Plumbing drain line
 

Do I really need to put a ball valve on a drain line from a tank to the sump. Do you guys usually do it?

I never have...

It's handy to have if you ever want to swap sumps and not have to drain your overflow.

I think I went overkill on my main tank and wasted a bunch of money :( I actually have 2 1-1/2" ball valves off there (one right off the overflow, and one going into the sunp -really should have used a union on there) thats ~$60 worth of valves :O

I am now plumbing in my frag tank and I will for sure use a ball valve on the return to throttle flow if required.

I am just hoping I am not making a mistake if I don't throw one on.. but then again I can always splice into the flex pvc line and throw one on down the road if I think it is required.. maybe just a union on there eh?

I always use a valve on my return pump, that controls the amount of flow draining from the tank. If you restrict the flow out and the flow in is greater, well, you end up swimming in the livingroom. I can't see any reason to have a valve coming out unless your drain is on the bottom of the tank. Which it shouldn't be.

I'm assuming everyone is using a durso type stand pipe, in which case you don't need to drain anything. You turn the power off, switch pumps and turn it back on.

I do have the durso in the new tank I am plumbing in :) Thanks for the advice, I think I will skip the valve on the drain then, saves me $30.

Like everything in this hobby you learn from experience and I did learn that I wasted money when plumbing my display tank :p

Ya, I have boxes of experience in my garage!! :)

if you use a gate valve, you can make your overflow completely silent via the Herbie method. do a search of it, its dead quiet

Ok, if we're doing a 16' drain, maybe a valve is good :)