What is that clear/see through plumbing part that most people put on their return line that when water is pushing through the part, it holds a panel/lid open and when the pump is shut off the panel/lid closes to keep water from siphoning back down. What is that part called?
Dumb question of the day...
- Thread starter Neon Reef
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Check valve. Many are opposed to using them. I use one on each of my aquariums but am very diligent about keeping them clean. My favorite is the Wye valve, which I have on one aquarium. My other aquarium uses a flapper-type valve that has the advantage of having true unions on each end so it's easily removed and cleaned.
Gary
Gary
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Thanks Gparr, but why are many people opposed to using a check valve? And what does a Wye valve look like? Doing the plumbing on my frag tank that is connected to my main tank and don't want syphoning back into my main tank sump if/when there is a power outage.
You can get Wye valves at Premium Aquatics. The general argument against using them is that they can fail by getting stuck open or having some piece of debris block them from closing. I don't buy the debris argument because, if you have chunks that big in your return, you have other plumbing problems, IMO. They can get stuck open and I've experienced that. The reason: I got lazy about maintenance.
Those who don't use them advocate putting a hole in your loc-line return within the aquarium so the siphon will break when water back-siphons during a power outage. That's a legitimate way to go, but you must keep that hole cleared of debris or it won't break the siphon.
I like the Wye style valve because it uses a weight to block water flow and that weight is easily removed and cleaned.
Fair warning: This subject usually generates a long discussion about the pros and cons of check valves and plumbing design.
Gary
Those who don't use them advocate putting a hole in your loc-line return within the aquarium so the siphon will break when water back-siphons during a power outage. That's a legitimate way to go, but you must keep that hole cleared of debris or it won't break the siphon.
I like the Wye style valve because it uses a weight to block water flow and that weight is easily removed and cleaned.
Fair warning: This subject usually generates a long discussion about the pros and cons of check valves and plumbing design.
Gary
