Gate vs Globe?

CafeReef · 03/02/2016, 05:06 PM

In the coming days I will be starting to setup my new tank with a herbie overflow. I will be putting a valve on my main drain and on my return. I see on here often people say to use gate valves instead of ball valves which I can fully understand why from an adjustment perspective.

I guess the one thing I am confused on, is why a gate valve when gate valves, like ball valves are by design supposed to function as closed and open? My father has owned a plumbing supply company for years, now it is industrial grade and not hobby grade but Globe valves in industrial settings are what are used for restricting flow. That's their entire purpose and design is for restricting flow. So why are people primarily using and recommending gate valves over a globe valve? has it just become common standard and just works or is there something that really makes a gate better for our systems?

Globe:

Gate:

Thanks

Cafe

nvladik · 03/02/2016, 05:14 PM

No expert here by any means, but I think mainly for two reasons, availability and price.

RocketEngineer · 03/02/2016, 05:24 PM

The first reason I can think of is cost. A PVC gate valve is about 1/3rd the price of a PVC globe valve.

The second reason is that a gate valve can be opened to the entire inner diameter of the pipe to allow a blockage to flow through it and out. With a globe valve you would have to disassemble the valve to get whatever was trapped out of the internals.

All the different valves have their place. In an application like our tanks, some work better than others despite not being the exact usage they were intended for.

EvenFurther · 03/02/2016, 05:52 PM

I'd say the same thing. Cost, and Gate's are common in PVC material. Gates work great for a reef tank application to fine tune the flow. If you want quarter turn quick close shut off, then use a ball valve. Both valve types pretty much cover it for a fish tank.

CafeReef · 03/02/2016, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketEngineer

The first reason I can think of is cost. A PVC gate valve is about 1/3rd the price of a PVC globe valve.

The second reason is that a gate valve can be opened to the entire inner diameter of the pipe to allow a blockage to flow through it and out. With a globe valve you would have to disassemble the valve to get whatever was trapped out of the internals.

All the different valves have their place. In an application like our tanks, some work better than others despite not being the exact usage they were intended for.

Thats a really good point on allowing a blockage to pass. I might do a gate for the drain and a globe for the return so I can really fine tune flow. They do cost more. But if go to a industrial supplier they are much more affordable since you dont pay retail costs.

CuzzA · 03/02/2016, 06:38 PM

You can ask your father this, but I believe gate valves are rarely used in the industrial setting because they are usually working under higher pressures and are more prone to fail. For our little aquarium hobby pumps we aren't coming close to exceeding the pressure ratings on these valves. So for the already mentioned reason they are our go to. Not to mention, they won't seize up like ball valves do.

Ou8me2 · 03/02/2016, 08:36 PM

The reason I have seen many don't use them is because most of the globe valves aren't aquarium/reef safe. This was discussed in a thread on here recently about using gate vs ball valves.

Globe Valves:
These valves are the least common to find in the hobby.They can be more difficult to find globe valves made entirely out of aquarium safe materials and would most likely have to be order in by a plumbing supply company or purchased from a on-line aquarium supply company. They typically can withstand the most pressure and temperature of these three mentioned valves, but they will also restrict the water flow through it the most as well.Gate valves would be considered specialty valves to be used in very specific situations were a ball or gate valve cannot handle the pressure being put through the line.

Gate Valves:
These valves are somewhat common to find in the hobby.They will reduce the flow going through them more than compared to a ball valve. Gate valves made in PVC are harder to find, mostly being found in plumbing supply stores or some on-line aquarium supply stores. The can also com in PVC SHC 40 and PVC SCH 80 material but are more common to find in SCH 80 as the valve is intended to be used on higher pressure applications. The benefit of gate valves is they will be able to withstand more pressure than ball valves and can be used for more finer adjustments. In most aquarium set-ups, this valve would be overkill, unless you have a very large system that has a single return pump applying very high flow rates and high levels of pressure.

Ball Valves:
These are about the most common style of valve that you will find in use in the aquarium hobby.They are very easy to find in most hardware and plumbing supply stores in models that are made with materials that are safe for aquarium use.The models that are made of PVC material range in size for ½ to 6 inches.You can get them in SCH 40 and SCH 80 PVC which will have the same tolerances and specifications as the same PVC pipe and fittings. Ball valves are also available in screwed or socket weld (glued) connections depending on how you want to connect this valve into your system.This is my preferred valve to use in any type of plumbing set-up.The reason for this is that ball valves will restrict the flow going through the valve the least of any type and they are also the least likely to fail or leak.The only drawback to using these valves in PVC is that they are not the best suited for high pressure and high heat unless you have a ball valve made of PVC SCH 80.

http://www.reefaquarium.com/2013/aqu...umbing-valves/

worldcitizen93 · 03/02/2016, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketEngineer

The first reason I can think of is cost. A PVC gate valve is about 1/3rd the price of a PVC globe valve.

The second reason is that a gate valve can be opened to the entire inner diameter of the pipe to allow a blockage to flow through it and out. With a globe valve you would have to disassemble the valve to get whatever was trapped out of the internals.

All the different valves have their place. In an application like our tanks, some work better than others despite not being the exact usage they were intended for.

