Aquaponic Gardening

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My 4-port indexing valve has stopped working.  I've taken it apart, cleaned it, and reassembled.  It works "sorta" for 3 of 4 ports.  But once it gets to the port nearest the inflow, it hangs and won't cycle.  

Any ideas?  

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Have you checked to make sure your pump is providing plenty of flow?  Is the pump clogged or has the impeller been damaged?

Where did you get the indexing valve and what brand/model (what size and what strength of stem disk assembly?)

If it is one of the valves I sell, I would say make sure there isn't a rough patch on the stem or the cam causing it to hang up going from the "sticky" port.  A nail file can be used if you find there is a rough patch that causes the valve to not move smoothly.  Also make sure there are no bits or media weighing down the cup.  I once had a gravity modified valve "hang up" because of a limestone chip that managed  to get sucked up by the pump and land in the cup and it weighed down the cup just enough that the gravity modified spring wouldn't lift it back up.

"cleaning" the valve out too well does sometimes cause problems.  The bio-slime from the aquaponics actually seems to help the valves operate more smoothly by acting to not only help seal off the inactive ports but also lubricating the inner workings of the valves.  By cleaning them out really well I've had a customer run into problems since washing it removed the natural bio-slime lubrication.

got it from one of your dealers. 4 port.  I'll check these things.  Had a pipe joint break (i think a raccoon fell on it...no, really), ran the sump dry, burned up the pump.  (one reason I'm a big fan of sumps instead of pumping your fish tank dry).  Added a new pump yesterday.  

I'll check your suggestions and report back.  

Dang, big raccoon

Well, I couldn't make the damn thing work anymore.  Cleaned it up real nice, inside and out, wet-sanded all the scale.  Not that grungy really.  Finally took the plunger-thing out and turned the whole assembly into a manifold.  I now control the flow to the beds with a valve at each bed and a valve on the spray bar.  

Thanks for the advice.  

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