Best way to slow return?

[jejton]

Whats the best way to slow my return ? I'm running an OR 3500 and it returns water faster than the drain drains it so that the return chamber doesn't have enough water on it. I have tried dialing it back with the ball valve on the line but I have to really close it most of the way to get a change. The skimmer isn't online yet so I assume that the problem will be worse when it is online.

Details of the setup can be read here
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/34201-new-tank-thread-65-gallon-softie-lps.html

 

[tosiek]

You can only push so much water through the return, so if your drain is larger than the return then there is no way you can overdo the drain. What size is the return and drain?

 

[meschaefer]

Get a smaller pump, or T it off. Not sure how adding a skimmer would make the situation worse.

 

[Tim]

You have too much pump for the drain you have. Your drain only drains 600 gph and you have a 900 gph pump. Are you going to tee off into the skimmer? If you are that would help.....

 

[Wes]

You can only push so much water through the return, so if your drain is larger than the return then there is no way you can overdo the drain. What size is the return and drain?

thats not true.

 

[autoponicz]

tee off the return and add a manifold to feed your reactors....or get a smaller pump.....

 

[Wes]

or just get a ball valve

 

[NDY]

U Need a smaller Pump
i had the same problem
change the pump problem solve

 

[jejton]

Ok so thanks for the tips but some people didnt actually read my post or thread.
toseik - the problem isnt the drain overtaking the return, its the return being too fast for the drain.

Wes- I already have a ball balve on the return but wasn't sure how good it is to dial it down as far as pump life.

Mes - the skimmer is gravity fed off a tee in the drain so it would probably slow the water flow to the pump even further.

I have been thinking of adding a phosban reactor ( originally was going to use a canister filter for it ) but after seeing this problem I'll probably do as you suggest and add a T in the return plumbing and put a phosban reactor on it. This will avoid needing a dedicated line.

Being that the return plumbing is 3/4, what phosban reactor would work without needing to many plumbing adapters? I dont want to spend $10 to ship a $2 part.

 

[Wes]

Wes- I already have a ball balve on the return but wasn't sure how good it is to dial it down as far as pump life.

it's fine it just increases the head. Its no different than if you were using the same pump to pump water up from the basement. It will use less electricity as the pump will be doing less work.

 

[autoponicz]

for the T....go with a 3/4" x3/4"x1/2"....and add a ball valve to it....with a barb fitting at the end...all can be bought at HD....

but building a manifild would be more versatile.....you can add other reactors later on...
something like this....

or you can purchase one prebuilt ..i found this one at aquaticeco.com
they do have one with 3 gate valves.

 

[jejton]

How much was the prebuilt one? I dont mind building my own but generally cannot find certain parts at HD or Loews - basically the PVC hose barbs or reducing adapters. How do you attach two T's together without using a length of pipe in between? Since you're already on this thread, can you tell me the proper way of dialing in the skimmer ( remember its gravity fed with a ball valve before it )?

 

[NJ_ychung1]

i vote small pump.

- close off T, no more T.
- drain into sump.
- small pump from sump to skimmer. small pumps usually have its own flow ctrl

 

[autoponicz]

evryones system will be dialed in differently..... i remember i had the ball valve (going to skimmer)closed 1/4 ......i didint use a regular ball valve...i had one of those valves meant for a canister filter.....and the water return valve was fully open

 

[jejton]

- close off T, no more T.
- drain into sump.
- small pump from sump to skimmer. small pumps usually have its own flow ctrl

I prefer to stay with this pump as its too late to return it and I'm not laying money off for another one if there are other options. Besides, leaving it and adding a manifold will allow me use one pump to run return, skimmer (via drain ) and reactors for phosban or anything else I want later without needing to use a second pump.

 

[Bob 1000]

Use a sea cucumber...lmao

 

[jejton]

is that you did :teeth:?

 

[tommy818]

water through a phos reactor has 2 be slow to be efficent

 

[jejton]

thats fine, itll be running off the same pump as the return so the flow will be divided between the two and I will have a ball valve before the reactor. I dont need to slow the return down to much so I think that plan will work. Thanks for your opinions. Ill let you know how it turns out. Any recommendations on a phosphate reactor?

 

[autoponicz]

two little fishes phosban reactor