My Re-Plumb results and suggestions needed

[gnashty]

No - over the 1st, under the 2nd and over the 3rd...I actually put a couple of open cell sponges in the 2nd one and is doing pretty well to combat the bubbles -I need to do soemthing else thoguh as it will interfere with my fuge when i get it set up

 

[gnashty]

bratliff;528940 wrote: hmmm.. you do have quite a waterfall going into the return chamber. Have you tried putting the foam "guard" over the return pump intake? Or, raise the water level in the return chamber?

That has been adressed - the water level is much higher now. I can place a sponge nicely over the intake i was just worried about debris clogging it up

 

[gnashty]

bratliff;528947 wrote: Sorry... I did skim through the thread but busta missed that bit. :doh:

Yeah, the sponge does get funky but, I'm think more of a "see if that solves the issue" type of trouble shooting. If that solves it, you know your return pump is causing the issue. I had this exact same issue on my 90g with the sump in the stand and only solved it by running the water level too **** high in the return section.

yeah, i figured i would try it out and see - i am going to install a ball valve on the return when i get home (too much flow thru sump, want to skim more efficiently) and im gonna slap the sponge in...

 

[gnashty]

bratliff;528953 wrote: I bet'chu that slowing down your return and getting rid of that waterfall will solve your problem. Let us know the result! :up:

the waterfall is long gone and my bubble issue is nill now - now im battling tank cloudiness but i will let yall know how it turned out!

Now if i can get the UV to stop leaking - im going to have to cut it out (the unions were accidently glued too much and wont work) tonight and epoxy the crap out of it...

 

[acroholic]

cr500_af;528694 wrote: Interesting, Dave. I'm wondering now... which would I be better with; throttled Mag 9.5 or un-throttled Mag 7? I have both. Assuming that the 7 gives me the flow I want (which is the case).

Here is a thread from last year where myself and a couple others tested all three types of magnetic drive pumps with a kill a watt:

1. submersible magnetic drives (Mag Drive, Eheim submersible, Quiet One)
2. external magnetic drives (Pan World/BlueLine, Iwaki)
3. Direct Drive external (Reeflo)

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32071">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32071</a>

What we found was that restricting the output of type 1 and 3 reduced the wattage draw, and that it remained the same for type 2.

But the decline in wattage draw was not proportional I think. In other words, if your mag 9.5 was restricted in flow to the output of your mag 7 wide open, I think you'd still be using more watts that the mag 7 wide open.

I would rather run an appropriate sized pump wide open that restrict one. I am only guessing, but I think it is probably most efficient that way. That is not possible for most folks. I cant do it on my system beause I have to balance flow from one return pump between three tanks, a couple BRS reactors, a denitrator and a calcium reactor. I use a PW anyways. Wanted to use a Reeflo because of their efficiency, but my available space didn't let me.

 

[grouper therapy]

Acroholic;528978 wrote: Here is a thread from last year where myself and a couple others tested all three types of magnetic drive pumps with a kill a watt:

1. submersible magnetic drives (Mag Drive, Eheim submersible, Quiet One)
2. external magnetic drives (Pan World/BlueLine, Iwaki)
3. Direct Drive external (Reeflo)

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32071">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=32071</a>

What we found was that restricting the output of type 1 and 3 reduced the wattage draw, and that it remained the same for type 2.

But the decline in wattage draw was not proportional I think. In other words, if your mag 9.5 was restricted in flow to the output of your mag 7 wide open, I think you'd still be using more watts that the mag 7 wide open.

I would rather run an appropriate sized pump wide open that restrict one. I am only guessing, but I think it is probably most efficient that way. That is not possible for most folks. I cant do it on my system beause I have to balance flow from one return pump between three tanks, a couple BRS reactors, a denitrator and a calcium reactor. I use a PW anyways. Wanted to use a Reeflo because of their efficiency, but my available space didn't let me.[/QUOTE]

Some what accurate on most Dave. There is a sweat spot on most pumps . That is, somewhere along their performance curve is where they are most efficient. That varies with different pumps. Unless the pump has absolutely nothing attached to the outlet it always has some restriction or head loss. The pump does not know what type of restriction is causing the head loss whether it be a plumbed system with elbows, ts and pipe or a single valve. The best then to do is calculate the amount of dynamic head pressure and purchase a pump whose performance curve is hits around middle ways of that head. A pump with no head pressure running totally unrestricted is usually not operating at it's most efficient rate. the pressure pumps you tested will decrease in wattage used but it is not very noticeable until you are at the top of it's performance curve and only then very little due to it's high pressure design.