Return Pump Question

[ruppertb]

So Easy Question....


Does using a ball or gate valve on a return pump cause extra stree on the pump and make it get ruined faster.

I just plugged in my new return pump for my basement, and have to have it almost all the way shut off on my ball valve. Not sure why, I thought I had it calculated out right.

Well if it might make it go bad faster I could downgrade the pump, but then I would be pushing close to the head shut off limit.

 

[Murfman]

Depends on the pump. What pump do you have?

 

[ruppertb]

Its a Mag 18

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I have my mag 18 throttle back by half and it has been that way for about a year. Why do you have it closed that far.

 

[ruppertb]

the tank was about to overflow so i kept closing it until it found equalibrium (sp.)!!! Its a Mag 18 with like 5 elbows running on 1in pipe up about 13 feet. Head loss calculator was around 550gph, plus i have it T off to 2 reactors. So not sure what the flow on it really is, but my overflow is an eshops rated fro 800gph, think if should be able to hande it open full throttle!

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Yeah it should. That is weird. Could there be something blocking the overflow .

 

[ruppertb]

just plumbed it tonight, only thing would be like a aptasia or 2 in the u tube and then there are green star polyps blocking some teeth on the overflow box, but the water just goes over them

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I don't know then. Somehow you don't have as much head pressure as you thought. The fact that the two reactors are going and you still have to throttle it that much is weird. See I have my mag 18 plumbed straight to a SCWD AND IT IS 3/4" pipe and at full throttle it isn't enough flow in my tank but way to much for my sump to filter. That is only 4' foot from pump to scwd then about 2' from scwd to return.

 

[ruppertb]

so im not sure if I should down grade the pump, or T off and put some back to the sump so the pump isnt working so hard.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

It would be cheaper to T off plus if you need it you have it.

 

[ruppertb]

well i just bought the pump and could return it to downgrade vs being stuck with it. wouldnt cost a penny to return it! but if it wont harm the pump then i will leave it, as i could always add a huge frag tank later or something.

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Well this might sound crazy but how far away is your frag tank.

 

[ruppertb]

its a 20 i planned into the system and it sits 1 foot about my bottom sump. Its plumbed in already

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

I guess your best bet would be switch it out for a mag 12.

 

[ruppertb]

ya so here is the info off the head loss calc.

Total losses are 12.79 feet of head pressure, or 5.52 PSI. with a flow rate of 615 GPH

4 - 45
2 - 90's
1 - union
1 - ball

1.5ft horazontal
11.16 vertical

this isnt counting the T off with the reactors so i would think it to be less.

So why the heck isnt my overflow handling all this water?

 

[ruppertb]

This with a mag 12 Total losses are 11.86 feet of head pressure, or 5.12 PSI. with a flow rate of 389 GPH

 

[gmoney243]

I would get a 12. Mags are good pumps and can handle some length/ height as u can tell. Unless u think you'll need the 18 for something else later then just re-direct but I wouldn't run it that closed. You can run it tuned down but not almost all the way

 

[ruppertb]

ok i will slowly open it and see if display almost overflows, if this is the case and i have to run it so closed then i will go return and replace with a 12

 

[REEFKEEPER10]

Yeah half is about as far as I would go. I still don't understand the overflow not keeping.

 

[ruppertb]

Reef Aquarium Filtration: Eshopps Overflow Boxes i have the 800 supposidly 800gph, i just read online that 600 is the max they can handle, well im running 615 or less based on calc, so it should be able to handle it