Auto top off - flow problems

So I set up a auto top off jbl.
I used a aqua lifter to pump the water, the total distance is about 10 feet from the water storage and then up 6 feet to the top of the display tank.
The flow is pretty pitiful, I set it up initially in the sump, but when the pump turned off, I was still getting flow as the sump is lower that the water

I also notice that the auto lifter pump stops after 4 mins running, regardless of whether the water level has turned the pump off of not ? Is this a defective pump ?

is there a better flow pump I can use ? My tank is alone for 10 days at a time every 2 weeks, so I really need this to work as efficiently as possible

 

Could be a bad pump as Mine will run all day. But that's a lot of distance that pump has to push through then go up. That could be the prob.

 

The jbj ato will shut the pump off after 3 or 4 minutes. How much water are you trying to pump in for 4 minutes? Might need a bigger pump or move your water closer/lower to the sump. If the ato tank is higher then the sump, then it's siphoning into the sump.

 

That's a lot of distance for a aqua lifter. I ran one on an ATO that was about 3 feet away and up 1.5 feet and barely had a trickle. Look at some other dosing pumps or even a maxi jet powerhead will work. Put your ATO reservoir lower than your sump and you won't have siphoning issues

 

My ato sump is a 50 gallon brute bin I am away 10 days every 2 weeks, I like to fill the bin and then leave it to "top off", what pump can I use that will support a air line hose in and a airline hose out (just like the aqua lifter) right now the aqua lifter clicks in and out over 2 or 3 mins, which I am fine with.

I can't lower the ato sump lower than the sump, my sump is 150 gallons so it's quite some size.

Just want to make sure I am doing this the easiest way possible, if it's ok with the continuous trickle/dripping I'm good with that too.

 

I don't know if they use air line hoses but bulk reef supply sells a few standalone dosing pumps that would have enough power not to cut off. The aqua lifter is a cheap and reliable pump if you can somehow move your ATO reservoir closer or get a different reservoir that isn't so tall to cut down on head loss. If you want more power best thing is to get a pump that can run off of larger vinyl tubing and steer clear of expensive dosing pumps

 

I think the Aqualifter is supposed to only lift 30", so not surprising at all that you are not getting any flow.

Here is what I do for my tanks. I run the discharge of my RO/DI into a small (1/2 gallon or so) rubbermaid container that I put inside the cabinet of the stand. I use a mechanical float valve to maintain water level inside the container. From there I sit the Aqualifter on top of the container and pump that into the sump. You can still use your JBJ ATO system obviously, it is just a matter of running the 1/4" line into the cabinet.

 

You can open up the JBJ and set it for up to 17 minutes. There is a green wheel in there that turns from 3m to 17. Thats what I did with an aqualifter and went to a mj1200 because I use it for water changes.

 

Pro Tip. Did not know that. K+

 

Thanks Jerry, its pretty easy, and you have to do alot of research then DL the full manual just to find that tidbit, glad I cold help some people out