Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've got Simon from landmark on the job, so hopefully we'll soon be able to buy them Australia wide as easy as the 600lt growbeds!

Just googled hudson ball valve theres a lot of reasons not to use one [about 4th entry down]

Or you could just post the link to make sure we're on the same page If you're talking about this, I'm still keen, I haven't found anything (skimming over that page) to dissuade me from at least giving it a go

DanDMan said he's been using it and it's never failed. As I'm topping up from a tank and not mains, I'm not really worried if it gets stuck on. Also as the tank is only 2200lt, even if the tanks was completely full and if the valve even failed, she'd be right (as I've accidentally left it on once before when I was topping up, fish didn't seem to mind.)

I am topping off from a water line. It does seal under the air that I can blow into it, so it should work if you have a little pressure from elevation. The 1/2 inch valve has an operating pressure of 0 to 100 pounds so I'm sure that one will work fine.

Yeah mate, I noticed that, I'll be getting the 1/2" because of that reason I think it's 8lb for the 1", dunno if it'll get to that, it's really just a trickle as the tank is only about 1-1.5m above the pond level.

What about a pvc pipe with an enlarger (oposite of a reducer but the same thing backwards (did that make sense)) and then a larger section of PVC pipe pointing down into the tank. Inside the larger pipe put a rubber ball and the pressure from the surrounding water would keep it closed when the tank was full and let water in when it was too low.

It would probably be really fiddly to set up but once done it should be reliable.

Good idea Stuart, only I have reservations in it working correctly.

e.g. a 200 litre drum stands ~900mm (used as header tank) - drum full there is "x" amount of pressure pushing down on the ball, the level is set so that the pressure pushing up on the ball from the depth of the sump tank is greater than what is applied from the pressure applied from the full drum until the water level drops in the sump tank, the ball falls and water flows out of the drum.


Now the drum is half full, this means less pressure applied from above and the the settings for the water level set previously are now out of whack.

This would mean that as the water level drops in the header tank (drum), the water level in the sump tank would have to drop lower before water would be added to top it up

Not sure if the height difference of the water in the header tank would cause too much difference in the water level in the sump tank...needs someone to take a hit for the team

I have used a 200l drum as an example

x=8.8kpa

Thanks Steve

no probs

for future reference 1000 mm water = 9.8kpa

lol, that was the 'design in my head' I spoke of in the first post, well something similar that involved a float at the bottom of a rod with a rubber connection up the top to plug the inlet, more pressure etc... hard to explain, but same principle

After thinking about it though, for $30US, that valve sounds like a good deal, I've read quite a few positive things about it, and Dan offers his personal endorsement

Bugger.

That would be why the ball valves have a lever.

You might be on to something there

Kenour

B do a very good replacement for caroma float valves called a fluidmaster, $19 when I last got one. Does not have a long lever and can fit in a pipe (if you want it to look pretty). Pic attached, mouse for scale.
Might be worth checking out.

This is what I use, about $10