Time to Check those Check Valves

mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
Ok, severe weather season is here again so it’s time for a quick safety check. I have a Hayward true union ball check valve on my return pipe coming from my sump. On my last water change, I noticed the water was quickly filling up my sump to the point where I had to stop. I finally figured out that my check valve was no longer working. I bought another check valve from Lowes which uses the spring method rather than a ball. Well we lost power the other night for several hours and I didn’t think much of it because I had installed the new check valve. Well this was a mistake. The sump overflowed and fortunately I keep the sump in a plastic storage container in case something like this happens. Well that container started overflowing also. I quickly pulled out my power inverter, connected it to a battery I keep on a trickle charger and the inverter wouldn’t work. I thought maybe the battery had gone bad so I hooked it up to my car battery to test it and it was indeed dead. So I had to just keep taking water out of the sump to control the overflow. Needless to say I had a mess on my hands.

Well the power eventually came back on and I was able to clean everything up and get things back under control. I purchased another inverter but it was still bothering me about the overflow because I assumed the check valve should not have let that happen. I tested the check valve that night and it does work somewhat but it does allow a small flow of water to backflow so I guess the check valve doesn’t work on low pressure. I finally found another Hayward valve like the one I had been using for years and I hope to get it installed tonight. That should resolve that problem.
This has been a friendly reminder for those using check valves to make sure they are still functioning properly since severe weather season is here and you might lose power.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
good point especially for people that do infrequent water changes. A good idea is to exercise the check every week
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
A very good idea for those that use check valves..... but they are not needed on a tank to prevent an overflowing sump. I don't use any check valves on any of my tanks. IMO, it's just an unnecessary risk one doesn't need to be taking. Exceptions for out-of-the-norm designs, of course.
Just curious..... who are using check valves to prevent overflow? And what is the reason behind their inclusion in your design?
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
If I don't use a check valve, my return pipe will start siphoning water back down to the sump. I was told that I could put a small hole at in the top piece where the water comes out and that the water should stop siphoning when the water drains to the hole. That didn't work so I made the hole a little bigger. Not sure why mine siphons but it does.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
How low do you return pipes go?
You need to put the hole at the level of where you would like the water level to end up.
Can you take a little picture and show us where you drilled the holes? Like a FTS where you can see the level of them?
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
I can take a picture tonight to show you my setup. I think the hole is at a good spot but I was thinking the hole was too tiny. Anyway, I will take the pics and get your opinion. I also might test the new hole before installing the new check valve though I still plan to install it just to be safe.
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
I use a check valve but for purely a first line of defense and to keep the return line filled as my return Ts off to my chiller then back to the return line. If you want a pic ill supply one. Anyways, the check valve keeps the line filled with water so when the power comes back on the chiller isn't flushed with air and possibly ruin it.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I use a check valve right after my return pump. I like the redundancy of a safety measure if the holes in my siphon break clog. You can also position one of your returns in your tank if you have multiples near the surface to break the siphon effect if you loose power
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
If it's a backup and you can afford the head loss, they are indeed very appropriate. It just doesn't be your primary mechanism of preventing overflow.
I have used them in an old tank so that the water level wouldn't drop any when I turned off the pump, which I did daily. But if they failed, there was still room in the sump to hold the amount of loss.
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
The returns are too low.
In my setup, I don't need a check valve. When I shut the pump off, the water level drops just below the overflow teeth. At that point, my returns are completely out of the water.
 
J

james454

Guest
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3243912
The returns are too low.
In my setup, I don't need a check valve. When I shut the pump off, the water level drops just below the overflow teeth. At that point, my returns are completely out of the water.
thats how mine is on my 125 i turn the pumps of now and then to check it. but if power goes off it stops filling my sump about 2 inches from top if its full.
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
Well I put the new check valve on and I took a couple of pics but forgot to bring them with me this morning to show what my setup looks like. I think several of you are on to something about my return being too low. Actually, I should have some older pics in my photobucket account that might show the return. I will be back.
It's not the best pic of showing the return pipe but I think it's still enough. You can see the teeth on the overflow box in the top left and the return pipe several inches below the water.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by mrdc
http:///forum/post/3244133
Well I put the new check valve on and I took a couple of pics but forgot to bring them with me this morning to show what my setup looks like. I think several of you are on to something about my return being too low. Actually, I should have some older pics in my photobucket account that might show the return. I will be back.
It's not the best pic of showing the return pipe but I think it's still enough. You can see the teeth on the overflow box in the top left and the return pipe several inches below the water.

FYI love the rock work
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Check valve + healthy reef = fail
Spirorbidae growth can prevent a check valve from working properly in less than 24 hours.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Check valves work by the reverse flow water forcing a ball or a flap to seal the tubing and rely on the weight of the water to keep it sealed until normal waterflow is restored.
Spirorbidae thrive in the high flow areas of the check valve and grow on the seals and on the ball or flap. It only takes a few of these animals to prevent the check valve from sealing completely. Sometimes it will just be a slow drip but if they congregate on the seal then there can be a steady stream of water that is let through the valve.
 
mrdc

mrdc

Active Member
Thanks for the info. I will continue using it BUT I need to move my return higher and make it my primary way of stopping the water from siphoning. I guess I have some weekend projects now.
 
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