Check Valve

mnm1953 · 07/12/2008, 07:33 AM

Can you put a check valve in your return line from your pump. I turn everything off and I started to siphon water back to my sump. If I would have a power failure if would be a big mess.

Thanks for any help

urchinkiller15 · 07/12/2008, 07:54 AM

You could do that or drill a hole in the return right below the water level of your tank so that as soon as water starts siphoning out of your tank the hole breaks the siphon.

frank2926 · 07/12/2008, 08:31 AM

or just place your return lines very close the water surface.
yes you can put a check valve on but they fail. They are mechanical and soon will be clogged with calcium and what not.

Nereaga · 07/12/2008, 08:35 AM

+1 on Frank's answer!

Adjust the return lines so you don't overflow the sump....

Mark0818 · 07/12/2008, 08:46 AM

urchinkiller15 is right just drill a hole right below the water level of your tank. It work for me in the past.

gibson981 · 07/12/2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by urchinkiller15
You could do that or drill a hole in the return right below the water level of your tank so that as soon as water starts siphoning out of your tank the hole breaks the siphon.

I did this and had some issues with it. My tank has the Mega Flow overflow kit built into it. I bought a Sea Swirl 3/4" to put on the return. I plumbed it in with PVC. I drilled a hole in the return pipe, just below the water line inside the overflow section. That worked just fine. The siphon broke and stopped the water from draining. When I started the return pump back up, water started shooting out of the hole, hitting the inside wall of the overflow, then shooting upward and onto my living room floor until the water level rose enough to cover the hole again. If my canopy was on, it would have ruined my halides. What would be the next step? Sorry to hijack the thread. I just thought we had similar issues.

Playa-1 · 07/12/2008, 04:38 PM

+2 on Franks answer.
I would never rely on a check valve in a reef environment. Check valve can and do fail all the time.

mnm1953 · 07/12/2008, 04:42 PM

I was wondering on drilling the hole and it spraying out. I think i am going to get the return close to my surface and see what happens. May try drilling the hole.

Tswifty · 07/12/2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibson981
I did this and had some issues with it. My tank has the Mega Flow overflow kit built into it. I bought a Sea Swirl 3/4" to put on the return. I plumbed it in with PVC. I drilled a hole in the return pipe, just below the water line inside the overflow section. That worked just fine. The siphon broke and stopped the water from draining. When I started the return pump back up, water started shooting out of the hole, hitting the inside wall of the overflow, then shooting upward and onto my living room floor until the water level rose enough to cover the hole again. If my canopy was on, it would have ruined my halides. What would be the next step? Sorry to hijack the thread. I just thought we had similar issues.

Drill the hole on a downward angle next time

Mine is located right below the surface of the water, but when I turn the pump back on it sprays down into the surface of the water until it is submerged again.

snorvich · 07/12/2008, 06:07 PM

+1 with the above. Check valves WILL fail, it is simply a question of when.

07/12/2008, 07:33 AM	#1
mnm1953 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wi Posts: 92	Check Valve Can you put a check valve in your return line from your pump. I turn everything off and I started to siphon water back to my sump. If I would have a power failure if would be a big mess. Thanks for any help

07/12/2008, 06:07 PM	#10
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	+1 with the above. Check valves WILL fail, it is simply a question of when. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/12/2008, 07:54 AM	#2
urchinkiller15 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 125	You could do that or drill a hole in the return right below the water level of your tank so that as soon as water starts siphoning out of your tank the hole breaks the siphon.

07/12/2008, 08:31 AM	#3
frank2926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: phila Posts: 1,645	or just place your return lines very close the water surface. yes you can put a check valve on but they fail. They are mechanical and soon will be clogged with calcium and what not.

07/12/2008, 08:35 AM	#4
Nereaga Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oley, Pa 19547 Posts: 1,513	+1 on Frank's answer! Adjust the return lines so you don't overflow the sump....

07/12/2008, 08:46 AM	#5
Mark0818 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dyer, In Posts: 99	urchinkiller15 is right just drill a hole right below the water level of your tank. It work for me in the past.

07/12/2008, 04:38 PM	#7
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	+2 on Franks answer. I would never rely on a check valve in a reef environment. Check valve can and do fail all the time.

07/12/2008, 04:42 PM	#8
mnm1953 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wi Posts: 92	I was wondering on drilling the hole and it spraying out. I think i am going to get the return close to my surface and see what happens. May try drilling the hole.