Wondering if any of you sump users are using ball valves on your return line? If so, any problems?
Ball valve?
- Thread starter vr6fan
- Start date
I have ball valves on all my drains and on my returns. The only ones that get used are the drains, I never touch the ones on my returns. No problems.
Ok but do I really need one if I'm not worried about the return line flow rate? Or are they beneficial for other reasons?
You dont really need one if you're worried about return pump flow rate. I do not like check valves, so I use one incase there is a power outage and i need to stop water from siphoning into my sump from my tank.
Cool I'm going to add one I never thought about how useful they can be during maintenance...just wasn't sure if they gum up easily or not
I use gate valves on all of my plumbing to and from my sump. Honestly you probably dont need them anywhere besides the return line, by putting a gate on the return you can adjust the flow rate to be exactly the way you want it (finer tuning than a ball); allowing you to control the over all water flow.
I use ball valves on all my return lines, and also use them to send water to the garden during water changes. By opening the valve i can send 100 gallons to the garden in about 10 minutes, fast water changes, and watering done at the same time.
It is also a good idea to exercise those valves every week or so, just a little tweek back and forth so they don't get frozen from minerals or gunk.
The valve below is one that when closed, water goes to the sump. when opened, water goes out to the garden.
And because I have multiple tanks on a sump, ball valves are used to adjust the flow to different tanks.
It is also a good idea to exercise those valves every week or so, just a little tweek back and forth so they don't get frozen from minerals or gunk.
The valve below is one that when closed, water goes to the sump. when opened, water goes out to the garden.
And because I have multiple tanks on a sump, ball valves are used to adjust the flow to different tanks.
I honestly don't see the point of using them on the drain lines unless you're using a full siphon style overflow, like a herbie, or bean animal setup
What do you do if there is a power outage while you're asleep or at work?
I wouldn't use a ball valve on the return line for any reason other than duanes stated, for redirecting flow elsewhere. If your pump is too powerful for your fish or drains I'd look at putting a T piece in the return and putting the ball valve on that to allow you to bleed off some of the excess flow, rather than trying to strangle your pump into flowing less.
