Gate Valves vs. Ball Valves?

[Pez Vela]

I asked in the "equipment" forum but no one responded. My ball valves seem to get stuck with all of the calcium running through the system. Anyone use gate valves or prefer them to ball valves?

Mike

 

[ste6168]

they are pretty much used for two different purposes.

gate- to control amount of flow
ball- all on or all off

this is to an extent, sometimes you see them in other situations but this is what they should be used for.

 

[TheFlyingTang]

Ball valves are prefered because they will control water flow, and when fully open the diameter of the opening is the inside diameter of the pipe. In a gate valve the opening is much smaller and restricts water flow- something you don't want to do in an aquarium set-up. There are enough restrictions with height and amount of tubing bends that the water has to make in order to return to the tank.

If you feel that your ball valves are getting "sticky" then just exercise them once in a while.

Hope this helps.

 

[Wiskey]

The sticking may not be due to CA, if it is I would think you have too much CA. My ball valves used to get sand in them, or even the one on my RO/DI holding tank is always a little sticky due to their design.

The gate valve has more turns to open it, and would be less likely to stick though so it may be a good option for you if you want to replace them.

Whiseky

 

[Wiskey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6869639#post6869639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheFlyingTang
Ball valves are prefered because they will control water flow, and when fully open the diameter of the opening is the inside diameter of the pipe. In a gate valve the opening is much smaller and restricts water flow- something you don't want to do in an aquarium set-up. There are enough restrictions with height and amount of tubing bends that the water has to make in order to return to the tank.

If you feel that your ball valves are getting "sticky" then just exercise them once in a while.

Hope this helps.

Oh ya, good point, get the gate valves that DON"T have the restriction, I have seen both kinds, one that opens the full way to the inside diamater of the pipe, and one that does this weird up down thing and does restrict about half of the diamater of the pipe. Get the right one, I find it at my LFS but normal hardwhere stores may carry it.

Whiskey

 

[Im14abeer]

Disagreeing with Ste6168, gate valves should be used in the full open or full closed position. Ball valves to throttle flow. Agreeing with TheFlyingTang, "exercise" them, don't exorcise them! If you want something other than a ball to throttle flow, use a globe valve (the one with the funny flow path and a washer that closes against a seat.)

 

[NoSchwag]

Ballvalves go from open to close in 1/4 turn... Gatevalve's take many turns to go from open to close..

Basically they do the same thing only the gate valve is more precise. I use a gatevalve on my skimmer output, and ballvalves on my returns.

 

[Anemonebuff]

Ball valves tend to break more often than gate valves IMO/IME. I have a gate valve on my skimmer return and I plan on removing the ball valve I am using on my pump return.