Dosing pump for Top off

[Thavngr98]

Hello All looking for some recommendations. I currently have my RODI water stored above the level of my sump. I have a second container that I have been filling every few days that feeds my ATO (this is level with sump) Anyway I'm going away and will not be able to refill the smaller container every few days. So is there a doser pump I could use? I was looking at the BRS 50ml pump anyone use that one? Does this just replace the air lifter pump I'm currently using for my ATO (aquahub)?

 

[mbg75]

Is there any way to temporarily set up a larger container got the ATO to work from?

 

[Thavngr98]

That could work. Id rather invest the time and money on a more permanent solution.

 

[thirty5]

I agree. I am not a fan of a dosing pump for top off. Since you may have different amounts of evaporation and either not fill tank fast enough or too fast.

I would just go with a larger bucket for the short time you are on vacation...

Not sure if you have a controller, but if you ever do, you could get a solenoid to control top off since you would use gravity to to the top off....

 

[mbg75]

Pics of setup might help us come up with an idea

 

[Imbarrie]

Why not get an ATO like a Reef Fanatic or the newer optical ones from JBL or Tunze?
I have used a simple Reef Fanatic with a Toms Aqualifter pump with no problems for almost a year so far.
The pump should be rated for a low flow between 5-15 GPH so there is little shock and place the output in the beginning of the sump so there is plenty of mixing.
Agreed you should not use a dosing pump for an ATO. That could end really badly.

 

[Thavngr98]

K so no dosing pump. I am actually going to try something I forgot someone from here had recommended and put the ATO tube in my overflow since that is level with my RODI storage. Im going to try this later.

 

[mbg75]

K so no dosing pump. I am actually going to try something I forgot someone from here had recommended and put the ATO tube in my overflow since that is level with my RODI storage. Im going to try this later.

Good idea. As long as the float switch or ATO sensors are still in the return pump section

 

[thirty5]

I think his issue is that a siphon effect will happen since the main storage is above the tank. If you want to keep the setup the same and have it above you need to be able to break the siphon somehow.

THe only thing that I can think of to do in your case,

Let see if anyone can follow.

Take a 1 gallon bucket and put an overflow pipe in it from the bottom of the bucket (just like a reef ready tank) That bucket would be the same hight as the main storage.

Then you would just have a pump that would pump the water into the overflow bucket and it will continue to pump and the water will drop through the overflow and into the sump and then the float will eventually trigger and stop the pump pumping into the overflow bucket. It will definately work but depends on if you have the space. That could be a permanent solution.

Or a controller with gravity feed solenoids that will trigger the overflow...

 

[nycfishy]

dosing pump connected to a ATO sensor/power relay or controller with float switch works great. Dosing pump on a schedule is the bad idea.

 

[Thavngr98]

I think his issue is that a siphon effect will happen since the main storage is above the tank.

Thirty spot on. When the pump turns off the water would continue to flow because of the storage tank being higher. BTW I dont have the space for you Mr. Wizard idea. But I could see that working good thinking.

 

[thirty5]

Thirty spot on. When the pump turns off the water would continue to flow because of the storage tank being higher. BTW I dont have the space for you Mr. Wizard idea. But I could see that working good thinking.

Lol ha Mr Wizards World. Does anyone remember that show?

The idea will definately work but you just need to space. Actually you could use a very small container even a plastic container like chinese food soup comes in could work. But need to create an overflow effect

 

[thirty5]

Actually you can do what I said without the siphon effect. Just use a larger hose to do the overflow. Continue to use the aqua lifter.

Put the new overflow tube just above the height of the main storage tank for the RO. Then just stick the tube from the aqualifter in the new hose. But the new hose should be much larger than the hose coming from the aqualifter. So since the aqualifter is pumping up over the water level of the main storage and basically dumping into the larger hose. That will break the siphon!!! No mr wizard here just a length of hose.

 

[marrone]

dosing pump connected to a ATO sensor/power relay or controller with float switch works great. Dosing pump on a schedule is the bad idea.

+1 I've been using a dosing pump with a float switch for years and never had a problem. It can only dump so much water so I don't have to worry about something get stuck and dumping too much water. Also, I don't have to worry about the pump not starting and not topping over water, plus a lot of dosing pumps come with battery backups.