problem with top-off

[mathman]

I have a 30 gallon trash can in the adjacent room that I am using for top-off. I bought a ultralife floatswitch and a aqualift pump to refill the sump. The problem is when the pump turns off, the water keeps coming because it has created a siphon.

I thought of pumping up into the main tank but the aqualift and a little rio 90 that I had cannot pump that high. I do have a stronger maxijet pump I could try, but I don't want to add my top-off so fast because it is mixed with lime. Also, I would rather not add to the main tank if I don't have to.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Zack

 

[jgsensor]

I haven't hooked up my auto top off yet so I am only guessing here, not speaking from experience. One you could install the top off line above the water line. However you would hear the fill water. i think the best bet to try would be using a PVC T and cap the T. Then drill a small hole in the cap and mount this section at the highest point of the top off line. It should act just like a durso pipe - when the pump stops the small air hole should break the siphon.

 

[®eefer]

My Aqualifter does not seem to allow a siphon, but you can get a check valve for little lines for about a buck.

 

[golfish]

Zack, your asking for trouble using a powerhead contolled by a float switch..been there flooded that..just anothe reason to use a peristalic pump (dosing pump) you can't start a siphon.

Try adding a tee in the line above the water level in the trash can (I though you had one of my drums?) and run the extra line up high enough so water only goes to the sump...when the pump stops the siphon should break.

Call me if you need more info.

Mark

 

[mathman]

Thanks for the replies. I will try the tee in the trash can idea.

Mark- I definitely want to hang out soon. The aqualift pump is a slow trickle pump and that is what I would like to use for my top-off. The trash can is 30 gal. and my sump is 60 gal. so I figure if I set my float level to halfway in my sump it could stick on and I still wouldn't overflow. I do have the barrell you gave me but this is in a tiny stall shower with my ro unit and my calcium reactor so there was no room for anything larger. After the remodel I was supposed to get the whole bathroom for a fishroom but now my wife still wants to use it so all I got was the stall shower.

 

[TearDrop]

I had the same problem. All I did was raise the outlet hose above the water line so that a back siphon could not start. After I did that I had no problems.