ShawnSaucier
Well-Known Member
Who uses them? Are they worth it? On the returns or drains??
Check valves????
- Thread starter ShawnSaucier
- Start date
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Returns.
A. They could and most likely do fail at some point.
B. They reduce your return flow gph.
C. Position your return line just below water level and you "shouldn't" need a check valve if your sump is big enough
sent from your home
A. They could and most likely do fail at some point.
B. They reduce your return flow gph.
C. Position your return line just below water level and you "shouldn't" need a check valve if your sump is big enough
sent from your home
Eric B
Well-Known Member
I have one on return but I don't rely on it as my sump will handle all water if it failed. Mine is because tank is upstairs and sump is in basement and it keeps the pump from having to work so hard on start ups by keeping the pipe filled with water above the check valve. I would only use the true union ones and would buy 2 the same and rotate out so you have a cleaned one ready to go and I swap out every quarter whether needed or not!
Check valves are a false sense of security and can and will fail. A reef tank is similar to a waste water treatment plant where we avoid check valves like the plague, they have no place in saltwater aquaria.
As long as your overflow and returns are designed properly and you maintain sufficient freeboard in your sump to contain a minimal overflow you will never ghave need for one.
Same goes for drilled holes in the returns, they require cleaning and maintenance and still fail. There is no need for either in a well thought out system, period.
As long as your overflow and returns are designed properly and you maintain sufficient freeboard in your sump to contain a minimal overflow you will never ghave need for one.
Same goes for drilled holes in the returns, they require cleaning and maintenance and still fail. There is no need for either in a well thought out system, period.
