shafiq.hossain;709618 wrote: So..... what is special about the brs top off pump? can we use just any other pump?
Generally, the higher end dosing pumps are peristaltic pumps (positive displacement pump). Peristaltic pumps do not allow water to free flow through the pump in either an on or off state like most of our other pumps in the hobby. If water can free flow – it can siphon.
A cheaper way to get around that with a standard nano pump and not have a siphoning incident with your ATO is to pump the ATO water up/above to a “container” that has the bottom drilled out where a larger diameter line feeds to your system/sump. The concept is the container is higher than your feed pump and always drains faster than it can be filled; therefor can never create a siphon (constant siphon break). Some use a small tank. I prefer to set it up using 3” pvc. Basically, I take a foot of 3” PVC cap both ends, drill my smaller 3/8” feed line in the top, drill a ”breather” hole right next to it to allow air escape and drill a hole on the bottom cap for ½” exit line. Obviously, the lines need to be firmly sealed/connected to the caps.
As for the floats controlled by my Apex – I have 5:
2 are in my ATO reservoir – top and bottom. Top shuts my RO solenoid off and the bottom one turns it on.
3 are in my sump – very top, very bottom and water line.
Water line float turns my ATO pump on and off (other conditions are evaluated, but thats the basics). Very top & bottom float tells me something VERY BAD has happened. If either one changes state it turns off my whole system and emails me.
Hope that makes sense.
