help for the mechanically impaired

I need to set up my ATO and I'm a little intimidated. I know it's super easy to many but not me. Anyway, I have a JBJ ATO and the little pump - where do people put the water in line? At a high level or just into the return on the sump - where evaporation is.

 

I have mine going into the chamber that my return pump is in.

 

+1,return pump chamber

 

Make sure you have a siphon break in the line

 

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Awesome! Mine clips on the rim of my sump above the waterline, no siphon break or check-valve needed.

 

how do I make a siphon break??

 

For the ATO, I'd suggest leaving the end of the line slightly above your highest water level. You don't want any back-siphon mixing into the ATO tank as that would start diluting your DT water.

 

You want an air gap, i.e. don't want the end of the ATO line in the water, or some type of one way valve. That way it can't siphon after the pump is off. Also I have my ATO pumping into the DT with an air gap, so that my ATO pail can't siphon into my sump.

 

I put a short piece of pvc in the chamber where my return line meets my sump. the PVC is a little higher than the top of the tank and the ato line just sits in the top of that pipe. It has been working really well for me.