One Way Valve

[juhill]

Probably being a bit blonde here but I have just bought a one way valve and it says make sure the arrow is pointing towards the air stone but I can't see an arrow! Is there an easy way of knowing which way round it should go?

Thanks

 

[Saedcantas]

If there is no arrow, label or obvious directions on the valve, it will be one of the transparent ones which assume you are able to figure out that the design of the internal parts point in one direction

I couldnt find a pic or diagram on the net suitable for the explaination but here's one I made earlier

 

[voo]

try blowing into it. You'll be able to hear the air when you get it the right way round.

or just connect it to the air pump. you'll only get air coming out when it's the right way round

 

[juhill]

Thank you Saedcantas, it is transparent and does taper in one direction but not as much as your diagram!

Thanks Voo, had already tried blowing into it but wasn't any the wiser and it was giving me a headache...

Will go and connect it up now.

 

[martin_jones]

...out of interest, why do you need a valve? I was running an airstone on my pump without one - is this bad? What would the implications be?

 

[mewhorse]

The valve is a needed safety device - if your power goes out/or pump fails what can happen is the water gets siphoned into the airhose and all over the floor - big time electrical problem then! Not to mention the mess....and if caused by power outage then replacing airfilter...

 

[voo]

If the pump is lower than the tank (ie on the floor) and the power goes off, then that's when it'll start syphoning out the water. One way valve will stop the water syphoning back down the airpipe

 

[martin_jones]

Ah. Thanks for the info.

I've taken mine out now anyway as I heard it wasn't so good for a planted tank - something about CO2 getting lost to the surface.

Thanks,

Martin