Auto top off won't stop!

[Dmitry]

I'm having this problem with my auto top-off. It uses 2 float switches. The problem is that once the water starts pumping in - it won't stop. I have a little mini-jet in 5 gal bucket next to the tank. At first I thought the float switches were malfunctioning, but unplugging the power-head doesn't stop the water! I have to take the power-head out of the water to stop the siphon. I'm just not sure why it even starts this siphon. The end of the tube is not in the water. I even made the tube longer, rising high up, hoping that gravity would break the siphon if the pump is no longer driving it. But that didn't work. Any ideas why this is happening?

 

[masterswimmer]

You've got a siphon running. Is the outlet side of your tubing below the waterline in your topoff tub?

 

[Dmitry]

If I understand you correctly...then yes. The point where water comes out into the sump is below where the water level in the bucket is. I thought raising the tube higher as it looped to the sump would stop that. But, apparently, not. Lower the bucket, right?

 

[masterswimmer]

Yes, drop the bucket to the floor and run the tubing so that the discharge point of your tube is above the highest water level in your bucket.

Hope that was clear

 

[MO~IDOL]

try put the power head all the way to the bottom of the 5g bucket and make a drip loop on the tube.

 

[noodleman]

is the water level in your bucket higher then the outlet of your ATO tubing entering the sump? If so just lower the height of your bucket

 

[masterswimmer]

try put the power head all the way to the bottom of the 5g bucket and make a drip loop on the tube.

Dumb me, I was going under the premise that the powerhead would be at the bottom of the bucket :banghead:

Can't imagine drawing water from the top, or even the middle.

 

[Dmitry]

The power-head is at the bottom. But the water level in the bucket is above the water level in the sump. I kinda thought the loop by the tube would stop the siphon, but it doesn't.

 

[cybermeez]

Poking a small hole in the tube will also keep a siphon from forming.

 

[MO~IDOL]

as long as the water outlet higher than the 5g bucket water level u'll be fine.
that's what i'm trying to say.

 

[kimoyo]

Dumb me, I was going under the premise that the powerhead would be at the bottom of the bucket :banghead:

:lol2: