Ball Valves On Drains?

z28pwr · 03/25/2007, 10:08 PM

I'm working on finishing my plumbing on my 600 gallon tank and are debating wether to use ball valves or not for the drains. I already bought the ball valves, but I'm having a hard time getting all the plumbing out of the way for the G5 skimmer and in reality I should only need the ball valves in case my overflow fails and my Dursos fail aswell. Do you guys use ball valves on your drains on large tanks ?

Gary Majchrzak · 03/25/2007, 10:11 PM

I've never heard of using a ball (or any shutoff) valve on a drain...

dsandfort · 03/25/2007, 10:21 PM

Ball valves are the elixir of reef tank construction. Tis better to have them and not need them than to.....well, you get the point.

Gary Majchrzak · 03/25/2007, 10:28 PM

I have plenty of ball valves and other valves.
I've just never seen valves used on drains.
I suppose a ball valve might be appropriate to place on an emergency drain located at the bottom of the aquarium (in case you needed to drain the whole aquarium), but I don't see a place for ball valves on overflow drains.

svb57 · 03/25/2007, 10:29 PM

I have a 725g set-up and have ball valves all over the place....

Double-J · 03/25/2007, 10:36 PM

I feed my skimmer directly off my overflows and use a ballvalve to make sure the skimmer is getting 100% water with not air. I also have a backup 1.5" hole in each overflow that sit higher so it acts as a safety incase the bulkheads feeding the skimmer get clogged or whatever.

Gary Majchrzak · 03/25/2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by z28pwr
I should only need the ball valves in case my overflow fails and my Dursos fail aswell.

If this is the case I would skip the ball valves. What kind of overflow do you have, anyways?

Untamed12 · 03/26/2007, 12:17 AM

I have gate valves on my both my primary overflows, but that is specifically designed to restrict flow so that the overflow works silently and one needs some redundant designing to ensure that it is safe to run that way. A ball valve wouldn't work in that application.

In addition, I have a ball valve on one of the primary overflows. It's a really long answer to explain why...Simply, it feeds a second sump and is part of the water change system. I stop the flow into that sump, exchange the water, then restart the flow into that sump.

Amphiprion · 03/26/2007, 08:38 AM

I use a ballvalve (with a pre-filtration with a screen to prevent clogging) to add some back pressure on the drain to prevent air from getting into my overflow-fed skimmer. Seems to work pretty well, as long as the sump can handle the added volume in the overflow box.

cbui2 · 03/27/2007, 12:34 AM

i have ball valves all over the place and use spears gate for fine tunning skimmer, return and reactors.

03/25/2007, 10:08 PM	#1
z28pwr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 236	Ball Valves On Drains? I'm working on finishing my plumbing on my 600 gallon tank and are debating wether to use ball valves or not for the drains. I already bought the ball valves, but I'm having a hard time getting all the plumbing out of the way for the G5 skimmer and in reality I should only need the ball valves in case my overflow fails and my Dursos fail aswell. Do you guys use ball valves on your drains on large tanks ?

03/25/2007, 10:11 PM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	I've never heard of using a ball (or any shutoff) valve on a drain... __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

03/25/2007, 10:21 PM	#3
dsandfort Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fort Collins Posts: 1,380	Ball valves are the elixir of reef tank construction. Tis better to have them and not need them than to.....well, you get the point. __________________ Once you accept the Universe as matter expanding in to nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy. A.E.

03/25/2007, 10:28 PM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	I have plenty of ball valves and other valves. I've just never seen valves used on drains. I suppose a ball valve might be appropriate to place on an emergency drain located at the bottom of the aquarium (in case you needed to drain the whole aquarium), but I don't see a place for ball valves on overflow drains. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

03/26/2007, 08:38 AM	#9
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	I use a ballvalve (with a pre-filtration with a screen to prevent clogging) to add some back pressure on the drain to prevent air from getting into my overflow-fed skimmer. Seems to work pretty well, as long as the sump can handle the added volume in the overflow box. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/25/2007, 10:29 PM	#5
svb57 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Romeoville, Ill Posts: 1,907	I have a 725g set-up and have ball valves all over the place....

03/25/2007, 10:36 PM	#6
Double-J Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: IA Posts: 1,061	I feed my skimmer directly off my overflows and use a ballvalve to make sure the skimmer is getting 100% water with not air. I also have a backup 1.5" hole in each overflow that sit higher so it acts as a safety incase the bulkheads feeding the skimmer get clogged or whatever.

03/26/2007, 12:17 AM	#8
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	I have gate valves on my both my primary overflows, but that is specifically designed to restrict flow so that the overflow works silently and one needs some redundant designing to ensure that it is safe to run that way. A ball valve wouldn't work in that application. In addition, I have a ball valve on one of the primary overflows. It's a really long answer to explain why...Simply, it feeds a second sump and is part of the water change system. I stop the flow into that sump, exchange the water, then restart the flow into that sump.

03/27/2007, 12:34 AM	#10
cbui2 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 2,517	i have ball valves all over the place and use spears gate for fine tunning skimmer, return and reactors. __________________ Bart ********************* Current Tank Info: 600gal 96L x 48W x 30H 1"cell cast w/tons of equipments