I want to hook up my RO unit to a top off in my tank sump (which is under the stand). My RO unit is in the basement and about 35 ft away from my first floor tank. It also has to go up 10' to get to the first floor tank. I would prefer not to get any additional pumps. Is anyone running that much hose out of their RO unit? Will it work?
RO is along way from the tank
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der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
It'll work fine.
Dave VG
New member
naprestsleep
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Are you going to plumb the RO directly to the sump for top off or separate top off container?
wetbehindears
New member
Like they said.
Mine is 2 stories and 25ft away and works great.
Mine is 2 stories and 25ft away and works great.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I gotta chime in.
This isn't a good idea.
Most ATO failures that occur happen when an RO is plumbed directly to the aquarium system. Run RO to a collection container and place the ATO between the collection container and the aquarium.
naprestsleep
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x2 on Gary comment. That is why I asked you how you were planning to do it.
acdraindrps
New member
+1:beer:
+4 with Gary.
Another reason to use a collection container is tds creep. Typically tds is higher when ro flow starts. Running larger amounts at a time miinimizes this effect..
It should handle 35 ft pretty well. I tee mine off to a collection container about 20 feet away and to a sink upstairs in the kitchen. I use a 3 gallon jug with a bladder in it made for ro units for the upstairs part.
Another reason to use a collection container is tds creep. Typically tds is higher when ro flow starts. Running larger amounts at a time miinimizes this effect..
It should handle 35 ft pretty well. I tee mine off to a collection container about 20 feet away and to a sink upstairs in the kitchen. I use a 3 gallon jug with a bladder in it made for ro units for the upstairs part.
cardiffgiant
Active member
Mine runs about 40 feet in my basement. No issues. I'm filling my washing machine with the RO waste water at this very moment 
Great points against auto top off directly from the RO in terms of risk and water quality.
Great points against auto top off directly from the RO in terms of risk and water quality.
Based on everyones imput I had planned to go from my RO to a 5 gallon pail with a float switch. Then have a pump in the pail with a hose that goes up thru the floor to the sump. In the sump there would be another float switch. I called BRS to get what I needed. I told him I have a Level -Loc top off for my water change barrel. He said just use the Level-Loc in the sump and run the RO right to that. Usually they give me very good advice but that contradicts what you guys are telling, Yes?
naprestsleep
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BRS claims their Level-Loc will not fail due to the multiple and different sensors to start/stop the water. I would still be more comfortable with the way everyone telling you to do it here. If the Leve-Loc does fail you get continuous water into the sump, if the other method fails its 5 gallons max.
If you do the float valve to a 5 gallon bucket, I would recommend a ball valve on the line too, this way you can stop the RO from refilling the bucket after you start using it for top off. Once the buckets low, open the ball valve and when the buckets full the float will shut it off. This is how I do my top of bucket and salt mixing bucket.
If you do the float valve to a 5 gallon bucket, I would recommend a ball valve on the line too, this way you can stop the RO from refilling the bucket after you start using it for top off. Once the buckets low, open the ball valve and when the buckets full the float will shut it off. This is how I do my top of bucket and salt mixing bucket.
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
If you DON'T do this, then having the separate storage tank makes the system no safer!
The BRS level-loc is probably one of the safest ATOs on the market today, I wouldn't hesitate to use it "alone" on an RO/DI line. It has the best kind of redundancy - two completely independent methods to shut the water off (solenoid controlled by electric float switch, plus mechanical float valve). If you're extra worried, just plug the solenoid into an appliance timer and set it to run barely long enough to meet your topoff requirements each day. Then, you mitigate the danger of the float valve AND float switch failing bad, and only expose yourself to danger if the solenoid fails, too (it would be a dark day if your float switch, float valve, and solenoid all failed at once).
naprestsleep
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True, unless your RO supply water is manually turned on/off.
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