Reeflo return pump shakes whole house when I unplug it

[Desert Sea]

Try relocating the check valve right at the discharge of the pump. Sounds like the water hammer is coming from the water dropping back down the return piping. If you place the check valve right at the discharge of the pump, only the water in the impeller housing will flow out of the pump. The water in the piping will remain and the water hammer should stop.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Try relocating the check valve right at the discharge of the pump. Sounds like the water hammer is coming from the water dropping back down the return piping. If you place the check valve right at the discharge of the pump, only the water in the impeller housing will flow out of the pump. The water in the piping will remain and the water hammer should stop.

And when (not if) the check valve fails, does your sump have the spare capacity to hold all the water that will flow down into it? IMHO, check valves in marine systems are just a problem looking for a time and place to happen.

 

[Breadman03]

Hey everyone,
When I turn off my return for feeding or maintainance, after maybe .5 seconds of the power being interrupted from the pump. The pump shakes 1 time really hard shaking all the piping. the shake is so bad that it rattles the entire floor and produces a huge boom. Is this normal? There's no way I could turn off the return daily for feeding.

I would suggest removing the check valve altogether. If your sump can't handle the dean down it is just a matter of when, not if, your sump overflows.

That really loud bang is the valve slamming shut. May I ask what your reason for running a check valve is?

 

[Spiderman097]

That really loud bang is the valve slamming shut. May I ask what your reason for running a check valve is?

This is the check valve
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/georg-fischer-wye-check-valve.html

My return lines are below the water line in my tank, so a siphon will start, it will overflow my sump. Also for water changes, the return line is plumbed into the discharge for the house. All I have to do is turn a ball valve, and the siphon kicks in and empties water to the discharge to the city.

Beth at reeflo also said to ensure there was a check valve close to the pump to make sure that water wasn't slamming onto the pump. I have another check valve from BRS, but it won't be here til Tuesday.

 

[Sk8r]

Watch those things like a hawk---they tend to get deposits and fail. Common wisdom is not to use check valves in a marine tank system, but I'm confused as to your downflow arrangement. Are you plumbed directly from your tank backside without a downflow box/standpipe? Doublewalled downflow boxes prevent a tank draindown.

 

[Spiderman097]

Watch those things like a hawk---they tend to get deposits and fail. Common wisdom is not to use check valves in a marine tank system, but I'm confused as to your downflow arrangement. Are you plumbed directly from your tank backside without a downflow box/standpipe? Doublewalled downflow boxes prevent a tank draindown.

For the drains, I do utilize a box. But for the return, are connected directly into the tank; and they are also below the waterline. So, when I shut the water off, the returns create a siphon.

 

[billdogg]

So make a simple siphon break in the return line or position it so that it is not so deep. The check valve WILL FAIL. They all do eventually.

If your sump is not large enough to hold ALL drain back it is going to overflow. It's just a matter of when. When is usually day 2 of a 2 week vacation.

 

[Spiderman097]

Point taken, but Reeflo is telling me to put a check-valve onto the line. They think it's water hammer, do you think the check valve is causing the rumbling?

 

[hotelbravo]

i also say remove the check valve.. just out of curiosity why are you turning the pump off at feeding time??

 

[Spiderman097]

i also say remove the check valve.. just out of curiosity why are you turning the pump off at feeding time??

Turns the pumps off so the food doesn't go immediately down the drain. It's only off for 5 mins max.

 

[Spiderman097]

That really loud bang is the valve slamming shut. May I ask what your reason for running a check valve is?

This was actually 100% correct. I went and I took out the weight that closes the line and tested it. It was silent, no shake. It's the check valve slamming shut.