PVC EPDM Inquiry and Research Info

[DBlackman]

Hey Guys,

After the pumping demonstration at the last MAAST meeting, at David's house. I stopped by Ryan Harco (Will Call) this afternoon to look into purchasing a 'single check valve' to install on the 'return' line to prevent sump overflow, in case of a power outage or feed-pump malfunction. I discovered that I had to use their catalog to find the manufacture and part number to have the part ordered [from Houston]. Well, I was able to jotted-down some information and need some advice from you guys on selecting the right part to order... based on what you use, have seen, and 'known to work'.

I hope this information is not an over-kill, but should be helpful for other members/non-members who are interested in knowing the same... especially pricing!

1. DIAPHRAGM CHECK VALVES [Part No. 5151 - PVC EPDM]

Order Number * Size * Price
005 * 1/2 * 51.00
007 * 3/4 * 62.60
010 * 1 * 73.30


2. SPEARS BALL CHECK VALVES [Part No. 510S - PVC EPDM]

Order Number * Size * Price
005 * 1/2 * 34.99
007 * 3/4 * 41.72
010 * 1 * 49.61
012 * 1 1/4 * 72.46
015 * 1 1/2 * 83.22
020 * 2 * 113.61


3. HAYWARD BALL CHECK VALVES [Part No. 5109H]

Order Number * Size * Price
005 * 1/2 * 44.00
007 * 3/4 * 50.00
010 * 1 * 63.15
012 * 1 1/4 * 102.20
015 * 1 1/2 * 102.20 [may be a typo error in the catalog, on price]
020 * 2 * 144.00


4. +GF+ TYPE 360 BALL CHECK VALVES [Part No. 5108G/Threaded and 5109G/Socket - PVC EPDM]

Order Number * Size * Price/Threaded * Price/Socket
005 * 1/2 * 35.00 * 32.00
007 * 3/4 * 42.00 * 40.00
010 * 1 * 46.00 * 44.00
012 * 1 1/4 * 74.00 * 71.00
015 * 1 1/2 * 78.00 * 76.00
020 * 2 * 106.00 * 103.00

[hobogato]

i have gone thru this whole check valve search that you are doing right now. there is a simpler solution to prevent backflow siphoning thru the return line to the sump. drill a small hole in the return line just below the water line in the main tank. as soon as the water level drops, the hole lets air in and breaks the siphon. just check it periodically to make sure it doesnt get clogged by anything.

[hobogato]

just clicked on your signature - arowana are my favorite fresh water fish - really miss having them (lost one that i had raised from a baby with a yolksack at about 12", and switched to salt water). sorry for the side track, back to your regularly scheduled thread :)

[captexas]

Yeah, Ace's explanation works better. Check valves don't always work, especially with saltwater and all the stuff that gets pumped through the pipe (food, sand, fish poop, etc.). I used to have some on my 75g and after awhile they stopped working. I guess maybe you can pay more money for the kind of check valve you can take apart and clean, but then you also have to spend more money to install ball valves/unions so you can remove them from the line.

[RayAllen]

yep, as Ace said drill a hole at the water line onyour return. Tried and true; never fails. When you do it shut your power off to see how far your sump fills up; this will help you to determine how much water and water level in your sump. Then simply mark it with a permanant marker. Its almost impossible for me to have a overflow with my 210g which is such a great filling when im out of town.

[aquasport24]

How about drill 2 holes 1/2" below the waterline (just in case a snail block that one hole) and add a check valve as a back up.....And what is wrong with the check valve at Lowes? It has uions on both side for quick disconnect..

[MissT]

The ones at Lowes take a TON of pressure to go the right way through them. You lose a ton of pressure from your return pump with them, plus the spring inside of them it metal which is no good, and there is a lot that can break on them. The ones discussed at the meeting are pretty much a flange that can only open in one direction, so there's really nothing to break. Just make sure to plumb them in the right direction!

[aquasport24]

I did not know about loosing pressure, i thought i had too many 90 degree elbows that cause that..What did you guys came up with at the meeting?How about that place on Bandera Rd (Taylor Industries) plumbing supply, do they have special check vavle there?

[caferacermike]

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~FT8988.html

This is the only type of check valve, as I explained at the meeting, as any sort of spring check will cause drastic pressure loss.

Marine Depot is about the only place I've seen clear ones that you can keep tabs on. They sell them in several sizes.

We did touch on drilling holes to break back siphon. Personally I think the absolute best idea is to make sure your sump can handle 4" of your tank's water in it no matter what. But then again I've always bought the largest sump I could afford whether I needed it or not.

[Henny]

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~FT8988.html

This is the only type of check valve, as I explained at the meeting, as any sort of spring check will cause drastic pressure loss.

Marine Depot is about the only place I've seen clear ones that you can keep tabs on. They sell them in several sizes.

We did touch on drilling holes to break back siphon. Personally I think the absolute best idea is to make sure your sump can handle 4" of your tank's water in it no matter what. But then again I've always bought the largest sump I could afford whether I needed it or not.

I used the check valve caferacermike mentioned when I first set up me tank. It still allowed water to trickle thru it with the flap closed. I know this because I left my pump off for a while I went to work a few days during the week to test it out. Once all the lines drained I marked the water level before I left for work. When I came home 4 hours later for lunch the water level almost doubled and by the time I got off from work the water level was about an inch away from the top of the sump. It took 9-10 hours for it to get to that level but I go out of town a lot so I didn't want to chance and I can barely get my wife to feed the fish let alone check the equipment to make sure everything is running to avoid a flood.

As Hobogato, RayAllen and Aquasport24 have already stated just drill holes in the return below the water line. I found this article on about.com (http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sumpoflowsetup/ht/sumpoverflow.htm) before I found MAAST, tried it and it works the best for me. Not mention it didn't cost me anything but 5 minutes of my time. Just my 2 cents.

[DBlackman]

Ace and Henry, thanks for the reply. I have considered drilling holes in the 'Return' line, but I want to maximize as much flow as possible and don't want water escaping before it is returned to the main tank. BUT, I will consider your advise and will probably perform the steps discussed from the weblink Henry provided this weekend... if my family will allow it. Instructions stating, 'It takes just 10 minutes' or 'Easy' turns out to be 'problematic' and '2-days to complete'... LOL

As for my personal galleries, Arowanas in particular, I pretty much conquered the freshwater world in collecting some of the most rare and exotic species in the trade. But, like with everyone else... its on to conquer new and exciting territories. With saltwater, my hands are full, brian is ponding, and again the wallet is stressed... LOL

Chris, thanks for the reply. Do I really need to worry about debris on the 'Return' line coming from the sump??? Especially, if micro bags, filter pads, skimmer, and baffles are in-place to catch such things, before it hits the return pump???

Aquasport24, the problem that I ran into with most plumbing specialty places here in Austin, are that they stock check valves made of copper or other forms of metals. I am not aware of any other plumbing supply stores outside of Austin.

Ding, Ding, Ding... YES!! Caferacermike you have provided the information that I have been looking for! It a shame that it was right under my nose, because Marinedepot's website is visited so often. Comments about sumps, well I recently ran across an article on RC that led me to a website of a guy that appears to be well-known with MAAST - Marc of Melev's Reef "http://www.melevsreef.com/index.html"... it too is a shame, because I purchased that fancy sump from RCA that has the Refug along the side. I may have gone a different route, but nevertheless I was supporting my LFS like a good little Reefer-beginner... LOL Big ups to RCA.