I'm in the process of planning my next tank (180G) and I'm thinging about using electronic Y valves from the main pump(s). I don't hear any discussion on this approach. Anyone out there done this? I'm thinking about 3 valves run by to pumps. That would make 6 outputs in the tank. Is there any reason I should not do this ? In this hobby cost went out the window a long time ago :lol: Thanks!
Plumbing; Electric valves
- Thread starter jammyauto
- Start date
if you are talking about 3-way ball valves then yes people are doing that.
as you apparently know they are a little high dollar, and i haven't tried them but do think of it from time to time.
i can think of no reason not to do what you are planning.
i don't hear alot of talk of them here either but see the valves for sale here and there in the hobby.
as you apparently know they are a little high dollar, and i haven't tried them but do think of it from time to time.
i can think of no reason not to do what you are planning.
i don't hear alot of talk of them here either but see the valves for sale here and there in the hobby.
I seriously thought about going with an actuated valve, but decided against it for a couple of reasons.
Initally cost did not seem to be a problem. An actuated ball valve is not much more than 2 1 inch sea swirls. The problem came when I started to think about redundancy. 2 of those valves is pretty spendy, and did I really need 4 inputs into the tank? Also, you rely on one pump, and with the ss's you can run two pumps.
It is one piece of critical equipment and that worries me.
Plus the moving action of the ss's is seems more benificial than simply changing the direction of the current flow.
Anyone have any thoughts on why or why not to use actuated valves?
RR
Initally cost did not seem to be a problem. An actuated ball valve is not much more than 2 1 inch sea swirls. The problem came when I started to think about redundancy. 2 of those valves is pretty spendy, and did I really need 4 inputs into the tank? Also, you rely on one pump, and with the ss's you can run two pumps.
It is one piece of critical equipment and that worries me.
Plus the moving action of the ss's is seems more benificial than simply changing the direction of the current flow.
Anyone have any thoughts on why or why not to use actuated valves?
RR
i don't know if the SS give a more beneficial flow than an actuated valve.
to my reasoning it would seem the opposite.
i would think with the actuated valves the flow over the entire tank would be better than the limited swing radius of the SS.
probably not enough difference to argue either way.
to my reasoning it would seem the opposite.
i would think with the actuated valves the flow over the entire tank would be better than the limited swing radius of the SS.
probably not enough difference to argue either way.
Thanks Everyone. I think I'm going to try it. I contacted hayward and they will sell directly to me, a little cheaper but not much. My plan is 3 out lets on either side of the tank, spaced evenly top to bottom. I could either run the valves randomly or switch the current back and forth. I am thinking of running the returns up from the bottom of the tank an using check valves. Is this a dumb idea? Seth
hi.
Everything an AV setup can do can be done with multiple PH/pump with an appropriate controller. However, the advantage that an AV offers is that a single pump can be run continuously so that premature failure due to on/off cycling can be avoided. For high flow application, it is important because the pump is not cheap to replace. If the cost and noise issure can be ignore, AV setup is without doubt greatly better than the so-called "wavemaker" setup.
With that been said, AV advocates often claim that the sustainable output of a AV setup is the advantage over other wavemaking setup like SS. Another advantage is that AV offer a lot more flow than SS. Largest SS is 1" if I remember correctly, while it is not uncommon to find AV setup with 2" or larger diameter pipe. Compare the the sustainable output of AV, SS rotating head can not duplicate the flow pattern of AV. It is not possible, for example, to make the output of a SS to remain in a certain angle for any amount of time. Sophicated controller can be use to make AV to close and open at cyclic or chaotic pattern, while it is not commonly done for the SS setup. With sufficient output and appropriate timing, an AV setup can be closely duplicate that of a SS. But AV advocates feel that there is no rationel to do it other than to know that your Lotus can drive as slow as your Pinto.
For certain tank setup, it is clear that AV must be used instead of SS. But for most medium-sized box-type setup (90 -> 240 gal), the AV advantage is more difficult to propose. However, if you want a biased opinion, I will say that AV setup offers better flow than rotating devices like SS.
Everything an AV setup can do can be done with multiple PH/pump with an appropriate controller. However, the advantage that an AV offers is that a single pump can be run continuously so that premature failure due to on/off cycling can be avoided. For high flow application, it is important because the pump is not cheap to replace. If the cost and noise issure can be ignore, AV setup is without doubt greatly better than the so-called "wavemaker" setup.
With that been said, AV advocates often claim that the sustainable output of a AV setup is the advantage over other wavemaking setup like SS. Another advantage is that AV offer a lot more flow than SS. Largest SS is 1" if I remember correctly, while it is not uncommon to find AV setup with 2" or larger diameter pipe. Compare the the sustainable output of AV, SS rotating head can not duplicate the flow pattern of AV. It is not possible, for example, to make the output of a SS to remain in a certain angle for any amount of time. Sophicated controller can be use to make AV to close and open at cyclic or chaotic pattern, while it is not commonly done for the SS setup. With sufficient output and appropriate timing, an AV setup can be closely duplicate that of a SS. But AV advocates feel that there is no rationel to do it other than to know that your Lotus can drive as slow as your Pinto.
For certain tank setup, it is clear that AV must be used instead of SS. But for most medium-sized box-type setup (90 -> 240 gal), the AV advantage is more difficult to propose. However, if you want a biased opinion, I will say that AV setup offers better flow than rotating devices like SS.
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