Drain pipe valve issues on a Reefer 250

vinny110 · Dec 16, 2017

shaywood said:
I installed a Spears gate valve. Best move ever. I had struggled with the stock valve for 2 years. Constantly adjusting.

Nice, can you provide the parts list and where you got them for me? Please.... I decided to shut my reefer 250 down after the same constant adjusting every 2-3 days and I had the tank 2 years+. How you managing with the sump? Thinking about upgrading?

LittleMaui · Dec 16, 2017

Start back at the beginning of this thread and read broadfields posts. Basically only need 4 parts, Red Sea fitting, adapter, gate valve, pipe and Teflon tape.

LittleMaui · Dec 16, 2017

I've been fine with the sump.

jhatfield · Mar 19, 2018

shaywood said:
I installed a Spears gate valve. Best move ever. I had struggled with the stock valve for 2 years. Constantly adjusting.

This is exactly what I want to do with my Reefer 170 but I'm still a little confused about the parts list after reading the previous posts. Provided I only want to replace the Red Sea valve with a gate valve the parts list would be as follows:

3/4"x1" PVC Reducing Male Adapter
Spears Gate Valve
Sch 80 PVC
Teflon Tape

Not at home right now so I can't look at it but does the black fitting above the adapter need to be replaced?

LittleMaui · Mar 19, 2018

Yes, you need an adapter from Red Sea Check the previous post in September 25, 2017 with an illustration.

HollaAtChaReefBoy · Mar 28, 2018

Question...I have the Peninsula 650. This pipe looks bigger than the return pipe. Don't know where I should cut and what part I need to install new valve. Any help is appreciated!

Bill in Florida · Nov 23, 2018

I'm considering doing the same as any adjustment I make to my 450 doesn't solve the problem. Are the pipes metric? What size valve?
Thanks

Bill Carey

Bill in Florida · Nov 23, 2018

I'm considering doing the same as any adjustment I make to my 450 doesn't solve the problem. Are the pipes metric? What size valve?
Thanks

Bill Carey

Bill in Florida · Nov 23, 2018

I'm considering doing the same as any adjustment I make to my 450 doesn't solve the problem. Are the pipes metric? What size valve?
Thanks

Bill Carey

Gary Ellis · Feb 4, 2019

Just got my Spears valve. I can't believe how hard it is to turn the knob for adjustment. Are they all like this? If I put this on my return pipe which is only connected on one end I will have to hold the pipe with one hand and turn the knob with the other to keep from twisting the pipe off.

Scurvy · Feb 4, 2019

Gary Ellis said:
Just got my Spears valve. I can't believe how hard it is to turn the knob for adjustment. Are they all like this? If I put this on my return pipe which is only connected on one end I will have to hold the pipe with one hand and turn the knob with the other to keep from twisting the pipe off.

Ball Valve or Gate Valve? Can't say any Ive gotten have been hard to turn but if you're worried from the jump it may be worth sourcing another to compare to. I've only used these personally.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/spears-gate-valve-slip-x-slip-1-46dfb1fd21d4e16401260f54d2b6a88a.html

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ball-valve-cepex.html

Gary Ellis · Feb 4, 2019

Gate and it looks exactly like the one from BRS. I got it from PVC Fittings Online. https://www.pvcfittingsonline.com/1-pvc-socket-gate-valve-spears-2022-010.html

Gary Ellis · Feb 4, 2019

Gary Ellis said:
Gate and it looks exactly like the one from BRS. I got it from PVC Fittings Online. https://www.pvcfittingsonline.com/1-pvc-socket-gate-valve-spears-2022-010.html

Can you turn it with 2 fingers and your thumb with no problem???

Scurvy · Feb 4, 2019

Gary Ellis said:
Can you turn it with 2 fingers and your thumb with no problem???

I got mine from PVC fittings online as well. Using two fingers and a thumb theres a little force required but not enough to think it would snap anything. Maybe equivalent to removing a screw that was set with a pilot hole. Not the best analogy but hard to put force/pressure into words.

bizacon · Feb 7, 2019

I did this on a 425xl and it worked amazing. Just ordered a 170 and going to be doing the exact same thing. Eliminate the frustration right away

Jburnett · Mar 27, 2019

I’m having the exact same isssue on my new reefer 250, gate valve has to be almost completely closed for system to run.

Gary Ellis · Mar 27, 2019

I plumbed my E260. I have the Varios 4. Still having a problem dialing it in... What a pita. I go to bed the returned section is perfect,right where I want the level. Get up in the morning and it's either to high or to low.

Westside Guy · Mar 28, 2019

The Red Sea valve is a PIA to adjust and I have to close it too much in order to keep the overflow quiet. I have a V3 sump on my Reefer 250 and the water flow into the media cups is way too slow and every time my service person from my LFS does a water change he opens it up the valve again dropping the water level in the overflow and that as you know results in loud noises. Aside from changing the RS valve does anyone have a suggestion to improve the flowinto the media cups without having the sound from the overflow waking up the dead?

Does making an adjustment up or down to the gate that separates the right side of the sump to the upper left pump section help?