Closed Loop

[bfield02]

I am running a closed loop system with an Iwaki external pump with a flow rate of 960gph. Now it spits into a tee with a ball valve after the tee on each side.
Questions
1. Does making the tee cut the flow rate in half?

2. I am running a UV sterilizer and would like the flow through it at about 260gph. How to I get the right flow rate.

Thanks .

 

[camaroracer214]

at each 90 degree elbow, you lose a lot of gph. i'm not sure by how much, but it can be significant. and the more 90's you add, the more you reduce the flow. i'd suggest going with the flexible pvc or softer elbows, like 45's instead of 90's. but even 45's will cause some flow loss. it will also depend on how tall the output, or head height, is.

 

[camaroracer214]

as for your uv sterilizer, you can either run it on it's own powerhead, like a maxi-jet 1200 or something similar, or just have it coming of a "T" from your return. i'd prefer having its own powerhead that way you don't have to worry about it affecting the flow back to the tank.

 

[bfield02]

Thanks Brandon,

I do have the UV p;ummed in to the return on one side of the tee. Is it adviseable to reduce the flow rate on the ball valve to achieve the manufacuters ideal flow rate of 260gph. On the other side of the T I have my inline Hydro 300W heater.

 

[cindre2000]

If you do not reduce the flow to the manufactures recommended flow, the water moves to quickly through the UV sterilizer to actually get sterilized. Unless you have a flow meter it may be difficult to actually determine the flow rate of each side of the T. However, if you place a 1g bag in front and see how quickly it fills, you may have some idea.

 

[Anonymous]

I am running a closed loop system with an Iwaki external pump with a flow rate of 960gph. Now it spits into a tee with a ball valve after the tee on each side.
Questions
1. Does making the tee cut the flow rate in half?

2. I am running a UV sterilizer and would like the flow through it at about 260gph. How to I get the right flow rate.

Thanks .

The tee should devide the flow roughly in half, depending on the piping on the other side. The piping after the tee is in parrellel and piping in parallel will have equal losses. To make this happen the flow will be different in each leg unless they are exactly the same.

If you are running a piece of gear that requires a certian flow you should run it on a dedicated pump properly sized, unless you have a flow meter which would probably cost more and be more hasel than a dedicated pump.

 

[Anonymous]

at each 90 degree elbow, you lose a lot of gph. i'm not sure by how much, but it can be significant. and the more 90's you add, the more you reduce the flow. i'd suggest going with the flexible pvc or softer elbows, like 45's instead of 90's. but even 45's will cause some flow loss. it will also depend on how tall the output, or head height, is.

Not as much as you would think.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pvc-p ... d_801.html

This link showes that amount of straigh pipe losses that are equal to different pipe fittings and sizes.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pvc-p ... d_802.html

The second link showes the losses per 100 ft of varing pipe sizes and flow rates.

For 1" pvc running 900 gph you loose 5.5 ft of head per 100 ft. A 1" elbow is about 2.5 ft of straight pipe equavalet or about 2.5% (0.14 ft) of 5.5 ft per elbow.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Brandon,

I do have the UV p;ummed in to the return on one side of the tee. Is it adviseable to reduce the flow rate on the ball valve to achieve the manufacuters ideal flow rate of 260gph. On the other side of the T I have my inline Hydro 300W heater.

With this layout it is impossible to know how much water you have going where. You should really consider driving the gear with proper pump or inline if they have the same flow requirements.