Valve on Sump Drain Line

[bjbass]

I have a AGA 210 megaflow with dual overflows and a Marineland model 4 sump. I put a T with a ball valve on my return line and I figured I would add an inline ball valve on my drain line. Is this a common practice? Should I do this?

 

[Potts050]

I have a AGA 210 megaflow with dual overflows and a Marineland model 4 sump. I put a T with a ball valve on my return line and I figured I would add an inline ball valve on my drain line. Is this a common practice? Should I do this?

Never a good idea to put restriction on a drain line. What hapens if you have s "senior moment" and forget you have it closed?

 

[fox3]

I have the same tank and plumbed two ball valves into the drains. One for each overflow. I use these to fine tune the drains and get a quiet setup.

 

[Toby_H]

I have the same tank and plumbed two ball valves into the drains. One for each overflow. I use these to fine tune the drains and get a quiet setup.

I agree with this thinking... when the overflow sucks air making that very loud annoying sound, you can slightly close the ball balve so it sucks only water resulting in silent filtration...

 

[bjbass]

Never a good idea to put restriction on a drain line. What hapens if you have s "senior moment" and forget you have it closed?

I like the following suggestion below of limiting the flow, but you make a great point here. Anything that pumps back in won't be draining back out which results in overflowing tank!!

That is a scary thought. The one drawback that I came up with is material getting stuck on the valve.

What does everybody do during water changes? I have an Aqueon water changer that I am going to use and siphon the tank.

 

[KaiserSousay]

Never a good idea to put restriction on a drain line. What hapens if you have s "senior moment" and forget you have it closed?

Dad burn young whiper snapper..
My mind is just as sharp as it was when I was twenty..
Or was that thirty,
Hmmmmmm..just can`t recall......

 

[bjbass]

Other than the disastrous senior moment, I think it may be a good idea. Any other potential drawbacks?

 

[Potts050]

Other than the disastrous senior moment, I think it may be a good idea. Any other potential drawbacks?

As previuosly mentioned, valves especially in a partially open position provide a location for debris to accumulate that will plug up the lline resulting in a restriction that could back up into an overflow in the tank.

What are you trying to acheive by valving the drain?

 

[fox3]

Silence.

 

[Toby_H]

One thing to keep in mind...

The diameter of the opening of the ball valve when completely open is smaller than the ID of the pipe it connects to...

Personally I'm a fan of using a ball valve on the drain side for the purposes of silencing the intake...

But critical details must be factored into the design of it all. If need be, expand to a larger diameter pipe then use a ball valve with an ID opening that is equal to the ID of the original pipe.

You have a lot of options. Just be sure to choose your options instead of letting your options choose you