Struggling with RedSea Valve PLEASE HEP

[LuniLoo]

I have a red sea Reefer 250. The first 4ish months were perfect I did not have to adjust the valve once. One day it started backing up in the back chamber and dumped in a ton of rodi water. Since then it does this MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY EVERY DAY! I have to adjust the valve every single time to get it back to normal. I try to keep it about half an inch down from the emergency pipe. It has been doing this for almost 6 months now and I can’t even just enjoy the tank I have to wake up out of my sleep to fix it. If I don’t fix it the return section of the tank will be depleted and will run the pump dry. I have tried cleaning the valve cleaning the pipes adjusting the sump wall increasing the pump speed …everything. I know people replace with a gate valve but I know there are PLENTY of people who still have the OG valve in their tank without issue. What am I doing wrong/how do I fix this?

I do not want to trickle water down the emergency pipe. It’s getting to the point where I just want to take the tank down.

 

[exnisstech]

You may have to get over not liking it trickling down the e drain. I have a reefer 300 and trying to keep it below the e drain never works for me. I had a reefer 170 and it was the same. The valve on RS tanks is awful IME

This is where I run mine.

 

[Jimbo327]

I don't own one of these, but here is what I would do.

First, open the drain valve completely open. if you can, run a wire, flex tubing or snake down the pipe, and make sure it is all clear and no debris/growth is blocking the pipe. Then start closing the valve again and see if it will return back to normal.

Edit: Oops, didn't read the part that you already tried cleaning it. That is very strange. When you clean the pipe, how did you do it? Are you certain there is no debris or blockage?

Not sure what pipe size it is...but wouldn't it be possible to just cut and put in a different valve? I would use a nice spears gate valve. Just not sure if RS uses standard sch 40 PVC sizes.

 

[Jimbo327]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/automatic-red-sea-downflow-valve-upgrade.1149869/

 

[Uncle99]

You description indicates to me that your flow is to fast.

Open the valve completely.

Turn the pump down to the slowest setting possible, the water should stop flowing, then increase it 1 position until the water just goes down the overflow.

Hold it in that spot for a day to ensure everything stays balanced.

Then if it’s still gurgling, turn up the pump, 1 more position and wait.

In the final test, turn the pump off completely and let the system drain backwards.

Once completed, turn the pump back on. The system should go right back to normal.

 

[RoanokeReef]

They have a new valve upgrade kit - https://redseafish.com/kit/reefgate-valve-upgrade-kit/

 

[sgdnycct]

I had a similar problem with my NYOS 440. After a month of constantly adjusting the valve I found my problem was a backed up return pipe. I cleaned the return and it went back to normal.

 

[exnisstech]

They have a new valve upgrade kit - https://redseafish.com/kit/reefgate-valve-upgrade-kit/

Too bad they didn't use a gate valve to start. Typical RS. The Gen 2 valve was supposed to be better than Gen 1 but my Gen 2 is just as finicky as my Gen 1.

Some people have done diy gate valves also. Most seemed to me happy but some no so much. I don't understand why people have such an aversion to allowing a trickle down the e drain. I have 9+ years dealing with RS systems and its the only way i can get mine quiet.

EDIT: Also the display water level is affected by the level in the over flow. I like my display level as as high as reasonably possible and running it to the e drain accomplishes this. I can tell when my valve needs adjusting because the water level drops in the display before it even starts making noise.