Micro bubble/Sump overflow issues

I am trying to install a check valve onto some hose for my tank, but the only ones I can find are pvc ones that have a stainless steel spring/rod in them. are these ok to use with tanks? I know its stainless steel, but I am still wary of putting metal in saltwater.

has anyone used these in the past?

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

Don't use them they are bad. You have to special order.

These have all plastic parts and can be found in union form as well.

 

+1

I have found that if your plumbing is set up correctly than there is no need for check valves. I do not know what your setup will consist of but typical overflow/ return setups should not require a check valve.

 

As I have learned here at 3reef, a small hole drilled into your return lines just under the water line can act as a syphon break should the pumps fail. If your sump can hold some back flow until the syphon breaks even better. My sump can handle up to 25 gallons of back flow as a backup.

 

my sump is only 5.5 gallons, so it can't handle a ton of backflow! What I am having happen is that water is siphoning back through my return line, I might try the hole idea but with the way my return is set up, and since it is just a hose, im not sure it will work as needed. I added a sump to my biocube, so the return/overflow set up is a little different. I've also found it to be finnicky, as I am having trouble getting the overflow to start back up when the pump turns off too.

 

Yup.

This is what I do.
To drive home the point even further, it's better to have the nozzle high enough so the whole nozzle can act as the syphon break. I can't adjust mine that much since it's a hang on so I do with the hole.
Periodically check the hole too!

Check valves are not where it's at.

 

If you keep your return line at or near the surface of the water, the only backflow you will get is what's in the line.

What type of overflow do you have? If set up properly, it should auto-restart when the water reaches the proper level in the DT.

 

My problem is that I am using the stock return port on my biocube for my return, so it wants to drain until it hits that point in the tank, which will overflow my sump. here are some pictures of the back compartment and where the return is in relation to overall water level





And while we are at it the overflow is creating a ton of micro bubbles, any recommendations on how to eliminate them? I was going to put a reverse durso on it, but accidentally bought the wrong sized pvc.

 

Since you're using the stock return fitting, you can drill a 3/16" hole in the top of the flare fitting and put a short piece of rigid airline tubing into it (it should fit snugly, so you likely won't have to glue it in). Make the little piece of rigid long enuff to be just beneath the waterline OR you can add a piece of airline tubing to it and run it to wherever you want (I'd probably aim it back to into the overflow if it squirts water). This will be your siphon break.

You can also use a little "air control T fitting" instead of the straight rigid line, and the water will shoot out each side of the T...

You might also be able to replace the flare with a "pre-nippled" flare that is made with a little siphon break nipple molded into it.

BTW, I wouldn't use a check valve on a bet...

As for the micro bubbles, have you found the source? A filter sock should help. Also, you could add a piece of sponge across the sump between your first and second bubble trap baffles to keep the bubbles out of the pump bay. Another thing you can do is to hand screw a 90* elbow into the pump intake and point it downward...this makes it harder for bubbles to enter the return pump as the bubbles tend to float upwards.

 

Thanks! Im going to try the rigid airline tubing/T idea, and 90 degree elbow fitting, the pump came with one so it should work well!