plumbing sump/refugium

laffinlin · 06/18/2006, 09:45 PM

I am ready to plumb my sump/refugium. I was thinking about putting the gate valve near the top one on the return and one on the intake. Then I was going to add a union after that. I also plan on putting a union near the end of each pipe before it goes to the sump/refugium. That way I can remove the whole pipe incase something gets plugged up. Is that the way to do the plumbing? Thanks for your help.

Emmelemmo · 06/19/2006, 03:26 PM

I agree with the union so that you can take it out once a year to clean. On my plumbling, I didn't use a gate valve do to worry that they could stick. I believe more in the syphon break and have enough room in my sump for the water that drains down.

crumbletop · 06/19/2006, 04:42 PM

Whew, I hope nothing plugs up. I don't think I'd put a gate valve on the drain line -- at least not one that would be used ever except to totally stop flow for mainentance or something. Dialing in a lower flow on the drain side of things is asking for a clog from a snail or fish or something. If anything ever were to plug up you'd be in big trouble with a flood...

Also, you only need one union on each line (return and drain). If you have more than one return line or drain line you can add more unions, but redundant unions on the same line are not necessary.

Other than that, I think our plan sounds fine

I may be confused on the gate valve, though. It appears that emmelemmo is thinking of a flap valve to prevent back-siphoning in the return line. I think a gate valve is one of these:

a flap valve (check valve) is one of these:

Jack

laffinlin · 06/20/2006, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the help. I am using the gate valve mainly to stop the flow for maintenance. I'm might need to adjust the flow abit but am trying not to. I thought the gate valve were ok to use but not a ball valve. I have read that the ball valve sticks alot.

06/18/2006, 09:45 PM	#1
laffinlin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 122	plumbing sump/refugium I am ready to plumb my sump/refugium. I was thinking about putting the gate valve near the top one on the return and one on the intake. Then I was going to add a union after that. I also plan on putting a union near the end of each pipe before it goes to the sump/refugium. That way I can remove the whole pipe incase something gets plugged up. Is that the way to do the plumbing? Thanks for your help.

06/19/2006, 04:42 PM	#3
crumbletop Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4,718	Whew, I hope nothing plugs up. I don't think I'd put a gate valve on the drain line -- at least not one that would be used ever except to totally stop flow for mainentance or something. Dialing in a lower flow on the drain side of things is asking for a clog from a snail or fish or something. If anything ever were to plug up you'd be in big trouble with a flood... Also, you only need one union on each line (return and drain). If you have more than one return line or drain line you can add more unions, but redundant unions on the same line are not necessary. Other than that, I think our plan sounds fine I may be confused on the gate valve, though. It appears that emmelemmo is thinking of a flap valve to prevent back-siphoning in the return line. I think a gate valve is one of these: a flap valve (check valve) is one of these: Jack __________________ "Misers get up early in the morning; and burglars, I am informed, get up the night before." - GK Chesterton Current Tank Info: 90 gallon AGA RR. 20 gal sump. 6x54W T5. AquaController Jr.

06/19/2006, 03:26 PM	#2
Emmelemmo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grove City, OH Posts: 71	I agree with the union so that you can take it out once a year to clean. On my plumbling, I didn't use a gate valve do to worry that they could stick. I believe more in the syphon break and have enough room in my sump for the water that drains down.

06/20/2006, 05:27 PM	#4
laffinlin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 122	Thanks for the help. I am using the gate valve mainly to stop the flow for maintenance. I'm might need to adjust the flow abit but am trying not to. I thought the gate valve were ok to use but not a ball valve. I have read that the ball valve sticks alot.