I just got a pvc globe valve from my local ace for five bucks and plan on using it for my herbie. Im glad this topic came up again because i had the same question lol

EvenFurther · 03/03/2016, 06:59 AM

Man I would not put a globe on the drain line, especially one the same pipe size at the plumbing. That's like adding a few unnecessary 90 elbows. Globes throttle well because of the one directional flow path thru the valve. The flow path on its own reduces/restricts flow. If an object gets into the drain line, it will more likely cause problems with a globe. For a drain line you want an in-line, unobstructed flow path in the piping.

Gate valves come in conventional port and full port. Not all gates have a full bore size thru the valve, matching the pipe size bore.. The PVC Spears brand is excellent, the one I have is full port.

03/02/2016, 05:06 PM	#1
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	Gate vs Globe? In the coming days I will be starting to setup my new tank with a herbie overflow. I will be putting a valve on my main drain and on my return. I see on here often people say to use gate valves instead of ball valves which I can fully understand why from an adjustment perspective. I guess the one thing I am confused on, is why a gate valve when gate valves, like ball valves are by design supposed to function as closed and open? My father has owned a plumbing supply company for years, now it is industrial grade and not hobby grade but Globe valves in industrial settings are what are used for restricting flow. That's their entire purpose and design is for restricting flow. So why are people primarily using and recommending gate valves over a globe valve? has it just become common standard and just works or is there something that really makes a gate better for our systems? Globe: Gate: Thanks Cafe __________________ 50 Gallon cube

03/02/2016, 05:24 PM	#3
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	The first reason I can think of is cost. A PVC gate valve is about 1/3rd the price of a PVC globe valve. The second reason is that a gate valve can be opened to the entire inner diameter of the pipe to allow a blockage to flow through it and out. With a globe valve you would have to disassemble the valve to get whatever was trapped out of the internals. All the different valves have their place. In an application like our tanks, some work better than others despite not being the exact usage they were intended for. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

03/02/2016, 05:52 PM	#4
EvenFurther Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 352	I'd say the same thing. Cost, and Gate's are common in PVC material. Gates work great for a reef tank application to fine tune the flow. If you want quarter turn quick close shut off, then use a ball valve. Both valve types pretty much cover it for a fish tank. __________________ Slowly Building: 38 Gal. DT Cube \| DIY Sump \| DIY Stand

03/02/2016, 08:36 PM	#7
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	The reason I have seen many don't use them is because most of the globe valves aren't aquarium/reef safe. This was discussed in a thread on here recently about using gate vs ball valves. Globe Valves: These valves are the least common to find in the hobby.They can be more difficult to find globe valves made entirely out of aquarium safe materials and would most likely have to be order in by a plumbing supply company or purchased from a on-line aquarium supply company. They typically can withstand the most pressure and temperature of these three mentioned valves, but they will also restrict the water flow through it the most as well.Gate valves would be considered specialty valves to be used in very specific situations were a ball or gate valve cannot handle the pressure being put through the line. Gate Valves: These valves are somewhat common to find in the hobby.They will reduce the flow going through them more than compared to a ball valve. Gate valves made in PVC are harder to find, mostly being found in plumbing supply stores or some on-line aquarium supply stores. The can also com in PVC SHC 40 and PVC SCH 80 material but are more common to find in SCH 80 as the valve is intended to be used on higher pressure applications. The benefit of gate valves is they will be able to withstand more pressure than ball valves and can be used for more finer adjustments. In most aquarium set-ups, this valve would be overkill, unless you have a very large system that has a single return pump applying very high flow rates and high levels of pressure. Ball Valves: These are about the most common style of valve that you will find in use in the aquarium hobby.They are very easy to find in most hardware and plumbing supply stores in models that are made with materials that are safe for aquarium use.The models that are made of PVC material range in size for ½ to 6 inches.You can get them in SCH 40 and SCH 80 PVC which will have the same tolerances and specifications as the same PVC pipe and fittings. Ball valves are also available in screwed or socket weld (glued) connections depending on how you want to connect this valve into your system.This is my preferred valve to use in any type of plumbing set-up.The reason for this is that ball valves will restrict the flow going through the valve the least of any type and they are also the least likely to fail or leak.The only drawback to using these valves in PVC is that they are not the best suited for high pressure and high heat unless you have a ball valve made of PVC SCH 80. http://www.reefaquarium.com/2013/aqu...umbing-valves/ Last edited by Ou8me2; 03/02/2016 at 08:43 PM.

03/03/2016, 06:59 AM	#9
EvenFurther Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 352	Man I would not put a globe on the drain line, especially one the same pipe size at the plumbing. That's like adding a few unnecessary 90 elbows. Globes throttle well because of the one directional flow path thru the valve. The flow path on its own reduces/restricts flow. If an object gets into the drain line, it will more likely cause problems with a globe. For a drain line you want an in-line, unobstructed flow path in the piping. Gate valves come in conventional port and full port. Not all gates have a full bore size thru the valve, matching the pipe size bore.. The PVC Spears brand is excellent, the one I have is full port. __________________ Slowly Building: 38 Gal. DT Cube \| DIY Sump \| DIY Stand

03/02/2016, 05:14 PM	#2
nvladik Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 361	No expert here by any means, but I think mainly for two reasons, availability and price.

03/02/2016, 06:38 PM	#6
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	You can ask your father this, but I believe gate valves are rarely used in the industrial setting because they are usually working under higher pressures and are more prone to fail. For our little aquarium hobby pumps we aren't coming close to exceeding the pressure ratings on these valves. So for the already mentioned reason they are our go to. Not to mention, they won't seize up like ball valves do.