How low can Vectra pumps be turned down?

[Peach02]

essentially im planning a significant tank upgrade and am getting most equipment for my current tank before upgrading. Could I use a Vectra M2 turned down to 2300lph (30% ish) for a few months without any damage to the pump?

 

[Dragon52]

I don't think it would be a problem, I have the M1 & ran it at the 2nd light (25%?) for over a yr with no issues, now running at about 50%.

 

[piranhaman00]

I run my L2 at 4th light

 

[Phil D.]

I run it at #5. Remember it slows waaaay down when you put it into feed mode.

 

[Water Dog]

If you’re concerned about its minimal setting being too much flow, put a valve in the line so if you need to manually valve it back, you have that option.

 

[Peach02]

If you’re concerned about its minimal setting being too much flow, put a valve in the line so if you need to manually valve it back, you have that option.

Wouldn’t that create a lot of back pressure on the pump?

 

[Peach02]

I don't think it would be a problem, I have the M1 & ran it at the 2nd light (25%?) for over a yr with no issues, now running at about 50%.

Okay thank you for the help, does the manual come with the light increments / what each light means percentage wise?

 

[Phil D.]

If you’re concerned about its minimal setting being too much flow, put a valve in the line so if you need to manually valve it back, you have that option.

There's no need to put a valve as the minimum setting is nothing more than a trickle. There actually is no % given in the manual for each light. You can do the math and count the # of lights, (12?) then assign each a %,

 

[Water Dog]

Wouldn’t that create a lot of back pressure on the pump?

It’s no different than adding additional backpressure through a few extra elbows in your plumbing. Before there were controllable DC pumps, using valves were the only way to dial back flow.

 

[Marty's Reef]

If you have a reef link. Once you calibrate the pump you can turn it way down. I run my M2 at 15% on an 80 gallon Deep blue setup.

 

[piranhaman00]

The pump can also be manually set for low and high settings, these pumps are very adjustable, I wouldnt worry about to low of flow.

 

[AZMSGT]

Calibrate the pump according to the directions and you can slow it to a trickle if you want.

 

[Dragon52]

Okay thank you for the help, does the manual come with the light increments / what each light means percentage wise?

Not that I remember other then min to max output.

 

[Peach02]

Calibrate the pump according to the directions and you can slow it to a trickle if you want.

You can recalibrate later aswell right?

 

[AZMSGT]

You can recalibrate later aswell right?

Once you calibrate it there is no need to do it again. After you calibrate (once) it you can slow the pump down to a very low setting.

 

[Peach02]

Once you calibrate it there is no need to do it again. After you calibrate (once) it you can slow the pump down to a very low setting.

I know but when I move it from my current tank to a larger tank I can calibrate it to the larger tank right?