Thank you all for your good advice.
I have much more confidence in setting the pump at 100'.
I was going to install a SS check valve directly on top of the pump and I'm sure that it would work fine.
After reading the check valve manufacturer's instructions, most agree that a check valve should not be placed within 5 pipe diameters of another check valve or fitting that changes flow direction, so in my case a minimum of 5" from the pump.
After watching a whole bunch of YouTube videos with conflicting information, I have decided to place one SS check valve 25' above the pump.
Regarding the suggestion to install a constant pressure pump control valve, I did research the Flomatic Cycle Guard valve.
For my application, I have decided against it.
I have a fairly new, very large bladder tank and the pump I have chosen has a integral soft start feature.
My well was drilled in May of 1985 and all evidence points to the pump being the original pump installed by the well driller.
I have owned my house since 2/2001, and I haven't touched it.
Speaking to the previous owners and the close neighbors, no one thinks that it has been replaced.
I'll find out for sure when I pull it, but regardless, it has given great service set up conventionally with a 40-60 pressure switch.
If the bladder tank was old, I might consider a constant pressure pump control valve, but utilizing the existing tank would cause the new pump to run for way too long at the end of each pumping cycle with a flow of only 1 gpm.
Thanks again.
Rather than wait for the pump to fail at an inconvenient time, I plan on picking a nice Saturday and conning my brothers into helping me.
Wish me luck,
Chris
Lol! Watching a bunch of Youtube videos will confuse anybody. Youtube thrives on disinformation. They get six times more clicks from fake news than from real news, so they encourage videos with bad advice. There is a guy who has made hours of inaccurate videos about Cycle Stop Valves and even mentions Flomatic Cycle Guard. Youtube will do nothing about it as the guy says it is all his opinions. It doesn't matter that opinions have no place in a subject where so many facts are available. I have plenty of facts, with charts, curves, and literature to prove what I am saying. Yet thousands of people see his wildly inaccurate videos and thinks there is some truth to them when there is not. All the bad information on the Internet is the reason I started working on forums 10-15 years ago, to help people get some facts. Like the crazy guy I mention, making your own assumptions from idiotic opinions on Youtube is not a good way to design a pump system. You should get your advice from someone with over 50 years experience with drilling and pumps that guarantees everything he does and or sells.
Just like I am right about the fittings being galvanized, not Stainless Steel, I am right about everything else as well and old enough to not put up with the idiots on or at Youtube. And I guarantee it!!
First, the spring-less check valve in the SQ pump are some of the best you can get. I have installed many thousands of Grundfos pumps and never added an extra check valve to the system. The check valve in the pump also works better when it is the only check in the system, as there is more pressure to hold it closed.
Second, "manufacturers instructions" about 5 pipe diameters or adding additional check valves every 100' is such bad advice you can also find that on Youtube. Manufacturers are out to make money and they will not tell you the best way to install and control a pump or they would recommend a CSV on everyone. Recommending a CSV on every pump would eliminate the replacement pump business completely, which is why they don't recommend a CSV.
Third, you are listening to idiots on Youtube to come up with that info about a CSV taking too long to fill a large tank. If they don't understand something that simple is not true, they don't understand anything else either. When using a large pressure tank the CSV is set at 58 PSI while using a 40/60 pressure switch. This makes the large tank fill in the same 2-3 minutes, and maybe one minute more than without the CSV, which is a good thing.
Forth. yes Flomatic has a copy of every Cycle Stop Valve I make. It is flattering and additional proof that the CSV is the best thing for pumps.
Fifth, the soft start feature in the SQ pump is fine, but mostly another sales gimmick. The only time a soft start feature would help is if your pump is cycling on and off too much anyway. Adding a Cycle Stop Valve solves the root problem, which is cycling, and gives a mechanical soft start and stop feature that is better than the electronic type.
Lastly, even the bladder in your large tank will last longer, just like the pump, when a Cycle Stop Valve is added.
You came here for advice. You should consider the source and trust someone who guarantees his work and can be reached by phone if you have any questions. Designing a system from "opinions" on Youtube is the best way to end up on Youtube showing all the problems you are having.