Parallel or Serial Reactors?

[JSB]

OK, so I am redesigning/rebuilding my sump for a couple of reasons: I need a little more space in it, and I need to reduce the number of pumps to help keep my temps in the range I want them without a chiller. I have decided that I can remove a pump from one of my reactors and put the bio pellets and the carbon reactor on the same pump.

There are two options which both have pros and cons:

Serial:

Pros:	Simplified plumbing and space consumption, fewer parts
Cons:	Cannot independently control flow rate

Parallel:

Pros:	Independent flow control
Cons:	bulk, complexity

I think that flow over the carbon does not need to be as precise as that over the bio pellets, so that leans me towards the serial model, however, I may change the order, allowing the carbon to be last in line. Would there be adverse effects for the BP effluent flowing through the carbon?

 

[H@rry]

I think I would try the serial to start with. The thing about that is if it is not working properly how would you really know?

I'm watching to see what other people say who have tried it. I run GFO in a reactor in one tank with carbon in a HOB filter and another tank has carbon in a cannister filter like a DI cartridge with GFO in a sock in the sump.

 

[pickupman66]

I would go parallel.the ability to independently control flows trumps all IMO.

Sent from my SCH-I905 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JSB]

Well, apparently great minds don't think alike. One vote for each way. :wink:

Well, being a control freak, I had thought about parallel too. The problem is one of hydrodynamics. With a single pump, any adjustment to one valve affects flow across the other due to back pressure (or lack thereof). Dialing it in would be a pain in the rear, and that is a lot of pipe, for which I don't have a lot of space.

As for the serial, I think I would have to put the carbon first so that the bacteria rich BP effluent did not foul the carbon. However, would the recently polished water heading into the BP reactor have a negative impact? Cripes, I don't know. Maybe I will just pull the MAG 3 (AKA heater) of the BP and put a cooler eheim on it, and continue to run two pumps.

 

[MBG75]

Why not use a single return pump to feed the tank and everything else. Then build a manifold. That way each item has its own ball valve and only one pump needed.

 

[JSB]

Why not use a single return pump to feed the tank and everything else. Then build a manifold. That way each item has its own ball valve and only one pump needed.

I had been looking at putting an eheim 1250 on the two reactors and a 1260 as my return. Would I want to do a 1262 to run all of them, or would the 1260 handle it?

 

[H@rry]

Why not use a single return pump to feed the tank and everything else. Then build a manifold. That way each item has its own ball valve and only one pump needed.

That's a real good idea. BUT, keep a spare pump on hand. If you have a single pump and it quits you're dead in the water.

 

[JSB]

That's a real good idea. BUT, keep a spare pump on hand. If you have a single pump and it quits you're dead in the water.

I ALWAYS keep a replacement return pump on hand. If you can only have one spare part, that is the one. I currently have a BNIB MAG 9.5 just in case, but I intend to sell it and buy the eheim. The eheim becomes the main pump, and the current generic pump becomes the spare.

 

[JSB]

So, assuming I go the manifold route, I would think a 3/4" return line w/ 3/4" ball valve, with 2 (or even three) 1/2" taps with ball valves. Put the return valve AFTER the taps and not before allowing me to isolate everything individually.

Where can I find PVC ball valves that are a bit more precise than the one at the depot? The ones I have from there now have a fairly gross adjustment. Also, in the sake of simplicity, can I connect the return lines from the two reactors or will that cause excessive backflow?

This is all drawn with 1/2, but I would think that 3/4: is necessary for the main line. Thoughts?

 

[H@rry]

I've found that if you want more than a simple off/on control you need to forget the ball valve and get gate valves.

 

[markkazdad]

What tool are you using to draw the pretty pictures?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I thought the way Melev's reef plumbed his manifold was really neat. Here's an old thread from the time he first made it:

Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 17 - Reef Central Online Community


Here's his recent one:
The Manifold Assembly: Running multiple items from a single pump - Blogs - Reef Addicts

As for the good plastic valve, Dr. Sanjay Joshi swear by Asahi America's valves.

 

[JSB]

I thought the way Melev's reef plumbed his manifold was really neat. Here's an old thread from the time he first made it:

Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 17 - Reef Central Online Community


Here's his recent one:
The Manifold Assembly: Running multiple items from a single pump - Blogs - Reef Addicts

As for the good plastic valve, Dr. Sanjay Joshi swear by Asahi America's valves.

Thanks Tomoko. I will research those this evening.

What tool are you using to draw the pretty pictures?

Sump Designer 2.0. Naaaah! Just kidding. Google Sketchup and IDX Renditioner.

 

[Chameleon]

BRS has some very nice and not too expensive gate valves if you are looking...i'm with [email protected] need gate valves for any kind of control