Reduce Flow?

GeoHawk · 10/11/2010, 05:22 PM

I have just upgraded my tank to a 60 gallon cube. I am using a mag 9 as my return, but it is blowing my sand and lps all over the place. I am wanting to reduce flow. My LFS told me to put a valve on the hose line, but I wanted a second opinion before I damage my pump. Anyone ever tried this?

Thanks for the help

jalloway502 · 10/11/2010, 05:29 PM

You'll be fine in putting a valve on - AS LONG AS you put it on the output side of your pump and not the intake. By leaving the intake wide open, the impeller can still run full and not damage the pump.

philosophile · 10/11/2010, 05:32 PM

you could also get a spray bar attachment to distribute the current across a greater area and thus hopefully have less of a problem with the sand.

GeoHawk · 10/11/2010, 05:45 PM

Thanks guys! I think I have a spray bar on there. I am planning on putting the valve on the hose right before it enters the drilled holes in the back of the aquarium.

jalloway502 · 10/11/2010, 05:55 PM

Not a problem - good luck!

lordofthereef · 10/11/2010, 06:34 PM

IMO you should get a new pump. Right now, even after headloss (which I assume is 4-5 feet), you are probably still pushing over 700gph on your return. The max you can dial it down to is 100gph (you should be shooting for around 180 which is three times your display). You can do it, but I think I would rather get a much smaller pump myself.

aleonn · 10/11/2010, 06:34 PM

You can valve the output of the pump, but my understanding is that if you valve too much, it causes friction/heat and may reduce the life of the pump.

GeoHawk · 10/12/2010, 08:39 AM

Installed the valve last night so far no horrible effects on temperature and pump seems to be running fine. I have only valved off about 1/4th and have seen great improvements. I also added one of my old koralias going in the opposite direction, which seems to have given me good water movement in all directions and less chance of torch and frogspawn being torn to shreds.

Maybe I have to much flow going through the sump what is the ill effects of that? I have it split so that less flow runs through refugium and more flow runs through carbon. Sump is set up with refugium to carbon/skimmer compartment, then to the pump. (I know many people say must skim before fuge, but it was all ready made and cheap, and I didn't want to build my own.

lordofthereef · 10/12/2010, 09:01 AM

Too much flow through the sump essential has your skimmer not being given enough time to work on and clean the water. Your fuge portion needs even less water flow to maximize efficiency.

GeoHawk · 10/12/2010, 10:59 AM

Thanks, I will see what I can do when I have more money.

phhbrown · 10/12/2010, 11:48 AM

You could put a tee in the return line right after the pump. Set it up so that the water coming out of the pump follows a straight path to the tank. Think of a T on its side, the retun flow would go straight through the top of the T. Some water could come out of the bottom of the sideways "T" and that would be directed back into the skimmer compartment. This line would have a valve so you would control the flow providing a variable flow into the display while allowing the pump to flow at a more normal rate.

10/11/2010, 05:22 PM	#1
GeoHawk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	Reduce Flow? I have just upgraded my tank to a 60 gallon cube. I am using a mag 9 as my return, but it is blowing my sand and lps all over the place. I am wanting to reduce flow. My LFS told me to put a valve on the hose line, but I wanted a second opinion before I damage my pump. Anyone ever tried this? Thanks for the help

10/11/2010, 05:32 PM	#3
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	you could also get a spray bar attachment to distribute the current across a greater area and thus hopefully have less of a problem with the sand. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

10/11/2010, 06:34 PM	#6
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	IMO you should get a new pump. Right now, even after headloss (which I assume is 4-5 feet), you are probably still pushing over 700gph on your return. The max you can dial it down to is 100gph (you should be shooting for around 180 which is three times your display). You can do it, but I think I would rather get a much smaller pump myself. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/12/2010, 09:01 AM	#9
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Too much flow through the sump essential has your skimmer not being given enough time to work on and clean the water. Your fuge portion needs even less water flow to maximize efficiency. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

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10/11/2010, 05:29 PM	#2
jalloway502 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 51	You'll be fine in putting a valve on - AS LONG AS you put it on the output side of your pump and not the intake. By leaving the intake wide open, the impeller can still run full and not damage the pump.

10/11/2010, 05:45 PM	#4
GeoHawk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	Thanks guys! I think I have a spray bar on there. I am planning on putting the valve on the hose right before it enters the drilled holes in the back of the aquarium.

10/11/2010, 05:55 PM	#5
jalloway502 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 51	Not a problem - good luck!

10/11/2010, 06:34 PM	#7
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	You can valve the output of the pump, but my understanding is that if you valve too much, it causes friction/heat and may reduce the life of the pump.

10/12/2010, 08:39 AM	#8
GeoHawk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	Installed the valve last night so far no horrible effects on temperature and pump seems to be running fine. I have only valved off about 1/4th and have seen great improvements. I also added one of my old koralias going in the opposite direction, which seems to have given me good water movement in all directions and less chance of torch and frogspawn being torn to shreds. Maybe I have to much flow going through the sump what is the ill effects of that? I have it split so that less flow runs through refugium and more flow runs through carbon. Sump is set up with refugium to carbon/skimmer compartment, then to the pump. (I know many people say must skim before fuge, but it was all ready made and cheap, and I didn't want to build my own.

10/12/2010, 10:59 AM	#10
GeoHawk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 11	Thanks, I will see what I can do when I have more money.

10/12/2010, 11:48 AM	#11
phhbrown Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 59	You could put a tee in the return line right after the pump. Set it up so that the water coming out of the pump follows a straight path to the tank. Think of a T on its side, the retun flow would go straight through the top of the T. Some water could come out of the bottom of the sideways "T" and that would be directed back into the skimmer compartment. This line would have a valve so you would control the flow providing a variable flow into the display while allowing the pump to flow at a more normal rate.