Check valve on return pipe?

[mpjmeyer]

By no means will I sleep good if I'm not home and my apex alerts me with a return pump fail. But it doesn't hurt to have your fingers crossed that the check valve didn't fail. Also, I will drill a silhon break for extra assurance

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I've got both the "drilled holes" and check valve setup on my 240g. I think my frankensump (three acrylic tanks connected) would hold everything, but the valve makes me feel just a bit more secure.

 

[jason2459]

Have you not tested it? Just shutdown all equipment and you'll know really quick if the sump can hold the volume. Then there's absolutely nothing to worry about for that part. There's plenty of other things in our tanks to fail to worry about and that shouldn't be one of them. Heaters, ATO, Dosing, etc.

 

[Roy 9121]

I have one on mine, but it never works. Your tank will only drain as low as the overflow though. It shouldnt flood your sump.

 

[AndrewNC]

I had one on my old setup but I won't be installing one on my current build as it's just another thing that can potentially fail. If you setup everything right you shouldn't have any issues with your return creating a siphon

 

[mpjmeyer]

I'm going to drill a hole and test it tonight to see how high the water level could get

 

[Bdog4u2]

Siphon break or large enough sump is the best way since sludge can build up on anything that can catch it

 

[rc1626]

Agreed, the sump should have ample room to be able to handle any water the DT has in a pump failure/power out situation. One reason I can think to use one is if the return is lower than the overflow and the excess water could cause the skimmer to overflow in a power out/pump failure situation causing other problems. Again, not that a back flow valve should be trusted in my opinion but could be a remedial solution or an extra line of defense if needed. I have never used one and never plan to as I have no need to. GL to the OP on whatever the choice may be.

 

[DaveMorris]

There isn't a setup out there that can not be designed to not need a check valve. You will neglect it, it will get detritus or a snail in it, and it will fail. As others have said, it usually fails in the worst situation. Just make adjustments to your returns so that you do not need a check valve. That way you are guaranteed that it won't overflow your sump. Check valves are just an unnecessary extra thing to have to deal with.