Bad Check Valve

[smatter]

The check valve that came with my new Calcium Dispenser only works half of the time. The other half I can see water back-siphoning through it. I bought a new one today, but the only LFS that has the Hagen ones was out so I bought a Tetra one with the rubber valve. I thought I read a post recently where you listed a couple types not to use, but I couldn't find it. Hope the Tetra works.

[rvitko]

It will work but be sure to have the input line looped up over the reactor. Note how it is zip tied up in the manual. The kalk powder hardens the rubber and causes it to fail if it isn't looped up to prevent the powder from entering the line.

[smatter]

I have it just like it is in the picture. I could see kalk in the valve. I haven't put the Tetra one on yet, the Hagen one it came with seems to only let a little by now. Only a small bubble forms at the top of the reactor, then it stops.

Should I put on the Tetra anyway, or wait until I can pick up a Hagen?

[rvitko]

We used to use a duckbill valve and worked fine, I am still using one.

[smatter]

The Hagen seems to be working now, I will keep the Tetra as a back up. Thanks for the fast response.