Do I need a ball valve on my 4inch pressure pipe

hockeymum · 06-02-2012, 06:57 PM

Hi
As you can see I am new to koi keeping and currently designing our new pond to start building in April.

I intend to have a gravity fed system with 4 inch bottom drain with air going to a Nexus filter. My question is do I need a ball valve on the 4 inch feed to the filter ?

I will have ball valves on the outlet pipe to remove the pump if needed.

Any advice and help will be gratefully received.

Christine

chrisjc · 06-02-2012, 07:00 PM

if it was me then i be fitting a ball valve just incase i need to remove the filter

Doghouse Riley · 06-02-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockeymum

Hi
As you can see I am new to koi keeping and currently designing our new pond to start building in April.

I intend to have a gravity fed system with 4 inch bottom drain with air going to a Nexus filter. My question is do I need a ball valve on the 4 inch feed to the filter ?

I will have ball valves on the outlet pipe to remove the pump if needed.

Any advice and help will be gratefully received.

Christine

Just a point on pipework, as most filter systems are what are technically called "open ended" there's no need for pressure pipe.
Unless you're using something like a sand filter where there is pressure, conventional pipework is adequate.

hockeymum · 06-02-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doghouse Riley

Just a point on pipework, as most filter systems are what are technically called "open ended" there's no need for pressure pipe.
Unless you're using something like a sand filter where there is pressure, conventional pipework is adequate.

So I dont need to buy pressure pipe for my bottom drain just use construction 4 inch pipe?

C

Mark i · 06-02-2012, 07:24 PM

Hi Christine,

No you dont need pressure pipe but as the difference in price is not as great as it used to be its worth the peace of mind, I've not long finished my 26000ltr pond and all the pipe is pressure pipe. I have only put a slide valve on the inlet to my nexus but make sure that you put ball valves on all the wastes.

Regards Mark

miles41 · 06-02-2012, 07:42 PM

Hi Christine,
On the 4" pipe from the bottom drain, a slide valve will surfice and that's what I'll be fitting on my new build.
With the other ancillary equipment, I am going to be using ball valves, as they are better for regulating flow etc.
From the bottom drain, the pipe is either 'open or closed' so a slide valve here makes better and more economical sense.

Hope that helps.

go54nke · 06-02-2012, 07:56 PM

Sorry but a slide valve on a bottom drain run just isn't good enough imho. A good friend of mine used them on his build, 2 years later the 4" slide valve (valtera) split down the centre, luckily he spotted this before the pond level got too low.

To sort this out involved diving down to cap the bottom drains and then changing the valve.

Slide valves have there use, I use them, but on pipework that is run from the bottom of a pond, ball valves every time.

Doghouse Riley · 06-02-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockeymum

So I dont need to buy pressure pipe for my bottom drain just use construction 4 inch pipe?

C

I've bog standard Key Terrain 4" pipe from my bottom drain to the pump sump and 1.5" polypipe for pretty much everything else. Had it for 25 years.

hockeymum · 06-02-2012, 08:24 PM

Hi

Thanks for all the replies - made my mind up to go with double union 4 inch ball valve - now to find a mortgage to buy one.

Christine

john t · 06-02-2012, 09:02 PM

hi

i have done the same as you and went for a 4" ball valve and got mine from coastal koi in kings lynn with next day delivery.

you need a ball valve instead of a slide valve as a slide valve can leek over time as the seal perishes.