Check valve puzzle....

Joined
Apr 22, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Country
United States
I recently repaired the liner in my pondless waterfall system. I noticed with the pump off, both biofalls will empty back down into the main reservoir over a period of a day or so causing the reservoir to rise accordingly. I can fill both biofalls back up from the reservoir full again, so i know there is no leak and the system is closed. I replaced the check valve with a new one, and still the same situation. My question is: is when both biofalls empty into the reservoir and doesnt cause an overflow (system still closed), do I need to have a check valve anyway? Wont the pump adequately keep the water circulating in a continuous fashion? Or eventually would the biofalls empty enough so as to not overflow and i would lose the waterfall?
 
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Messages
90
Reaction score
226
Location
Philadelphia Pa.
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
I recently repaired the liner in my pondless waterfall system. I noticed with the pump off, both biofalls will empty back down into the main reservoir over a period of a day or so causing the reservoir to rise accordingly. I can fill both biofalls back up from the reservoir full again, so i know there is no leak and the system is closed. I replaced the check valve with a new one, and still the same situation. My question is: is when both biofalls empty into the reservoir and doesnt cause an overflow (system still closed), do I need to have a check valve anyway? Wont the pump adequately keep the water circulating in a continuous fashion? Or eventually would the biofalls empty enough so as to not overflow and i would lose the waterfall?

What kind of check valve is it? Maybe it's a cheap one. If there is only one path from the reservoir to the falls, and it HAS to pass through the check valve back to the reservoir, it HAS to be the check valve. IF that is the way it is set up.
 
Joined
Apr 22, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Country
United States
What kind of check valve is it? Maybe it's a cheap one. If there is only one path from the reservoir to the falls, and it HAS to pass through the check valve back to the reservoir, it HAS to be the check valve. IF that is the way it is set up.
It seems like a standard check valve, 1 1/2 in dia. with a flapper type mechanism inside. It was installed properly. I've read where if the back pressure isnt strong enough, it may not make a complete seal, but it seems like there is enough back pressure. The check valve is completely vertical. ...But again, if the reservoir can accommodate all the water in the system without overflowing when the pump is turned off (rarely, plan to keep pump on all the time) would a check valve be necessary anyway? after everthing has been glued together, hate to cut out pvc valve from hose again...
 

Meyer Jordan

Tadpole
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
7,177
Reaction score
5,678
Location
Pensacola, Florida
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United States
If the reservoir is of sufficient capacity to accommodate transit water with enough reserve water to insure that the pump will not cavitate during normal use then a check valve is not really a necessity. What is the capacity of the reservoir in question? What is the estimated volume of transit water?
 
Joined
Apr 22, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Country
United States
the transit water going through the pipes is only about 5 gal. so reservoir is adequate. The only thing I havent accounted for in the volume of the reservoir is that whoever built this ($%#$@*) used large rocks (50 to 70# a piece) to act as a base in the reservoir for the top layer of cobble to rest on. I would have to make sure to include that reduction in reservoir volume to accommodate the amount of water that would backflow from the 2 biofalls were the pump to turn off without a check valve. I think my liner is high enough all around, but will have to check. Isnt there lighter, porous type box supports available to support a few hundred pounds of cobble? Thanks for all your help!!
 

Meyer Jordan

Tadpole
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
7,177
Reaction score
5,678
Location
Pensacola, Florida
Hardiness Zone
9a
Country
United States
the transit water going through the pipes is only about 5 gal. so reservoir is adequate. The only thing I havent accounted for in the volume of the reservoir is that whoever built this ($%#$@*) used large rocks (50 to 70# a piece) to act as a base in the reservoir for the top layer of cobble to rest on. I would have to make sure to include that reduction in reservoir volume to accommodate the amount of water that would backflow from the 2 biofalls were the pump to turn off without a check valve. I think my liner is high enough all around, but will have to check. Isnt there lighter, porous type box supports available to support a few hundred pounds of cobble? Thanks for all your help!!
Yes, they are sold under various trade names--Ecoblox, Matrix blocks, etc.. They are what is commonly used today in pondless and wetlands filters to support the upper level of gravel or cobbles.
This is what I always used. The least expensive of all the lot and just as functional.
aeration-system-standard-res-cube-10.gif
 
Joined
Apr 22, 2016
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Country
United States
Thanks a lot! Looks like your standard milk crate.....much better than boulders!
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads


Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
31,469
Messages
517,328
Members
13,671
Latest member
Susieh

Latest Threads

Top