Irrigation valves reefsafe?

[Quinster]

There was a thread on RC where a person was using something similar to this on his CL system, he ended up replacing it with an OM system after a few complications. If I can ever get the search option to work I will see if I can dig it up again. If you are adventurous it was doing a search in the Large Reef Tank forum looking at Closed Loop results.

[Delphinus]

I once bought one of the controllable irrigation valves from Rona or HD because I just had to find out the answer. I found out basically what Steve just said (only this was 4 or 5 years ago so nobody knew the answer). There's a metal screw and a spring that I thought would not hold up over time. I'm sure the parts would be replaceable with ones that would hold up with a little ingenuity, but I decided against it.

There are motor controllable valves used in industrial applications that are rated for semi-corrosive environments (which is what our SW tanks would be considered), but the problem is it's difficult to buy these in small quantities. I bought a 3 way ball valve from Chemline Plastics, I wanted to get the valve for a proof of concept so I ordered the valve without the motor (as it was a $100 difference). I had to go through the whole sales process with the guys, a sales guy from the Edmonton office came and paid me a visit at my office when he was down to Calgary for the day anyhow, and I bought the valve for $80. Kind of a ridiculous process and I never really got back to seeing about getting the motor mount, but I guess it was an educational experience. Now I have all kinds of sales material/documentation on things like flow meters, foot valves, needle valves, gate valves, flanges blah blah blah blah etc. etc. the list goes on and on so I guess I ever wanted to make skimmers for a living or something like that, I'd be set. Too bad that I don't (want to make skimmers for a living..).

[Bryan]

What about the min psi rating of the inlet, has anybdy determiend if this would be a issue, or perhaps a typo in the mfg specs.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I found out basically what Steve just said (only this was 4 or 5 years ago so nobody knew the answer).

I think there were a bunch of us looking around that same time.

Steve

[Dale]

Why not email the manufacturer and ask about S.W. applc.'s?

I have serviced these valves in the greenhouse industry for many years and can say that they do stand up to repetitive use. They are used for fertigation cycles and in the summer can o/c up to 50 times a day.
________
smoke kills

[Delphinus]

I was thinking more along the lines of what would happen to the metal bits in SW over time, thinking they'd corrode eventually. Also there was something else .. can't remember what part it was, but it was a white plastic with these little tiny holes (sorry can't really describe it). I totally saw it getting encrusted with stuff and not sealing properly. I felt a ball valve would serve a closed loop better but unfortunately an actuated valve seems to be big $$$.