Aqualifter question

Herbie

Herbie

Banned
I have one and plan on using it as an ato pump. My rodi reservoir sits higher than the sump. Will an aqua lifter siphon after it shuts off?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
Yes it will Herb. I have experienced it first hand. I fixed it by raising my aqua lifter above my top off container and making a "S" where it fills at my sump. One half of "S" lower on the outside of the sump then in to my sump over the edge. (If any of that makes sense)
 
Emisis said:
Yes it will Herb. I have experienced it first hand. I fixed it by raising my aqua lifter above my top off container and making a "S" where it fills at my sump. One half of "S" lower on the outside of the sump then in to my sump over the edge. (If any of that makes sense)
Click to expand...

+1. I've done the S too, but now I have the line from the pump feed/dump into a larger tube, same level of the pump, so it breaks the vacuum. Check valve won't work.
 
Mine back siphoned too.
I secured the vinyl tubing from the Aqualifter to the sump about a 1/2" higher than the sump water level.
 
I think poi's idea of the outlet pouring into a slightly larger tube at a point higher than the vessel is probably the way to go. My Fresh water vessel sits at almost ceiling height. I'll have to just put the pump on top of it and then have the outlet go into a slightly larger tube as it makes the corner. This output is going to travel from about 8 feet high to nearly floor level and about 6 feet laterally, so I am more concerned about fresh water continuing to flow after the pump turns off. There won't be a risk of the salt water flowing back into the fresh water vessel. I hope that makes sense.
 
Herbs, I'll text you a pic of it if you want. Text me, I lost a bunch of numbers upgrading my phone last week.
 
Yeah, as long as the output tube isn't in the water and above the water/fill line, it shouldn't back siphon.
 
poidog said:
Herbs, I'll text you a pic of it if you want. Text me, I lost a bunch of numbers upgrading my phone last week.
Click to expand...

Eric, I was wondering the same thing regarding siphoning - I'm pretty sure I understand what you mean with the "S", but just to be safe do you mind sending me a pic as well?
 
I just have the tubing for my aqualifter zip tied to the lamp clamp over my fuge. Angle the tubing so it touches the wall of the sump so when it pumps I don't hear it peeing in the tank, the stream just runs down the sump into the water. I use a small check valve on the pump outlet line and it works just fine, the check valve closes off when not pumping and prevents any siphoning. Worst case my skim collection container holds about as much water as I keepin my ATO container so if it does overflow the sump, it will just be purged out the skimmer anyways.
 
I had the problem where water would flow even then the pump was off (forward siphoing). I over came it buy keeping the discharge end of the hose higher than the pump and auto top off container. You may want to put the line in an overflow box instead of the the sump.
 
goat585 said:
I had the problem where water would flow even then the pump was off (forward siphoing). I over came it buy keeping the discharge end of the hose higher than the pump and auto top off container. You may want to put the line in an overflow box instead of the the sump.
Click to expand...

Good issue to note Tom - Most aqua lifters only move about 30" therefore if you place the pump on a bucket (or anything to raise it up) to reach the tank, it would also be sitting higher than the top-off container and hopefully prevent the forward siphoning.
 
goat585 said:
I had the problem where water would flow even then the pump was off (forward siphoing). I over came it buy keeping the discharge end of the hose higher than the pump and auto top off container. You may want to put the line in an overflow box instead of the the sump.
Click to expand...

+1
 
ok so wait we are actually getting to my question here. My top off reservoir is fed directly from my RO/DI with a float switch. It sits on top of a bakers rack so it is close to ceiling height. My tank is on the other side of a wall (hole for cords and stuff already. I want the aqualiter to pump out of the reservoir into the sump. I am hearing that it will continue to flow after it shuts off if I simly put the tubes in each end. Should I be using a different pump? I have had great luck so far with a simple mechanical float switch on my grow-out system, but those come with warning on gettin gstuck "on". Any suggestions?
 
Herbie said:
ok so wait we are actually getting to my question here. My top off reservoir is fed directly from my RO/DI with a float switch. It sits on top of a bakers rack so it is close to ceiling height. My tank is on the other side of a wall (hole for cords and stuff already. I want the aqualiter to pump out of the reservoir into the sump. I am hearing that it will continue to flow after it shuts off if I simly put the tubes in each end. Should I be using a different pump? I have had great luck so far with a simple mechanical float switch on my grow-out system, but those come with warning on gettin gstuck "on". Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

In my experience with the top off tank higher than the sump using an aqualifter pump it will eventually get stuck on even with the pump off. You may be better putting the top off tank on the floor. Once the water is flowing gravity is going to take over and overfill your sump. I would not trust any pump in this situation as at some point something will get stuck open and the top off tank will be emptied into your sump.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top