Flow restriction

[bubbasguppies]

Yesterday evening I finally installed my 3/4" check valve on my return line. I've had to turn my DCP-3000 from 30% to 70% to keep the same water level in the tank. Is that normal? And will it affect the pump in the long run by pushing it harder? Thanks all.

 

[Brad Miller]

Some check valves are harder to force open then others.
Increasing the resistance to open it will make the pump work harder, cost more to run it and will lead to premature pump failure as compared to using a check valve that will open with less force.

 

[bubbasguppies]

Thanks Brad

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'd suggest removing that in-line check valve and use it to make a reverse check valve siphon break. The reason I say this is because all in-line check valves will fail....most likely causing a flood. Marc Levenson (Melev's Reef) came up with this ingenious way of using a check valve in reverse to break siphon.

 

[Brad Miller]

causing

That’s a cool idea, but every time you shut your pump down you’ll get all that air in the loop and on every start up, that air could push something in your tank around, depending on your setup and tank.
Also, that would annoy the heck out of me

I would rather just clean my regular check valve

 

[bubbasguppies]

I didn't find the flapper check valve. The one I found at HD was this one here.

Homewerks Worldwide 3/4 in. PVC Sch. 40 FPT x FPT In-Line Check Valve

Everbilt 3/4 in. FIP x 3/4 in. FIP Schedule 40 PVC Check Valve VCKP40B4B - The Home Depot

The PVC Check Valves are durable, reliable, and worry-free. Check valves prevent water from flowing back into the pump with a rubber flapper, helping your sewage system to perform at its best. It contains

www.homedepot.com

This one opens up with water pressure....so I'm guessing I got the wrong one and need to get the other one like in the video so that I can turn down my pump back to maybe 30%.

 

[Brad Miller]

If you have a large enough sump, and experiment, you can just position your return outlet just below the water surface and this would provide the siphon break when the water drains down the overflow and return pipe to the tank....foolproof and no check valve or anything else you use can create any issue with overflowing unless you bump the return pipe lower in the tank.

 

[bubbasguppies]

I was thinking that last night. I have a CPR return nozzle that hangs on the back currently. My plan was to plumb in the PVC return at a later date with loc-line nozzles. But I guess I will drill a 3/4" bulkhead at a later date when we move to Florida and still use the loc-line as u said....close to the surface for a siphon break.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I didn't find the flapper check valve. The one I found at HD was this one here.

Homewerks Worldwide 3/4 in. PVC Sch. 40 FPT x FPT In-Line Check Valve

Everbilt 3/4 in. FIP x 3/4 in. FIP Schedule 40 PVC Check Valve VCKP40B4B - The Home Depot

The PVC Check Valves are durable, reliable, and worry-free. Check valves prevent water from flowing back into the pump with a rubber flapper, helping your sewage system to perform at its best. It contains

www.homedepot.com

This one opens up with water pressure....so I'm guessing I got the wrong one and need to get the other one like in the video so that I can turn down my pump back to maybe 30%.

Try blowing thru it. Probably can't. It's spring loaded. Need the rubber flapper type and get one size bigger to compensate pressure loss

 

[Hermie]

I didn't find the flapper check valve. The one I found at HD was this one here.

Homewerks Worldwide 3/4 in. PVC Sch. 40 FPT x FPT In-Line Check Valve

Everbilt 3/4 in. FIP x 3/4 in. FIP Schedule 40 PVC Check Valve VCKP40B4B - The Home Depot

The PVC Check Valves are durable, reliable, and worry-free. Check valves prevent water from flowing back into the pump with a rubber flapper, helping your sewage system to perform at its best. It contains

www.homedepot.com

This one opens up with water pressure....so I'm guessing I got the wrong one and need to get the other one like in the video so that I can turn down my pump back to maybe 30%.

I use one of these with PVC bushings to reduce to 1" (my return pipe)

Everbilt 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 in. ABS In-Line Sump Pump Check Valve THD1020 - The Home Depot

For sump pump applications the THD1020 can be used with any 1.25 in. or 1.5 in. sump pump. The THD1020 features 1.25 in. or 1.5 in. combination rubber adapters and the industry's most durable check valve

www.homedepot.com

it's a rubber flapper not sure if it's entirely reef safe though

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I use one of these with PVC bushings to reduce to 1" (my return pipe)

Everbilt 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 in. ABS In-Line Sump Pump Check Valve THD1020 - The Home Depot

For sump pump applications the THD1020 can be used with any 1.25 in. or 1.5 in. sump pump. The THD1020 features 1.25 in. or 1.5 in. combination rubber adapters and the industry's most durable check valve

www.homedepot.com

it's a rubber flapper not sure if it's entirely reef safe though

Never knew they made those.

 

[Brad Miller]

That’s what we used to call a “Jackal Check”
They really are for putting on the discharge of a basement sump pump but would be ok for a reef tank

 

[bubbasguppies]

Would this swing/spring check valve be a better option?

Valterra 200-07f PVC Swing/spring Combination Check Valve White 3/4 FPT for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Valterra 200-07f PVC Swing/spring Combination Check Valve White 3/4 FPT at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

rover.ebay.com

 

[JoshH]

If you have a large enough sump, and experiment, you can just position your return outlet just below the water surface and this would provide the siphon break when the water drains down the overflow and return pipe to the tank....foolproof and no check valve or anything else you use can create any issue with overflowing unless you bump the return pipe lower in the tank.

+1 on this, if you set up your return properly theres absolutely Zero need for a check valve which means less maintenance down the road and no worries about it failing randomly when you shut the pump off and flooding your stand (Which it will more than likely do atleast once).

This is one of those recommended things you see so often in the hobby and it's pretty disappointing when theres no need for it in a properly thought out plumbing plan.

 

[Hermie]

Would this swing/spring check valve be a better option?

Valterra 200-07f PVC Swing/spring Combination Check Valve White 3/4 FPT for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Valterra 200-07f PVC Swing/spring Combination Check Valve White 3/4 FPT at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

rover.ebay.com

well... it's not a flapper type (which take much less than 1/2 lb of pressure to open)

 

[bubbasguppies]

Thank you all for your insights on the check valve. For the time being I'll leave it in place so the other half doesn't give me an ear full on spending money on stuff I didn't even use after three days....I will however try and design a holder for my CPR return for now to do the siphon break.