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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Alburglar's Avatar
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    4 inch ball valve here or 3 inch? Opinions please.

    Hello,
    I'm gathering bits for the big boy pond and looking at pipework. The bottom drain will be a 4inch / 110mm pipe coming out the ground as per the professionally drawn CAD diagram below. I will be starting off with a sieve which has a 3inch inlet.
    I want a ball valve (I have discounted sliding valves) here, before all the filters etc. Do i use a 4 inch ball valve or do people go straight down to a 3 inch? The difference in price is substantial.
    2000gal gravity fed, would I ever regret a 3 inch and want to go back to 4inch all the way when I fit my diy drum later?
    Opinions appreciated.


    2660 Gallons. 4" Bottom Drain and Skimmer. Draco Solum 16 Drum. Anoxic Filtration. Air lift returns.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Djstiles999's Avatar
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    If you are intending to put a drum on later with 4” or 110mm pipe work later I’d fit the right size valve for that now personally. Irritatingly a lot of drums use 110mm pipe not 4” which is ok on rubber connectors but a pain if you are welding joints

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  4. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    i agree if later down the line you revert to 4 inch. for the drum. why pay twice when you can buy once. 4 inch for me

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  6. #4
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai maplekoi's Avatar
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    4 inch all the way but remember how big they are when planning your build

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  8. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    Yup another vote for 4” double Union..

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  10. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Alburglar's Avatar
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    Ok. Ta everyone.
    2660 Gallons. 4" Bottom Drain and Skimmer. Draco Solum 16 Drum. Anoxic Filtration. Air lift returns.

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  12. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Andymadd's Avatar
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    I have used slide valves for many years and not had any issues, best to use them vertical if you can to avoid any crap in the seal. You have to think to yourself how many times will I close this valve and expect a perfect seal any how much will it cost me.

    Andy

  13. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    I must be unlucky then, as everyone of my slide valves have failed over time, whether vertical or horizontal! I have now replaced all with double Union ball valves.
    , apart from the 4” slide on my BD which is used to isolate Nexus when necessary. This leaks like a sieve, but only used occasionally, open most of the time...not enough space to change it to a ball.

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  15. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    I agree all my slide valves have leaked.
    Had to replace one on brand new easypod after only 2 years. Now all ball valves. On grow on and main pond. Maybe I was unlucky with them. All velterra slide valves.
    The one on my drain from easypod. I was losing water levels for days. I thought wheres it going the water as there was no leaks. The I checked my drains sewage. And could hear a trickle. The gate had a chip in it and water was bypassing it.
    To sewer drain.
    Yet on my old pond I had same make valves for 12 years with no problems. Maybe unlucky with some batches made


    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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  17. #10
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai sammy66's Avatar
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    HI, Go for the 4" i done 3 changes to the pond over the last 5 years , so save now you can always drop down with a rubber boot til you change to a drum .

  18. #11
    Coastal koi 4” valves are decent and probably the cheapest


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  20. #12
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Scamp's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by freddyboy View Post
    I agree all my slide valves have leaked.
    Had to replace one on brand new easypod after only 2 years. Now all ball valves. On grow on and main pond. Maybe I was unlucky with them. All velterra slide valves.
    The one on my drain from easypod. I was losing water levels for days. I thought wheres it going the water as there was no leaks. The I checked my drains sewage. And could hear a trickle. The gate had a chip in it and water was bypassing it.
    To sewer drain.
    Yet on my old pond I had same make valves for 12 years with no problems. Maybe unlucky with some batches made


    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    I had exactly the same issue with my skimmer/eazypod waste valve, water level in pond dropping until I discovered the cause. Like you all were valterra. Never again not had a problem with any of my ball valves - just a blob of silicon grease on valve occasionally.

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