Check valves with piston pump

[Ryan G]

I’m exploring the option of a piston air pump.  I’ve got a display tank on the 1st floor and the fish room is in the basement.

Everything I read about the piston pump says to mount it above the water line, but I want to mount it near the ceiling in the basement and use a check valve to also run the tank on the 1st floor.

I guess my question is why can’t you use a check valve with a piston air pump (or can you?)

[Flumpweesel]

I can't see why you couldn't run a check valve I know they choke the output a little but that shouldn't be any more of an issue than adjusting the bubble rate at a valve anyway.

 

[TFISH]

I do use a piston air pump on 30 + tanks. The pump is mounted at the basement ceiling. None of the airlines do go above the air pump. But I still have some air lines use a check valve. This has been setup for two + years without seeing any issues.  

[Cory]

I currently have my pumps sitting on the floor with the airlines above. So far I haven't had any problems when I would have assumed I would have.  You can use check valves at the tank to prevent water from coming back. I think I've just been lucky so far as I don't understand fluid dynamics as well as I'd like.