Apex flow meter question

[Dj A-Ron]

Hello everyone. I’m new to the saltwater world and looking for some help. My tank is a Red Sea Reefer 250 which is a 54 gallon tank with 11 gallon sump. I’m setting up my first saltwater tank and have set up an Apex. I set up the 1” flow meter to my return pump to monitor flow. I did plumb my sump in the basement bellow the living room where the tank is located. My return pump is the Eco-Tech Vectra M2. It’s specs say that it produces 2,000 gph with 21.5’ of head pressure. I have soft plumbing length of 9’ up through the floor and to some 1” PVC with three 90 degree elbows hard plumbed into the flow meter and then into the tank. I’m running the Vectra at 100%. In Apex Fusion it’s only showing a flow average of about 300gph. I was surprised that it only said 300gph. When I hold my hand in the water in front of the outlet in the water it feels like it’s flowing pretty strong. If I turn the Vectra down to 75% in Fusion it still only says about 300gph. Is 300gph enough flow from the return? Not sure if anyone else has any experience with this or any insight would be appreciated. I’ve included some pictures of my set up for reference what I’ve got going on. Thanks for any help.

 

[SuncrestReef]

I have a few thoughts:

1. Is the flow sensor installed with the arrow on the housing pointed in the correct direction of water flow?

2. Is the flow sensor setting in the FMM set to the correct sensor size?

3. do you have the ability to direct the flow into a bucket where you can measure the actual volume pumped over time?

4.Have you read Neptune’s guidance on how to install flow sensors in respect to placement after 90 degree elbows? See https://forum.neptunesystems.com/showthread.php?18184-Flow-Sensor-Installation

 

[ca1ore]

First is to make sure you have the flow sensor setup properly in the FFM. Assuming you do, the vectra performs quite poorly against pressure so 300 seems possible. Regardless, 300 is fine for a 54 gallon display.

 

[laverda]

Your m2 produces 2000 GPH at zero head. So that is right at the output with no fittings or hose on it. The maximum head is basically the point where you get no water flow. You tank probably has 12-15 feet of head when you calculate all the fittings, bends and restrictions in. I saw something like 7 or 8 fittings, each restricting flow. Also I believe the M2 has 1.25” out put, so using 1” pipe is a big restriction and adds a lot of head pressure. Personally I thing the flow meter is a useless restriction in your plumbing.
You can measure your flow by measuring how long it takes to fill a 5 gallon bag or bucket full of water. At 300 GPH it should take 60 seconds to fill a five gallon container.
All that said 300 GPH is good for a 55 gallon tank at a bit over 5 times tank volume.

 

[Dj A-Ron]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. I’m not sure how to do this without running the sump dry but I’ll try to figure it out.
4. I definitely don’t have this going on:

“For all sizes flow sensors, it is best to install the sensors where there is a straight run of pipe (or tubing) at least 5x the diameter of the flow sensor on both the inlet and outlet of the sensor. For example, for a 1" flow sensor, there should be 5 or more inches of straight pipe length both before and after the sensor.”

I only have 3.5” or so of straight PVC before the sensor and there is a 90degree elbow just before that. This could be my problem.

I guess it doesn’t really matter. I just thought it’d be best having the sensor close to the tank rather than down in the basement where the flow would obviously be stronger. I’ll just use it as reference to let me know if I lose flow over time and need to clean the pump. The flow coming out of the return in the tank seems pretty strong. Any stronger and it’s spray out of the tank. I think it’s just the location of the sensor throwing off the reading.

Thanks for the help and info.

 

[Dj A-Ron]

Your m2 produces 2000 GPH at zero head. So that is right at the output with no fittings or hose on it. The maximum head is basically the point where you get no water flow. You tank probably has 12-15 feet of head when you calculate all the fittings, bends and restrictions in. I saw something like 7 or 8 fittings, each restricting flow. Also I believe the M2 has 1.25” out put, so using 1” pipe is a big restriction and adds a lot of head pressure. Personally I thing the flow meter is a useless restriction in your plumbing.
You can measure your flow by measuring how long it takes to fill a 5 gallon bag or bucket full of water. At 300 GPH it should take 60 seconds to fill a five gallon container.
All that said 300 GPH is good for a 55 gallon tank at a bit over 5 times tank volume.

Im kinda thinking the same thing that putting in the meter was a mistake and a flow restriction. I just kinda got carried away with all this cool gear that you can get with these reef tanks. I come from freshwater tanks and we dont have all this cool stuff to play with in freshwater.

I definitely did have to add a lot of fittings and elbows to make it work and look good. I thought about running soft plumbing all the way up and skipping the PVC but I did t like how it looked. I might still go back and just do all soft plumbing for the return. Just so I’m not blasting my pump at full blast all the time.
Thanks for the tips.

 

[laverda]

The flow is the same along the entire length of the return plumbing. It is limited by the total head height. The reason the want the flow meter in a straight length of pipe is so turbulence from bends and angles does not mess with the sensor. It could give a higher or lower reading due to turbulence in the pipe. Personally I would just remove it. It is something else to go wrong, a restriction and a potential source of leaks.

 

[laverda]

If you go soft plumbing use superflex or ultra flex PVC. It glues just like PVC pipe is very flexible and strong. You do not want the stuff your using rupturing.

 

[Dj A-Ron]

The flow is the same along the entire length of the return plumbing. It is limited by the total head height. The reason the want the flow meter in a straight length of pipe is so turbulence from bends and angles does not mess with the sensor. It could give a higher or lower reading due to turbulence in the pipe. Personally I would just remove it. It is something else to go wrong, a restriction and a potential source of leaks.

Yeah, crap! You’re right. I’ll probably just remove it sooner or later. I’m still trying to learn all this stuff about Apex and these EcoTech pumps and Kessil light. Tricky trying to get it all to work together or work at all. Still gotta learn how to Calibrate the probes and the DOS for auto water change.... LOL!

 

[Dj A-Ron]

If you go soft plumbing use superflex or ultra flex PVC. It glues just like PVC pipe is very flexible and strong. You do not want the stuff your using rupturing.

Wow, I didn’t even know that stuff existed! That’s cool. I thought I was using the best option.... thanks for all the help. A lot of learning going on over here. Fun stuff. Haven’t even thought about fish yet... lol

 

[laverda]

Wow, I didn’t even know that stuff existed! That’s cool. I thought I was using the best option.... thanks for all the help. A lot of learning going on over here. Fun stuff. Haven’t even thought about fish yet... lol

Glad to help.