autotop off

[Mrbeachbum2]

Does anyone have photos of their autotop off from autotopoff.com? I'm paranoid of starting a siphon. What tidbits to you wish you knew when setting it up? I'll be using tom's aqualifter pump.

Thanks

 

[Jacuzzi]

Well the directions if thats what there intended to be are not very good so I just figured it out myself and ran a line about 20 inches to my RO container into the pump. Then another air line from the pump into my sump. I am also using the aqualifter pump and just set it up yesterday and it works great. Plugged it in and away it went I just kept an eye on it and tested it and all worked well. Sorry no photos though I dont think you should be concerned about anything as long as you test it.

 

[Fishamatank]

It's pretty easy not to back sipoh siphon. Just don't put the tube / hose in the water.

 

[vikubz]

... and make sure the pump is not higher than the end of the hose. I drilled a small hole in the hose.

 

[sedor]

That is the one annoying thing about aqualifter pumps. Say the tub that spits water in your sump is 2' off the ground, then the top part of the tube that goes into your bucket or whatever has to be lower or even to that otherwise it will siphon (well not really siphon by continue to spit out water until the two water levels are even.

For a while when I had a really big trash can as my RODI container I had a piece of PVC pipe in my sump with the hose attached to the top so that it was the same height as the trash can.

 

[RichardJ]

I don't know if you have purchased yet but I looked at the ones you mentioned in your initial post also. I ended up going with a Kent Marine float valve plumbed to a reservoir. It's connected with 1/4" tubing with a siphon and works very well. The reservoir is designed to hold only the amount of water that can be maintained in the sump in the eventuality of a float valve failure and power outage.. to protect against flooding. Whole thing cost around $20 to set-up and has been trouble-free.

 

[ludnix]

Here's a picture of my setup:

The float switch is on the right and and my pump is in the white resevoir to the left of the sump. There is a maxijet in there which feeds into the tank using the eheim tubing. I also use the top off to dose kalkwasser.

 

[steelhead77]

There have been many threads on this forum that talk about ATO's malfunctioning and flooding the sump, carpet, room etc. Personally, I won't trust one. A simple idiot-proof system is to just hook up a simple pump to your fresh water supply and put it on a manual switch. Flip it on for 10-15 seconds twice a day and you're good to go.

 

[Mrbeachbum2]

Eric, so the bottom float is just attached by a zip tie. Correct? I'm so glad you posted that because when I read the directions I visioned something completely different. Thank you so much

 

[travis32]

I've used a dual float switch system from autotopoff.com for the past 6 to 7 months.

I have not had a single flood due to the float switch's malfunctioning. I did have one flood because a too large of a snail wanted to take an adventure in my J tube overflow. It blocked the flow,so the return pump pumped my DT full of water while the autotop off kicked on to fill the sump as it emptied. THANK GOD I was home and watching the tank when it happened! (Pure coincidence! I normally would have been in bed at that time!)

So, I took matters to control what I could. I put additional neeting over my overflow box to prevent snails from getting curious. I put my auto top off switch on a mechanical timer. (It's only in 15 min increments, would like to get into 1 min or less increments).

This way, even if something were to happen, the top off would only kick on 2 or 3 times a day, whenever I set it, and those times are when I most likely would be home viewing the tanks.

Since taking these precautions. I have not had a single issue with overflows. I've seen snails investigating the overflow box, but not a one has made it inside. so, between the dual float switches and the timer, things have been good!

 

[freeswimmingfis]

I use the autotopoff.com dual float model and have no issues. I did have a chattering relay early on. After an email to them, they suggested I move the float switch bracket to the other side of the sump and away from the return pump. It was right on top of a Mag 9.5 in the sump and very close to the external Little Giant 4-MDQX-SC I use for the skimmer. The EMF from the pump(s) were causing the relay to chatter. Chattering stopped as soon as I moved it. Been running it for about 8 months now.
I use an Aqualifter for the pump.

 

[JoshuaG]

I have the dual float from them as well, the only issue I have is the bracket is not very sturdy. When I tighten is down the bracket just flexes so I can't get a good bite. It has already come detached from from sump twice now and that makes me a little worried.

 

[JTL]

I use a double float switch and a regular pump. To be safe I pump the water into my overflow box above the water line, that way it cannot start a syphon. If you do it right the chances of a flood are nil. I also use my ATO as a means to add Kalkwasser.

 

[MCCOOL]

I also have an ATO from autotopoff.com, I have not had any issues with it at all. shipping was very fast, and for the price I don't think it can be beat. I use an aqualifter as well.