|
07/21/2018, 12:10 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Does a ball valve limit a pumps max lift?
Need some plumber knowledge here...
Buying a Hydor Smart ATO which requires SUPER slow pumps. Normally people recommend TOM AquaLifter 3.5gph but they're super old and pretty expensive now ($25+). Plus their lift height sucks. So I want to buy a higher gph pump and stick a ball valve on the output but I'm afraid that will limit the lift height the pump is capable of. Can anyone clarify this for me? Looking at this if it matters: https://www.amazon.com/Shkerry-Subme...n%3A7043898011 Thanks. |
07/21/2018, 02:00 PM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 204
|
Short answer, yes, any valve, or fitting for that matter will reduce flow. However, I guess I'm a bit confused here. What height do you plan on lifting the water?
The linked pump is 158gph out, and while I didn't check the head loss for your pump, I highly doubt that you will come anywhere even remotely close to restricting your flow enough to matter. I actually think that you will have way way way too much flow. Your pump will be on for such short intervals that I would worry more about damaging the pump from the very short on/off intervals. Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk |
07/21/2018, 02:56 PM | #3 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
I plan to lift the water about 36-48 inches. The only reason I want super slow flow is because the Hydor Smart ATO requires you to fill super slow otherwise it doesn't work and sounds the alarm. |
|
07/21/2018, 05:59 PM | #4 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 204
|
Quote:
I personally use the AquaLifter, and have for years, without issue. Taking a 158gph rated pump and throttling it down to literally 1 or 2 gph is asking for trouble. Not to mention dialing it down that low will be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk |
|
07/21/2018, 09:03 PM | #5 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
|
|
07/22/2018, 10:19 AM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Miller Place, NY
Posts: 7,206
|
NOT Cheap but a LitreMeter will do exactly that,
they show up in the For Sale forum occasionally
__________________
250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps. |
07/22/2018, 11:05 AM | #7 |
Recovering Detritophobe
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 7,443
|
Get a peristaltic pump. BRS sells cheap-ish ones meant for dosing or you can pick up an old reliable cole-parmer from eBay.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles |
07/22/2018, 01:05 PM | #8 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 10,806
|
Even if what you were thinking about would work, the pump you linked to is an unknown brand and almost certainly of less than stellar quality. (read: it's a piece of junk that will last about a week) A pump of good enough quality to last that has that output will cost considerably more than and aqualifter, and then you will be choking it back to what the aqualifter does (and does very well) so I fail to see any benefit.
The very last thing you want to cheap out on in this hobby is the equipment that keeps your system running.
__________________
I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
07/22/2018, 02:35 PM | #9 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Thanks for the responses. I'm just going pass on the Hydor Smart ATO, this is way too much headache... don't know why they don't just sell a pump that works with the damn thing.
|
07/22/2018, 03:51 PM | #10 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 204
|
Quote:
As someone suggested above, this is an expensive hobby for better or worse, and the very last thing you want to do is skimp on equipment. Best of luck to you. Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk |
|
07/22/2018, 11:21 PM | #11 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
|
|
07/23/2018, 12:46 AM | #12 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 6,902
|
The key is max head height is 6’. That means you get a trickle to no flow at 6’ of head pressure. You will not get much flow out of a maxi jet at 4’. You can reduce it further with a ball valve if needed. That will not change the head height per say, only the flow. Any fittings you add to the hose, like valves, couplings, elbows, Ts will decrease flow. In your case height is probably going to be the most significant factor.
__________________
240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube |
07/23/2018, 10:24 AM | #13 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 10,806
|
FWIW - the maxi jet 1200 costs the same or more than a aqualifter.
__________________
I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
07/23/2018, 06:30 PM | #14 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
|
07/23/2018, 06:31 PM | #15 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
|
|
07/24/2018, 01:49 PM | #16 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Tampabay - FLORIDA
Posts: 240
|
Quote:
@eamike261, save your money and buy either an Avast ATO or what I have a TUNZE 3155 and you will never have to worry about any issues what so ever! Not cheap but you know what they say - When it comes to this hobby this is totally my motto! Always use High quality products, I beleiave that 50% increase is cost definitely worthwhile, even know if you only gain another 5% of the product reliability espcally if you have a mautre tank like a lot of us! Or you can pick up a Periplastic pump from BRS for $50.00 and
__________________
TANK INFO: Rimless 150 Mixed Reef Current Tank Info: SCA Rimless 150 Mixed Reef |
|
07/24/2018, 06:08 PM | #17 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Buffalo
Posts: 315
|
Quote:
Also not to nitpick but the Tunze Osmolator 3155 is about 200% more than the Hydor Smart ATO not 50% more. Even if you add a pump and hose the 3155 is still more than double the price. Good news though: I may have found a used 3155 in my area for a good price. |
|
07/25/2018, 10:15 AM | #18 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Tampabay - FLORIDA
Posts: 240
|
[QUOTE=eamike261;25474711]I get the point about always spending as much money as possible in this hobby but frankly I've found that plenty of budget solutions work perfectly (not always, but a lot of the time it's perfectly fine). Not everyone has a tank full of thousands of dollars of livestock so the blanket advice of "never buying any budget item" is unfounded and misleading (and it scares away newbies or young people so it's detrimental to the hobby imo).
No that's, not my point Mate. If you're using an Aualifter for your ATO you're going to have some problems down the road ONE WAY OR another and that's a fact! Remeber, just trying to help not hate, that's not my job! Maybe you don't have as quite a bit of time and money that I have invested in my system but at least do yourself a favor and go buy a decent ATO w/ your hard earned money which will be well spent. Just b/c it's expensive that does not mean it's going to work better! Grab your self a peristaltic pump and you will be good to go.
__________________
TANK INFO: Rimless 150 Mixed Reef Current Tank Info: SCA Rimless 150 Mixed Reef |
07/25/2018, 11:05 AM | #19 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 132
|
The aqualifter or other pumps that use a diaphragm will be much more precise. The moment the pump stops the flow stops. This is trickier with pumps that use an impeller because there could be enough head pressure still to empty out all the water in the hose even after the pump stopped. Probably won't be an issue on large tanks but might on smaller ones.
|
|
|