Potteeee.....advice required please!

[Bigmallly]

Pond pump feeds a dustbin filter which then returns the water to the pond. The inlet pipe enters the top of the bin & goes to the bottom of the bin creating a vortex effect. The outlet is at the top of the bin ..........

Question:

If I turn the power to the pump off, the contents of the filter syphon back into the pond, I was thinking off fitting an inline 20mm check valve. If I do, is there any particular one I should get or can you come up with an easier solution...........Cheers Pal in advance.

[KevinM67]

Can somebody go and wake up Pots - I've not got got a clue.

[Bigmallly]

Anybody feel free to comment...................

[Cadalot]

It's Kinda a specific question not one I can help you with but there has to be a grape out there somewhere who can but you must mean a non-return valve not a check valve or are they the same thing? if so can't you do it with a non return hoselok end on the pipe assuming you are using hose?

[Bigmallly]

Cheers Cad, yes they are the same thing. I think it's the Americans who call it a check valve, I must be changing culture & dint realise.............the pipe that runs from the pump to the filter is 20mm corrugated plastic, similar to what you may see on a washing machine outlet. I was thinking of using something like this but I've read mixed reviews so want to make sure I get the right thing in case there is a power cut.

[DannyK]

If your pond is like mine there's going to be crud in the water, which may stop the valve from closing.

Maybe if you put in a tee at the top with the valve being closed when the pump is running it would let in air when pump is off and break syphon. I'd put a pipe from valve outlet to overhang pond in case of valve failure.

[Bigmallly]

Cheers Danny, you lost me along the way but taking onboard some of what you said would this work:

Present setup, inlet via 20mm pipe. Outlet via 32mm pipe:

Proposed setup, No Valves but a T piece inserted along the inlet therby eliminating the syphoning effect should the power fail. My only thought is would water come out of the top of the T? I dont think it would but thought I should ask:

I omiited to add that there is also a drain tap at the bottom of the bin which I open each day for a few seconds to empty any sediment.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Did some one call?

I think this has been discussed before in relation to water butts with a similar problem.

An inline NRV would work but as already been said you would have to take the condition of the water into consideration, junk could stop it closing.

An air break might be a better solution using either an air admittance valve (if you can get one the right size) teed in as shown in your second diagram. Another solution would be to tee in at the highest point and run that pipe to a higher level above the head of water the pump is capable of producing, thus stopping pump over.

Going back to the thread I think I remember I am pretty sure the poster phone hoze-loc and they came up with a solution.

[Bigmallly]

Chhers Potty, I have a 20mm T so will give that a go . Thanks everyone.

[Potstubsdustbins]

It should give the pump head on the attached data plate, take off the height from where the pump is situated to the highest part of the existing pipe and this will give you an approximate height you will have to terminate your air inlet pipe.

I would always start of higher than necessary switch on the pump and have a peer down the pipe with a torch to see how much I can cut back.

Or for a real bodge (Have I used that word, must be the Vines influence) get some airline pipe as used by fish keepers and find a way to seal it into the tee, you will then be able to see the water level.

[Bigmallly]

Bodge?..........How very dare you?............

A massive thank you to all who contributed to this thred. The pump head was 2.5m so taking the depth of the pump & the height of the filter outlet, I only needed to add a 30cm length of pipe. A 22mm hole was cut in the bin lid which was then slid over the pipe & clamped down. All checked & no syphon when there is loss of power..........Thanks again.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Glad it all worked out BM

[Lumpy]

Go on, go on go on go on (best Father Ted voice) is talcum powder the answer? I.m bored sorry BM and any others of a delicate nature.