Aqua lifter issue

[butch]

I put a JBJ ATO on my sump today with a aqua lifter pump and a 7 gallon (blue) RO container. Pretty much the standard setup. The ATO works as it should turning the pump on and off as necessary, but the aqua lifter continues to drip water, about a drop a second, after the pump is shut off.

The aqua lifter sits about 12" above the sump and 10" above the RO container. I even took the cap off the RO container to allow air in so it would not cause a vacuum.

Has anyone else had this problem or know where I could have gone wrong in setting it up? It has been 30 minutes since the ATO shut the pump off and its still dripping. :bash2:

 

[rdnelson]

Is the discharge from the aqua lifter submerged and/or lower than the intake? Could be siphoning.

 

[eagle9252]

is it a new or used lifter?

mine was acting funny for a while as the algae would grow in the clear tubes and I washed it out and let it run straight vinegar through it for about 30 mins and it cleared up all my issues. as they are not the same as yours but if it's used it could not hurt to try it.

 

[butch]

The aqua lifter and the tubing are both new. The discharge tube is above the water line in the sump and sits maybe 2 inches lower than the uptake tube in the RO container, but the pump is 10"+ over both of them. It doesn't make sense unless the pump has a defect.

 

[elfloyd]

Could still be siphoning. Yeah... the aqualifter should totally seal. For fun... raise the discharge line above the uptake tube. Where the pump is doesn't really make a difference.

 

[rdnelson]

I agree with elFloyd. Once the aqua lifter fills the tubing it will siphon as long as the the discharge is below the water level of the ATO reservoir. The reason is that the weight of the water in the discharge tube is greater than then the weight of the water in the supply tube and therefore will run out. As it runs out, it creates a vacuum that will suck water up and through the aqua lifter. As long as the supply tube is higher than the discharge and submerged in the water it will continue to siphon. The valving inside the aqua lifter gives it some resistance which is why you only get a steady drip instead of a steady stream. I am willing to be that if you raise the discharge your problem will go away.

 

[elfloyd]

elFloyd;763903 wrote: Could still be siphoning. Yeah... the aqualifter should totally seal. For fun... raise the discharge line above the uptake tube. Where the pump is doesn't really make a difference.

Let's go one step further.... raise the discharge line above the ATO water level.

 

[butch]

It was siphoning. Works perfect now that I raised the discharge tube. Thanks to everyone for their help.