I'm looking to purchase a Tunze 3155 Water top off system. However, it appears that the water resevouir needs to be pretty close to the sump. My water is being produced about 55' away in my garage. I want to be able to have a line from that reserve of water to be used as my source for the top-offs, rather than having a reserve next to my sump.
I'm trying to eliminate the need for carrying water through my house in a bucket(s), which is why i want to install this top-off in the first place. Also, I have no room to place another water reserve under my aquarium. So the remote location for my RO water cannot change.
Any suggestions or ideas on how I can make this work?
Hmm, that's a tough one. A dosng pump will pull water that far, but that's a rather expensive option for an ATO. An Aqualifter pump will pull water a pretty good ways too, but I don't think it will pull it that far. Hopefuly someone will chime in with a better option.
you got me, that is a LOOOONG haul for the water to travel. it would have to be a horizontal water line to push the water with a pump, but the pump would have to be pretty good size to get it there, especially after the head loss. a regular MJ probably would not cut it, in this case.
__________________ Bobby
"I FORMERLY glued animals to rocks" NO TANK RIGHT NOW, but you never know when I might throw one together !! I have everything I need but the time!!
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I ran water over 30 feet to my sump but it was directly from the RO/DI system. The problem you are going to have is that a) you need to be as level as possible, to reduce head loss and b) you can't be OVER said level or you'll create a never ending siphon.
I'm not familiar with the Tunze 3155 Water top off system, but I can tell you that the system I use, from autotopoff.com would work fine. It is a simple double switch system that is done by a 15 Amp relay, allowing you to use a device rated up to 1800 watts. You could use a larger pump to move water over that distance.
I'm confused by the siphon break hole...Can you explain that more so I can understand? How would a put a hole in the hose or "line" if I need to pump water through it? Wouldn't water squirt out?
Sorry, I'm not familiar with siphon issues or how to stop them mechanically.
on my ATO, i have a large garbage can in the closet of the fish room. the ATO sensors and controller are both on the sump. my ATO is connected to a pump in the garbage can in the closet and is controlled by the sensors in the sump. connected to the pump is the tubing that runs out of the closet and into the sump. at the highest point (rim of the garbage can) i have drilled a 1/4" hole in the bottom side of the tubing and inserted a piece of 1/4" airline tubing into it (just enough that it will not come out). this hole allows the siphon to be broken by allowing the tubing to pull in enough air to stop the flow of water through the tubing.
__________________ Bobby
"I FORMERLY glued animals to rocks" NO TANK RIGHT NOW, but you never know when I might throw one together !! I have everything I need but the time!!
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Few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them....
1. Does water run out of the 1/4" air line tubing when your pump turns on to refill your sump?
2.If so, is this tube inside of your supply tank, but out of the water so when it does run out of that hole it goes back into the reserve?
3. How do you keep the water supply tubbing from turning or twisting, which would cause the 1/4 air line tube to not be on the bottom side of the larger tube?
4.With this system is it true that I could essentially have my water supply anywhere as long as i had a water supply tube and an electrical cord long enough?
5. What are the pros and cons of this brand compared to what David has mentioned from Autotopoff.com?
it it was me, id be questioning an ATO at 55feet away, thats a pretty long way. You'd want a pretty hardcore doser.
A simple flood & drain network system would be a cheap option. a pump in the RO vessile, 2 floats, high & low in the end capture container so its primes itself near the tank. Then allow your ATO to handle the duty from there as its more incrimental.
Few questions if you wouldn't mind answering them....
1. Does water run out of the 1/4" air line tubing when your pump turns on to refill your sump? Float in the sump activates the dosing pump, this has an input & output- input to pickup from your RO, rotating pump squeezes the water through your tubing & into your sump as top up evap water, so thats a yes!
2.If so, is this tube inside of your supply tank, but out of the water so when it does run out of that hole it goes back into the reserve? Im assumiing your still talking ATO here - breather holes are only nessisary when the pressure is enough to push water through the tube on its own accord (namely due to the input being close to the bottom) or the top off vessile is higher that the output.
3. How do you keep the water supply tubbing from turning or twisting, which would cause the 1/4 air line tube to not be on the bottom side of the larger tube? super quick hit with a hair dryer - lol, i dont know, never been an issue for me!
4.With this system is it true that I could essentially have my water supply anywhere as long as i had a water supply tube and an electrical cord long enough? technicly yes, a plenum system of pre primed water that you can tap off from or a pump that pulls dirrectly that is strong enough to draw from that distance. main problem existing with a plenum of water is countering pressure when the dosing unit isn't operating.
The plenum needs to be lower or the tap needs to be higher within safe working ranges. I'll try to explain that - think of a square container - you have drilled a hole down the bottom on one side, you have a long tube running the distance you need it to travel. You then have another box exactly the same as the first, drilled and connected the same.
basic principle here - fill one box with water & both your boxes will even out to the same level given a decent diameter connecting them. Now any variation from this simple design & you'll have to factor in pressure.
You have the standard pressure in the tube plus the pressure in the box you fill vs the box or rather the actual extraction point on the other side your tapping off. This total pressure can not exceed the dosing pumps ability to restrict it. I hope you understood that, its an easy concept thats not always easy to explain.
5. What are the pros and cons of this brand compared to what David has mentioned from Autotopoff.com?
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You'd want a pretty hardcore doser. 
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