return line clog

[Fishie]

hey guys,

 

my return line seems clogged somewhere...

it is all hard pvc glued...and has a ball valve in the middle....after some testing i believe the ball valve input is the cause.

 

thing is i cannot turn the valve, I've tried a wrench and its stuck good and finally one of the holding thumb twisting extensions even broke off... i am planning to cut of the plumbing and redo it again without a ball valve in the return line..

 

any suggestions ?

 

i plan on putting a temporary flexipipe to my 1 inch drain line.

 

[Jon Lazar]

If your application calls for a valve, I would replace the current ball valve with a true union ball valve.  A TUBV allows you to remove it for maintenance or replacement.

 

If you don't really need a ball valve, I would replace the current ball valve with rigid PVC as you describe.  Two couplings and a short piece of pipe should do it.

[zygote2k]

Here's how we typically plumb the return line:

Pump of your choice

True Union Swing type check valve

Gate valve

pipe to return bulkhead

[Fishie]

when i do my future build Rob I'll have it done right by you

 

i fixed it this time and just put a union since it wasn't the ball valve that was clogged

 

turns out my flame wrasse :( somehow got back there despite having a net top...that and some old snail shells did it

 

 

anyway all clear now...thx

[Coral Hind]

So was it your drain line or your return line from the sump back to the tank that was clogged?

[Fishie]

Drain line ... I typod return accidentally