Check valves

[BigDaddyD1992]

Should i even use one? I planned on using a wye check valve but ive heard check valves of all kinda fail often. Was wanting some opinions from you guys on the wye check valves and weather or not you guys think i should use one for my 40g breeder.

 

[vette.tech]

A properly sized sump and siphon breaks and all that are orders of magnitude the more appropriate way to go. If I HAD to run a check valve I wouldn't even run the tank that way I would figure something else out or run an all in one

 

[kmbyrnes]

Just no.
If you rely on the check valve, you will have flood when it fails.
Read some more, ask some more questions and then design your sump/plumbing to handle the volume when your pumps are off.

 

[billdogg]

^^What they said^^^

X 1000

Design your system correctly and a check valve (which WILL FAIL)(while you are on vacation, btw) will not be needed.

If your sump can not handle the amount of drain-down from the DT, your system is not properly designed. period.

 

[BigDaddyD1992]

So when i drill my tank should i just place the return hole as high as possible, along with the loc line return line?

 

[sleepydoc]

yes, but it's actually where the outlet for the return is. The hole needs to be at least one diameter away from the nearest edge, but if you have it lower you can route the pipe up towards the surface, too.

The one case where I could advocate for a check valve is to prevent back flow when pumps are shut off for feeding, since this is a 'convenience' function, not a safety measure, but I've seen reports of the flapper valves breaking off and causing return pump failures, so I'm hesitant to recommend it even for that use.

 

[BigDaddyD1992]

Ok thanks for the advice, also someone mentioned siphon breaks, where do you make these, in the loc line?

 

[slief]

Ok thanks for the advice, also someone mentioned siphon breaks, where do you make these, in the loc line?

If you're using loc-line, just have the outlets up near the surface of the water. That way when the return shuts off, the water drops very minimally before the siphon breaks on it's own. You will also get good surface agitation with the loc-lines near the top and surface agitation is very important for gas exchange and increased O2. On my display refugium, the loc-line is right at the surface and as such, siphoning is never an issue.

I will also add that as other mentioned, check valves are a horrible idea. About 17 or so years ago, I came home to a wet driveway and 480 gallons of water on my floor along with an empty display. This because of poor plumbing planning and a failed check valve. I learned a valuable lesson that day and changed all my plumbing as a result to eliminate the need for check valves. I will never use a check valve again. It's not if they fail but instead when. They will fail regardless of how well you maintain them. They also restrict flow but that would be the least of your concerns.