Water hammer from my check valve

[ScubaSteve]

Ok, a couple things that might help here:

a) Check the orientation of your check valve. Depending on the type of check valve you have in there it it might have to be mounted horizontally (ie. swing-type check valve). I see a vertically mounted check valve, so look into that.

b) You can by non-water hammer check valves. Google it, buy it, put it in, Bob's your Uncle.

c)Failing all of that, mount the check valve horizontally and put an expansion chamber before the valve. Don't go and buy one, just make if from some PVC. Again, google has some good info on how to do this. It's an easy operation.

That's all I've got for useful tips. Soon I might have to join the "You should have just plumbed without..." group .... Just kidding!

Let us know how it goes and let's see if we can't fix this.

[ReefJunkie]

Thanks for the suggestions Steve!! The check valve is a swing type and says it can be used vertically but maybe that is the problem. I will try this horizontally as I am re-doing my plumbing for a new pump anyway.

[whatcaneyedo]

Would anti-siphon holes drilled in the plumbing just below the water level line in your tank work to stop your system from completely draining into the sump in the event that your return pump stops running?

Thats all I've got to offer. I dont believe in band-aid solutions in any situation. Fix the underlying problem then you and your tank will always be much better off for it.

[ZachAttack]

yeah, that sounds like it would work. if you drill a hole right below the waterline (the lowest point of water that can be drained without overflowing the sump) the hole will let in air cutting the siphon...

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

Here is the type of Check Valve I use this


I have it mounted horizontally and it works perfect........I needed one cause Having anti syphon holes on a dart with a single outlet would spray water all over the place and when I placed them lower in the water then my sump would overflow so I had to go with a check valve.

hey man you can always use a piece of foam to allow the air to get in and still have the water get defused alot.

Originally Posted by ZachAttack

yeah, that sounds like it would work. if you drill a hole right below the waterline (the lowest point of water that can be drained without overflowing the sump) the hole will let in air cutting the siphon...

exactly and try to dril a hole on a angle if you can. and drill it on the back of the pipe so if it does spray it will hit the tank and not go out front.......

[ReefJunkie]

Well after replacing the sump glass I decided to go with in sump return and I installed the check valve horizontally, it only hammers a couple times then stops.

[ScubaSteve]

Ah, there ya go! Not perfect but better that nothin'!