Check valve on DIY overflow

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
S

Salicias

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2007
16
0
1
Right on the MA/NH Border
So I built 'the DIY overflow'. I used 1" ID PVC on this one. I built it without any valve on top first and it worked fine for a number of weeks. I figured I'd add the valve on top so I could suck out the air as it built up, so I drilled, stuck a little check valve in there and sealed it. I sucked all the air out of the cavity and turned on the pump. It has been working fine for about a week.

Firstly, this thing is sealed tight, so that isn't the problem. When I suck on the tube, I get bubbles like I'm slurping the last bit of soda out of a glass. I can't seem to get them to stop. When the pump is off and the flow stops, I can suck out the tiny bit of air that is there and pull water.

Considering the amount of air that comes out that valve, I would think it would have built up and water stopped flowing at this point, but it hasn't.

Does anyone know what the deal is, and what do you do to remove the air once you have a valve on top?

-Sal
 
What kind of check valve is it?
 
It is a tetra rubber valve. When I installed it, I put an airline on the tip and coated the whole thing in silicone. The end of the tube rests in the water and I can see that no air is being sucked back through the valve from the tube.

It could be normal, but where is all that air coming from?
 
Air could be coming from surface agitation or from large splashes when feeding fish.

Be careful with the "duckbill" rubber check valves. Eventually they can get weak/dry and leak back a bit. I had a wet floor thanks to one of them. I never had an issue with the spring/plastic version though.
 
The only place the air could be coming from is the intake, where water crashes down the first tube. But, I had this running for 3 or so weeks without any problem before I put the valve in. I would expect the amount of air that seems to be collecting this quickly to stop the suction faster.

I'm going to guess that this could run a month without any air-sucking on my part. :yuck:
--
I'll try out those spring valves for my air lines for sure.

For this application, it shouldn't be a problem. If it leaked, it would only suck water from the tank because of the airline coming off of the valve and into the aquarium water. I can even see the amount of water/air moving in the line, none.
 
Salicias;1560621; said:
The only place the air could be coming from is the intake, where water crashes down the first tube. But, I had this running for 3 or so weeks without any problem before I put the valve in. I would expect the amount of air that seems to be collecting this quickly to stop the suction faster.

I'm going to guess that this could run a month without any air-sucking on my part. :yuck:
--
I'll try out those spring valves for my air lines for sure.

For this application, it shouldn't be a problem. If it leaked, it would only suck water from the tank because of the airline coming off of the valve and into the aquarium water. I can even see the amount of water/air moving in the line, none.
Click to expand...

Good call. That was my temporary fix for mine LOL.
 
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