plumbing question

[mytank90]

i have started to plume my new tank and would like know if a flapper valve worth getting ? some people say not to use them at all

[Myka]

Waste of money imo. They get gummed up too quick and have to be cleaned very often otherwise they fail.

[marks69]

i went with 2 on my tank. both can be cleaned easily, and get done every couple of months. i figure it's part of my insurance.

[AquaticFinatic]

What is a flapper valve? Never heard of one.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by marks69

i went with 2 on my tank. both can be cleaned easily, and get done every couple of months. i figure it's part of my insurance.

Why wouldn't you leave enough room in the sump to take the back flow? To me that is much better insurance...it's fail safe.

Originally Posted by daveycoopa

What is a flapper valve? Never heard of one.

It's a type of check valve. It's supposed to prevent back flow of water during a power outage.

[Aquattro]

I have one on my return, works great, been in service 10 months. I recall having a reason to add it, which currently escapes me

[marks69]

my sump is in the basement, and i have 4 returns in my tank, drilled below the water line like a closed loop, so i had to be able to take alot of water in the sump. i can take about 30 g extra, but 1 1/2" plumbing holds alot, so i figured i would go this route. i do make sure i clean them though.

[fishytime]

I have one on my return too.....I bought two when I plumbed the tank.....they are "true union", so I swap them out when I remember to, to clean the dirty one........

[KrazyKuch]

I have one on my tank mounted horizontally and i have had it in their without cleaning for 3 years now still works great....same type as fishytime

[eolthof]

Hey man, I work in the oil and gas industry, and we use flapper (check) valves. Our apporach when when we evalurate a faciity is that check valves will always fail at some point. Its the same case, that valve will fail..

I built a system that is pump fail & power fail safe and doesnt use a check valve. drop me a note if you want details.