Opinions appreciated: check valve vs anti-siphon holes in overflow returns

[MarkoD]

Originally Posted by paddyob

How do you know how long this person has been in fish keeping.

I guess I won't offer advice.

lol dont you know? online post counts are obviously an accurate representation of how much experience you have

[fishytime]

I use both.....my check valve is on a union and I have two.....I swap them out very so often for cleaning....

[gregzz4]

Wow, I should have checked in yesterday

Originally Posted by paddyob

How do you know how long this person has been in fish keeping.

I guess I won't offer advice.

All I meant was ensquire gave no reference as to how long the loc-line had been in use.
My reply wasn't meant to imply anything else.

[gregzz4]

I'd like to thank Everyone for their input. I never imagined I'd get this much feedback.

With the limited # of responses to using a check valve, and the thoughts on it fouling etc, that option is off the table.

I am attempting to get some surface flow from the loc-lines. Because of the way I currently have them, there is the chance they can be bumped quite low below the surface, allowing way too much volume to back siphon. I will have to re-think the routing.
This is how they sit and now you see why I originally posted these questions.



I agree whole-heartedly with the idea of laying out the lines so no valve or anti-siphon holes are required.
I'll have to attempt to shorten the lines and it looks like I'll lose the surface flow I was looking for.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Wow, I should have checked in yesterday



All I meant was ensquire gave no reference as to how long the loc-line had been in use.
My reply wasn't meant to imply anything else.

Thanks for clarifying that
I used a Y like you did here, but used the flare end thinking that it was less likely to get pushed too deep.
Drilling a couple of holes for back up is never a bad idea, and as you said, the drilled segments can be replaced .
Things are looking very clean, very well set up system.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

No offence, but you're not giving me a long-time user experience with your reply.
I'm looking for user responses with long-time experience.

My apologies for my unknowing opinion.

[outacontrol]

I did all of the above, I drilled a small hole in my return line, I installed a george fisher check valve, and my sump has enough capacity to hold the back flow, if the check valve fails and the anti-siphon hole gets plugged.
Why only have one safety in place when I can have multiple.

[paddyob]

I use both.

Check valves work great, but over time the seals dry due to the salt in our tanks.

I shut my return pump off for target feeding so I get to check them regularily to ensure function.

I replaced them recently... once in 1.5 years.

The siphon holes are back up as in extra space in the sump. You can't be too careful.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Check valves work great, but over time the seals dry due to the salt in our tanks.

Thanks, that's what I suspected
I'll try my latest configuration and am still contemplating drilled holes, but only as a backup.
I have a lifetime subscription to Back-up magazine but am also trying to go with the KISS method.
Because I haven't tested my system yet with salt, I have no idea what kind of micro bubbles I may end up with due to my current config. This is why I'm leaning towards no holes.
All I can do is try it and worst case I replace the drilled pieces, right?

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Thanks, that's what I suspected
I'll try my latest configuration and am still contemplating drilled holes, but only as a backup.
I have a lifetime subscription to Back-up magazine but am also trying to go with the KISS method.
Because I haven't tested my system yet with salt, I have no idea what kind of micro bubbles I may end up with due to my current config. This is why I'm leaning towards no holes.
All I can do is try it and worst case I replace the drilled pieces, right?

Holes on the end of your output will lose micro bubbles the same as the siphon holes.

Micro bubbles are a sump set up issue. Not siphon holes. Keep your skimmer in a chamber or two back from your return pump to "eliminate" them.