Plumbing Help

[props]

thanks again brad

Originally Posted by reef_raf

My understanding on check valves is they'll fail..eventually. All you need is a hole for a siphon break (2 holes is better).

the ones I use have a min 20 year life span... the old adage, you get what you pay for...

if you do the holes, they can work great, just make sure they dont get cloged too much or they are no good, algae will fill them in, or coraline, or salt crystals depending where you drill

[Doug]

Agree with more than one hole. Many moons ago, on another tank, with only one hole, my wife called at work one day saying water was spraying into the air.

A snail partially over the hole was the cause.

[Acro]

Hey Guys,

I don't care for the one way valve under this application either. They may work for 20 years but if something like algae, snails ,chitins, or a limpet are in the path of the rubber flap when power fails the rubber flap can not close properly. The hole drilling thing seems to work, one just needs to keep an eye on them,water will come out of the hole which decreases the chance of them gumming up. I think the best bet is so keep the return lines as close to the water surface as you can, this way minimizing the amount of water back siphoning into your sump. You just need to figure out what the safe running level of your sump will be.

[StirCrazy]

I have mine so the two farthest returns are only 1/4 to 1/2" below the water surface that way the returns themselves are the siphon break.

Steve

[sumpfinfishe]

I do what Steve does as well. I have two returns from a Squid which are hung about 1/2 under the water surface. This means that my overflow runs dry just after the siphon break. Both returns are also mounted so they cannot slip and fall lower into the tank, thus that would cause the sump to overflow.

[Chazzes]

Just drill a 1/8 hole 1/4" below the waterline. Checkvalves do fail then you will have a problem.
Cut the power to the return pump to test it. Backfill should stop befor the overflow. You should have room in your sump for that amount of drain.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Chazzes

Just drill a 1/8 hole 1/4" below the waterline. Checkvalves do fail then you will have a problem.

the problem with this is if you have coraline growth and such they will be incrusted over in no time. if you do the "holes slightly under the water line you must make this part of your regular weekly maintance to ensure they are clear. also make a couple on oposit sides of the pipe so snails can't cover them up on you.

Steve

[Aquattro]

Steve, mine have been under water for over a year and I haven't cleaned them. While looking once in awhile is fine, weekly maintenance is a bit overboard, IMO.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

Steve, mine have been under water for over a year and I haven't cleaned them. While looking once in awhile is fine, weekly maintenance is a bit overboard, IMO.

you have to have a tank that actualy grows coraline algae I found mine needed cleaning twice a month so I started checking them every time I cleaned my skimmer.

Steve