Plumbing Question - Reservoir to Second reservoir syphoning protection

[k2-]

Hello Reefers,
Quick question - My ATO setup is as following

A 240 G water reservoir (I use NSW) which is at an elevation of around 10 ft mounted and plumbed into the garage - I will call it Master reservoir
A small 30 gallon brute tank reservoir which keeps the water heated for water change - I will call it Heated reservoir

Plumbing has ball valves at different sections.

A pump which pulls the water from master reservoir to heated reservoir

Heated reservoir has a float valve which shuts off the pump when water fills up

Question - My trouble is that even though i switch off the pump the master reservoir is syphoning, of course i can shut off the ball valves and it does stop but i am looking for strategies when water is only pulled when i turn the pump on. Any thoughts ?

 

[CasperOe]

Hey here's a daft question!

If the "master" reservoir is located higher up than the "heated" reservoir, why use a pump in the first place? Gravity should surely take care of that for you?

Seems a somewhat complicated way to make your water changes work! Just pull a 1/2" hose/tube from your master to your heated and fit it onto a float - and skip the pump!

If you want, slab on an optical sensor and a solenoid as a backup if the water rises. You can keep your ball valves in place for maintenance purposes etc.

 

[Rtaylor]

Google Siphon break. You just need to install a siphon break. Also agree gravity would work and eliminate the problem.

 

[The_Paradox]

Or ditch the pump and splice in a wye as a siphon break.

 

[k2-]

So sometimes when the tank is empty my guy comes and fills it up , in that case syphon breaks. Been doing it for a few months but since i will be travelling - i dont think my wife will be very keen on manual syphon creation !

 

[Rtaylor]

So sometimes when the tank is empty my guy comes and fills it up , in that case syphon breaks. Been doing it for a few months but since i will be travelling - i dont think my wife will be very keen on manual syphon creation !

Gravity will move the water, you don’t need to create a siphon

 

[k2-]

Gravity will move the water, you don’t need to create a siphon

Yeah like when we are hungry , love will keep us alive ?

 

[Rtaylor]

Yeah like when we are hungry , love will keep us alive ?

Huh? Do you really not know how to setup a gravity ATO?

 

[k2-]

Yeah - the only thing that I want to avoid is from time to time when the siphon breaks when the master reservoir is empty

 

[Rtaylor]

Yeah - the only thing that I want to avoid is from time to time when the siphon breaks when the master reservoir is empty

A gravity ATO doesn’t use a siphon….what do you not understand? Therefore you don’t need to worry about starting or stopping a siphon.

 

[k2-]

I see what you are saying - yeah a good idea actually ! Will wait for next time the reservoir to empty - it will be difficult though as it’s a 280 gallon tote with very small opening - so installing a 1/4 inch line will be a fun project ! But yeah in that scenario it will be pretty automatic …..

 

[cilyjr]

Quick question - My ATO setup is as following

A 240 G water reservoir (I use NSW) which is at an elevation of around 10 ft mounted and plumbed into the garage - I will call it Master reservoir

Wait a second, we are using natural seawater for our auto top off?

 

[k2-]

Well auto top off my heated reservoir for water change lol

For my tank ato I use rodi

 

[cilyjr]

Well auto top off my heated reservoir for water change lol

For my tank ato I use rodi

Roger that.