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I have had exactly one leak event in over two years with these valves, and that was during this grow about a week ago. I got very lucky, and caught it before it did anything more than a small puddle on the basement floor. I am still not sure what happened, but given the 5 micron filtration I'm using, plus the fact that I am putting only water through the valves, I can't see how junk in the float valve could have been the problem. Just before the leak started, I had removed and replaced the valve from the tray, so my current suspicion is that in replacing the valve in the tray, I somehow partially flooded the inner float so it could not close tightly. I will never know.I have too much experience with leaking valves. A low rise 3x3 flood table will easily hold the regular rez full with 4 plants inside. Or washing machine trays or plastic tubs... They do leak pretty slow when they leak so it would probably take a couple days to leak that amount out from a valve or 2
However, I have been watching that valve like a hawk since I cleaned up, and it works perfectly now. So far so good anyway, and the res has been on for a couple days now. Initially, I turned off the water overnight so I could see how it behaved, but not lately because there is no sign of a problem.
I like the idea of a flood tray as big as the reservoir, and may set that up for the next grow. In the meantime, I may opt to use a smaller reservoir rather than the full barrel the grow is hooked up to now. Still not done though. Procrastination eh? What could go wrong?