2 cents. Leon

gridley · #6 08-02-2012, 11:35 PM

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and ideas. Because I had already run the line I decided that the simplist solution was to drill a small hole in the line as a siphon break. This seems to have worked perfetly - total time involved was less than a minute. Thanks Dave for the advice.

gregzz4 · #7 08-03-2012, 03:36 AM

I hope it works out