hang on pre-filter with low flow rate...

[bradreef]

I need a low flow rate prefilter that will bring water down to my refugium for my 30 oceanic cube. I dont want to put a 800 gph pump for obvious reasons. Anyone know what one might fit the bill...i am afraid to underfeed the prefilter i have now becuase it seems unable to clear the air bubbles and i constantly have to tend to the air in the "U"

thanks

 

[bradreef]

no one?

 

[Anonymous]

Don't exactly know what you looking for here... will a simple low-flow pump work? Or you really need filtration capability? How low is the flow rate that you want?

 

[bradreef]

i need a prefilter that can handle a lower flow rate than 600 and still be able to clear the bubbles through the "u".. When i use my current one and use a smaller pump, air biulds up and the suction decreases and will eventually stop...

 

[Anonymous]

Does the tank have a sump? I think the only way to accomplish this is to get a normal sized prefilter, and divert a small portion of the flow to another sump or tank area.

FWIW, 800 gph is pretty close to the flow I have in my 12 gallon refugium. There's really nothing wrong with high flow in your refugium.

 

[Anonymous]

Or just drill your tank if you can and use a 1/2" bulkhead for a drain... :?

 

[bradreef]

i understand what you are saying about the flow.. however, if you dont feed an average prefilter with enough flow air bubbles will build in the u and eventually cut to the siphon down to the tank. the pump will then take all the water into the tank and overflow it. I was trying to find a prefilter that did not have a high gph need...i hope this is clearer than I was before. I really like the idea of diverting some flow to the refug and am going to do just that..

thanks

 

[RWillieK]

An overflow is going to flow as much water as you give it within limitations.......its not going to flow 600 gph all the time, thats just the max flow.

Robbie

 

[Anonymous]

i understand what you are saying about the flow.. however, if you dont feed an average prefilter with enough flow air bubbles will build in the u and eventually cut to the siphon down to the tank. the pump will then take all the water into the tank and overflow it. I was trying to find a prefilter that did not have a high gph need...i hope this is clearer than I was before. I really like the idea of diverting some flow to the refug and am going to do just that..

thanks

I understand exactly what you're saying. But I don't think there are any prefilters that will work well with lower flow rates. In order to accomplish this you'd need to have a smaller diameter U-tube to get the same velocity (to push the air bubbles out) through the tube at a lower flow (gph) rate. Make sense? I suppose you could construct your own thinner U-tube with vinyl tubing, or acrylic tubing and a hair dryer, but you'll have to somehow guard against a snail plugging it up.

I imagine drilling your tank would be much simpler in any case, if you can do it.