Need infor about check valves

[acidlittle]

Me and my dad are setting up a 75 gal drilled tank and we have on problem. If the power goes out all the water will backflow into the sump and overfill it. We were thinking about a checkvalve, ballvalve or whatever they are called. If anybody has any information about them I would appreciate it a ton!

Thanks!
josh

 

[mfinn]

The wye check valves work very well, but like all things they have to be maintained to keep working.
There is also the option of drilling a small hole in your return line near the water surface, so that when the pumps stops, the water drains back to the sump untill it hits the hole causing a break in the syphon.
Here is a link to the wye check valves.
http://www.savko.com/PartList.asp?pgid=1&ptid=3&pid=2
I have two that I have been using for about 8 years now and I clean them out approx. every 6 months.

 

[xtrstangx]

Drill a 1/4" hole in your return line right at the waters surface.

Check valves will generally fail over time and should be avoided.

 

[acidlittle]

I can't drill a hold in my return line as the tank was drill about 5" below the top, and the return line isn't high enough to break the siphon before flooding would occur.

 

[mfinn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7711722#post7711722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
I can't drill a hold in my return line as the tank was drill about 5" below the top, and the return line isn't high enough to break the siphon before flooding would occur.

Like I said you have to maintain them. Mine have been working for about 8 years and they still work I test them every two weeks when I do water changes.

 

[acidlittle]

How do you go about maintaining them?
I believe that check valves are the only way to go on my tank, but would like to know how you clean them. I guess I have never really seen one so I'm not sure how they work, or how you would hook it up on a tank, so any info about it would be great!! Do they restrict flow at all?

 

[kgross]

Check valves are not good to count on with your tank. They will leak and they will fail completely. The best way to do your return is up and over the top of the tank, or from inside the tank just take it up to the top of the water and then back down. At the top of the water drill a 1/8 inch hole for an anti-syphon hole. This can be used with a check valve, to help make sure you do not overflow your sump. You will need to make sure though that you have enough space in your sump to handle the draining water to keep it from overflowing since all of the water in the lines will drain down plus the water in the tank will drain down to the top of the overflow.

Check valves will restrict the flow, depending on the style and size will determine how much of a restriction you have. To clean them, you need to make sure you purchase the good (expensive) ones that allow you to open them up and clean them. Then you will need to clean them weekly. You will get organics built up on the seal and seat, and you could get filterfeeding inverts like small feather dusters growing on them also which will keep them from sealing when you need them.

Kim

 

[xtrstangx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7711722#post7711722 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by acidlittle
I can't drill a hold in my return line as the tank was drill about 5" below the top, and the return line isn't high enough to break the siphon before flooding would occur.

Drill a hole in your return line and run some black tubing to right below the water surface?

 

[acidlittle]

I don't think drilling the hole will work as my bulkhead is about 5 inches down from the top of the tank. Therefore to not reduce my flow dramatically I do not want to replumb it to the top and then all the way back down.
It's just a tough call, Not sure what to do!

Josh

 

[acidlittle]

my return line doesn't go above the bulkhead. This tank was purchased and has all the plumbing already, they didn't have a fail safe method to control this but I'm wanting to be smart.

Since my return line is just plastic hosing, not pvc it doesn't go above the bulkhead and therefore would not be drillable.

 

[kgross]

If you want it to be fail safe you will change your hose to pipe and do a siphon break, Plus if you want max flow out of your pump you will replace the hose will pipe anyway, but that is up to you.

Kim