Ato siphoning. Help

[Wagonpitt]

My ato pump sits at the bottom of the brute container beside my stand. The ato output is at the top trim of my sump inside stand. It goes up the brute through the lid of the brute. Through the back of my stand and down to top of my sump.

Any idea how to stop siphon from happening. I thought that because the pump in the brute is lower then the output it shouldnt back siphon but im pretty sure im getting this wrong

 

[rtparty]

Is the output of the ATO under water? If so, that is your issue

 

[Sk8r]

The sump has 2 water levels: pump on and pump off. do not allow the end of the delivery tube to touch the water at EITHER extreme. If it's any consolation, I learned that one the hard way.

 

[Wagonpitt]

The output is at the top of my sump cliped onto the trim of the sump tank. Aprox 6in above sump water



First pic is ato output coming through back of stand to top of sump.
Second pic is ato hose from top of brute lide leading to back of stand.

 

[Smokey Stover]

The water level in that sump looks pretty high already, Will it contain any back flow from the pipes to the DT should the power to your return pump be interupted?

 

[Wagonpitt]

Pic inside stand of ato output. Didnt come through on last post

 

[Smokey Stover]

Oh, If the water level in the brute is higher than the end of the ATO fill line, Once a siphon has started it will want to keep flowing until they're equal. Not sure if the pump should close when off, Or not.Maybe a check valve, Or BFPV is needed for that much volume of water above the sump.

There's yer problem it's laying on its side. lol (Just had to)

 

[Wagonpitt]

The water level in that sump looks pretty high already, Will it contain any back flow from the pipes to the DT should the power to your return pump be interupted?

The water in refugium and return chamber are only about half way up. Admitedly though if a back siphon were to happen id get a gallon or too overflooding. This is because my return output is too deep in water in my dt and i just need to raise it about an inch but to do that i need to buy a piece of pvc to raise it up a little higher. And i think you may have been looking at water level in first compartment where skimmer is. There its about 1 inch from top. But refugium and return chamber there is room for back siphon from return.

Back to topic though ato back siphon.

 

[Smokey Stover]

Maybe cut the fill line above the water level in the brute and have it flow into a piece of PVC the rest of the way so air will break the siphon.

 

[Wagonpitt]

Oh, If the water level in the brute is higher than the end of the ATO fill line, Once a siphon has started it will want to keep flowing until they're equal. Not sure if the pump should close when off, Or not.Maybe a check valve, Or BFPV is needed for that much volume of water above the sump.

There's yer problem it's laying on its side. lol (Just had to)

Lol i dont know why the pics flip.


So because the end of my ato hose is lower then the top of the water in my brute can that is the reason im getting a back siphon. Therefore i either need less water in my brute can or need to raise output hose higher inside of my stand. Or use check valve. Or whatever bfpv is. Am i getting this right ? Im an adult but sometime need things explained like a kid lol.

 

[heathlindner25]

In some of the pictures your tank is sideways and upside down? That could be the problem.

 

[Wagonpitt]

Sorry what is bfpv. I tried google. I think backfllow prevention valve lol but thats complete guess. Isnt that what a checkvalve is ?

 

[Wagonpitt]

In some of the pictures your tank is sideways and upside down? That could be the problem.

I think upside down is fine. Its the sideways thats really scary

 

[ljosh]

I had the same problem. Brute can water level was higher than my sump. I moved the Ato line to the dt instead.

 

[Wagonpitt]

Thanks josh ill consider that since i could hide it behind my overflow corner and it wouldnt be visible in the tank. Still trying to find a way to keep it in the stand but if nothing else i think id rather feed it up into my overflow box then have to hear it trickle down pvc inside my stand.

 

[ljosh]

Just make sure the tip of the line isn't submerged in display and securely attached