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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Construction & Water Filtering System:
Brass or Copper Gate Valves

 





 


njin9
Koi Lover

Dec 19, 2007, 4:51 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1133 views)
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Brass or Copper Gate Valves Can't Post
I know people use slide/knife valves as a BD output valve for their filters. PVC slide valves are ok.

My questions is: should I use brass or copper fitting in my plumbing? Will it affect koi health? I heard that zinc plated steel gives koi lesions. I'm not too sure about copper or brass.

The reason I'm asking about copper or brass instead of PVC, is gate valves are not made out of PVC. My first three drums are in parallel before they merge into a common mechanical filter. There's a manifold that divides the input into three flows going to their respective drums. I think that the flow should be even amongst the three. That's my opinion, but I might be wrong. The gate valves will let me play around with it so that each drum's output is the same. Otherwise one drum might have more flow then the other two, and then later on may overflow.

So is my assumption correct, or am I just paranoid?
Are gate valves necessary?
Is brass or copper ok?
Or should I stick with the PVC slide valves for my input. There's only full throttle and shut off. No way of adjusting volume of flow.
Or is there another solution out there?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term intense, (obsessive) hard work to long-term laziness.

Do


Roger89
Koi Lover


Dec 19, 2007, 8:58 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1130 views)
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Re: [njin9] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi,

If you think each drum should have an equal flow to it, I guess you know what's best.

I read somewhere that copper is no good for the kois. I think zinc is less harmful. BTW, brass is an alloy mixture of zinc and copper Wink.

I don't use the PVC slide valves. I'm using a PVC valve also but it is a ball valve, so it can control the flow. Can you obtain these instead?

All the best.


njin9
Koi Lover

Dec 20, 2007, 4:12 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1112 views)
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Re: [Roger89] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the info about the metals. That could have been disastrous with the Koi belly-up or having lesions that one day make them belly-up.
No metal gate valves. Gotcha.

As for ball valves, getting them is not a problem. The problem is trying to turn those things. I've tried all the available stock at my local and not so local hardware big block superstores, and I could not fully open or close any of them. I'm reefing on the knobs, but they just don't turn. Is there a secret?

Not being able to open and close these ball valves is what has pushed me to consider gate valves.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term intense, (obsessive) hard work to long-term laziness.

Do


Roger89
Koi Lover


Dec 20, 2007, 10:19 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1104 views)
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Re: [njin9] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Why can't they partially open/close? I guess those things are not functioning. Otherwise it is mislabled. lol

The ball valves are connectors with a 'ball' in the middle with a hole cut through it that allows water to flow. When the knob is turned, the 'ball' turns 90 degrees so that the part facing the water is now blocked by a covered surface. Sorry for the explaination but that is how the ball valve you were looking at should function. Maybe the knob is difficult to turn because it is meant that way so that water will not seap through the ball valve in high pressure water situation..?? Crazy


njin9
Koi Lover

Dec 21, 2007, 12:24 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1089 views)
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Re: [Roger89] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Roger,
I know what these ball valves are. I just don't know how to turn them. It seems simple enough, turn the handle and the ball rotates in relation to the handle. This will either open more of an opening to fully open, or reduce the opening to fully closing it. It's pretty simple and straight forward.

My problem is: how do I turn these handles. I've tried, but I haven't been able to turn one. They are so stiff that if I imagine that if I have bulkheads attached to these valves, that while trying to turn these handles, I would actually twist and pop my silicon ( and probably still won't be able to open the valve). Is there a way to loosen it up so it's not so stiff without having water leak everywhere? The PVC units looked sealed, so the ball valve is fixed in the housing. How am I able to loosen this unit for ease of use. I heard there's a nut or screw somewhere (most likely in the handle) that will adjust it so it's not so stiff. Is this true?

Thanks,
Do



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term intense, (obsessive) hard work to long-term laziness.

Do


Roger89
Koi Lover


Dec 22, 2007, 9:41 AM

Post #6 of 10 (1067 views)
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Re: [njin9] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Maybe some ball valves do have adjustable nut... But I haven't seen one like that. It is really hard to say why they are difficult to turn. Maybe you should get the store's assistance. sorry...


Bindi
New User


Dec 23, 2007, 5:11 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1050 views)
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Re: [Roger89] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Ball valves! Yep, they drive me nuts too but they are the best fitting for the job.
They only turn one way for on ( there should be an arrow on them.)
They also are tight to turn! I did the same thing and took mine back and tried every ball valve in the shop. I was lucky and ended up with 2 that are easy to turn. I had fitted one and it was so tight that it was moving the bulk head fitting. Not good.
The assistant suggested to use olive oil inside to help with loosening them up but I was reluctant to thinking it would eventually gum them up.
There is no way to loosen the type I bought. No screw or anything.

I can only suggest you keep searching for some looser ones. Sorry.
Cheers!
Bindi.


........................

Hooked on koi.

........................


njin9
Koi Lover

Dec 27, 2007, 3:18 AM

Post #8 of 10 (1013 views)
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Re: [Bindi] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the advice.
I was thinking that there was a screw or nut somewhere to loosen it. And I was tempted to buy them online because it's cheaper then the hardware store.
I'll keep looking around though.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term intense, (obsessive) hard work to long-term laziness.

Do


gogsard
Koi Lover

Dec 31, 2007, 1:41 PM

Post #9 of 10 (973 views)
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Re: [njin9] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
I experience the same thing yesterday while is was doing my new pond plumbing. The valves stuck half was. Broke the lever because I was forcing it too much. I almost dump the ball valve idea, went the another hardware shop to reassure myself. The sell under a diff brand, and this time it open easily almost like a water tap !

I found out the difference is the way it was built. The new one have somesort of a rubber shoe lining, which maybe cushion it. Compare to the old, there is none, just bare plastic. My worker also mention base on his experience, the old one is a cheap one.

Maybe you can try to scout around more. Hope this helps.


(This post was edited by gogsard on Dec 31, 2007, 1:49 PM)


njin9
Koi Lover

Jan 1, 2008, 4:13 PM

Post #10 of 10 (954 views)
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Re: [gogsard] Brass or Copper Gate Valves [In reply to] Can't Post
Yeah thanks alot. I'll have to go to a specialty plumbing hardware store that will have more variety and better selection. The stuff I've tried at big box stores seemed overpriced for the quality and stiffness. I'm sure these ball valves were the cheaper ones.
Your post gives me hope.



------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term intense, (obsessive) hard work to long-term laziness.

Do

 
 
 



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