drtrash
Valuable Member
does it matter where you place a valve to reduce flow? Thinking it would be easier to attach gate valve to outpou threads but wondering from a flow perspective would farther down the line be easier on pump back pressure
Pump throttling
- Thread starter drtrash
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chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
I would put a T on the return line, then send one output to the display and one back to the sump. Put the valve on the line going to the sump. When you open or close the valve, instead of creating pressure, the excess flow just goes into the sump instead of the display.
rockskimmerflow
Well-Known Member
Doesnt matter. Put a union ball valve on the pumps outlet for simplicity. You can certainly bleed off flow to the sump or use it to power reactors etc, but that is by no means necessary. You wont hurt a pump by throttling it with a valve on the output.
mitch91175
2500 Club Member
Perfect way to throttle it would be to plumb a manifold off of the return and use it for any reactors you want in your system and having true union ball valve(s) on the returns. That way you get to use 100% power for the return and get the benefit of not having to run multiple pumps for reactors and such. That's how I did mine.
Plumbing a manifold for dif equipment, while many do it, is problematic for some equipment where gph needs to be certain. With a manifold it’s anyone’s guess, and change one valve and all other outputs change as well.
Do what Chipmunk said. Put a tee that flows back to sump with valve
Do what Chipmunk said. Put a tee that flows back to sump with valve
mitch91175
2500 Club Member
Never ran into that problem on mine. Definitely not rocket science. Just an option, he will have to decide on what all he wants from his system. With a manifold once you have it set the way you want it, why would you be messing with it afterwards anyways? I am just curious. Besides isn't the recommendation similar in effect as a manifold?
mitch91175
2500 Club Member
@drtrash, pictures are worth a thousand words. can you post a picture of what you currently have under you tank?
mitch91175
2500 Club Member
In that pic, the bottom 2 runs are my returns and top goes to manifold which is choked with another true union ball valve that restricts how much flow goes to the manifold. I run my UV sterilizer, GFO, and carbon reactor all from it. I also have a Neptune System FMK that I use to get the flow I want through the UV. If you have an Apex and do decide to run a manifold, the FMK will absolutely help you get the flow where you want it.
Larry L
Valuable Member
Unless you want to run a manifold, there's no need to tee the output and direct some of the flow back into your sump. Throttling the output by putting a valve on it is no different than running against a larger head pressure, like you'd have by e.g. putting the pump in the basement or something. Plus, at least some of the pumps we run in the hobby actually draw less wattage when running throttled compared to wide open (although not sure if that holds true for both "flow-rated" pumps and "pressure-rated" pumps).
rockskimmerflow
Well-Known Member
Yup exactly. Theres no need to tee off flow to save the pump from seeing more head, only useful if the tee is feeding a manifold. And yes, to confirm your query about pressure rated pumps seeing wattage savings- it is true. I was always told they didnt but my kill a watt meter and a ball valve proved otherwise on common pan world and iwaki models.
OP
OP
drtrash
Valuable Member
I read same thing for AC pumps, thought about manifolding in carbon but decided to go simple and have a secondary small pump. In planning phase of plumbing design so just a blank sump,
Ubergroover
Engineer by day, Musician/golfer/reefer by night
If your going to throttle a pump put the valve on the pumps output line or you may cause cavitation, further reducing life span and flow. Choke dont starve supply water. Your pump may actually run better as a side benefit.
