Plumbing Question

[baxinabox]

Hey guys,

at the current i am starting to do the plumbing to the tank.
i have a question regarding the location of the T for the reactors.

pictures can be seen here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adyslucia/


so my main question is.. would it be better to put the T at the end. ( how is it now. ) so that T feeds the Tank, While putting the reactors before it. ( in that long straight before the T )? also the union check valve will be after that T so the water back pressure will not go into the reactors. ( right now i will not be running any so the gate valves will be closed ( but if this zeovit system doesn't work then i will be going to biopellets so i want the option. )

 

[AquamanE]

i have my reactors AFTER filtration and feeding off return area.

Dont care for check valves as i have found them ALL to fail after a few years, if not sooner. Best way to prevent sump overflow is: Get a big enough sump, and second: place your returns close enough to the water level that it will meet your sumps demands. This can be done either with your ending output or with pilot holes.

 

[Rogger Castells]

I would not do it at the end but rather closer to the reactor perhaps after the second 45º elbow, making sure you can do a clean install and that the pluming fits over the sump in case of a leak, specially the gate valve they leak over time.
Eddie is right the check valve normally fail overtime, but you got a very good one that can be taking apart and clean, this valve should go after the reactor, it will be wise to also ensure that it fits directly above the sump in case you need to maintain it is an easy pull out.

 

[AquamanE]

I would not do it at the end but rather closer to the reactor perhaps after the second 45º elbow, making sure you can do a clean install and that the pluming fits over the sump in case of a leak, specially the gate valve they leak over time.
Eddie is right the check valve normally fail overtime, but you got a very good one that can be taking apart and clean, this valve should go after the reactor, it will be wise to also ensure that it fits directly above the sump in case you need to maintain it is an easy pull out.

Rogger- ive bought multiple of those "good ones" and they still fail after a few months. Who has time to clean those with so many other things to do. Best of to create "air breaks"in return and have a big enough sump to accommodate power failures.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Rogger- ive bought multiple of those "good ones" and they still fail after a few months. Who has time to clean those with so many other things to do. Best of to create "air breaks"in return and have a big enough sump to accommodate power failures.

I understand, I probably was the first person who said years ago "not to use them" same with GFI but people still buy them
So, at least I wanted to make it less painful and install over the sump so its easier to remove later.

 

[AquamanE]

I understand, I probably was the first person who said years ago "not to use them" same with GFI but people still buy them
So, at least I wanted to make it less painful and install over the sump so its easier to remove later.

Godfather Castells- What is GFI that you dont suggest? I hope its not GFI on electrical plugs, cause these have proven to save lives.

 

[baxinabox]

I would not do it at the end but rather closer to the reactor perhaps after the second 45º elbow, making sure you can do a clean install and that the pluming fits over the sump in case of a leak, specially the gate valve they leak over time.
Eddie is right the check valve normally fail overtime, but you got a very good one that can be taking apart and clean, this valve should go after the reactor, it will be wise to also ensure that it fits directly above the sump in case you need to maintain it is an easy pull out.

i really do not want to install a check valve, but it has saved my butt before.
i am checking now to see the holes i have drilled on the tank are higher than the overflow box or lower.

also gate valves are known to leak? is there a way to leak proof them? or something that's leak proof to begin with?

 

[baxinabox]

ok going to work on the changes tonight.
i want to get the eddy + roger stamp of approval on this build.

 

[Rogger Castells]

I think that if you get into the habit of working the gate valve open and close once every couple of months you might prevent leaks, all the leaks that I have encounter have been on the stem and normally start while you close them or open them after a long period of standing still, they start forming calcium deposits.
Good luck, let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Godfather Castells- What is GFI that you dont suggest? I hope its not GFI on electrical plugs, cause these have proven to save lives.

Yes, electrical GFI often fail and normally they do when you are not home, I use them only on my outdoor connection as per code.
I am not advocating people not to use them, I don't trust them and prefer to have a good grounding probe.