I can see that happening, someone drops a pump fitting packaging and instead of saying something they just grab a different one and shove it in the box lol
DIY Algae scrubber
- Thread starter jaws7777
- Start date
Ok, there is a difference between head height and plumbing length. True head height is actually what the name implies, it's pumping from a body of water at one height to a body of water at a different height. If you had two tanks that were 50ft apart, but were at the same level, then you would technically have zero head height between them, even though you are pumping water 50ft from on to the other. Now, having said that, there is friction, turbulence and obstructions within the systems, and these are resistances to the flow of water. You can't just say that there's 17ft of pipe so there is 17ft of head height. Pipe size, pipe surface smoothness, pressure, etc, also play a part.
It seems that the majority of your plumbing in this setup is 3/4". I doubt that will cause so much of a restriction that it will reduce your flow that much over that distance. Your pump inlet and discharge also sound like they are at the same height, or close, so you have no true head height. This leaves the larger pvc tubes as the last point where such a large restriction can occur. If the type of bio media used is too fine, it will not allow much flow through. Also, if you have sponges and they get clogged up, you will not get as much flow. Lastly, and I suspect this because of how dramatically the flow is reduced compared to where it should be, if you have media in a spot where it can possibly become dislodged and block one of the 3/4" bulkheads, that will obviously reduce the flow a ton.
What media do you have inside the pvc tubes and how are you holding it in place so it cannot block the 3/4" bulkheads you have in place for the water to flow between the tubes?
I agree with almost all of what you said except that tlat tye same level there would be no head. Water has to travel up from the pump, down the 1st tower, up the second tower, down the 3rd tower then back out and uover the lip of the sump, at the very least each tower would cause loss plus the return hose going back into the sump.
I see where you would think that but in actually, under full siphon conditions, if you go up and come back down, the weight of the water on the down side offsets the weight of the water on the up side, and there is no net head height. This is why canisters can be much more energy efficient than sumps, the water pressure pushing down into the canister offsets the pressure pushing on the outlet, and this allows a smaller pump to be used. This same effect works in reverse, if the canister was placed above the tank. In this manor, you can put plumbing that travels up 50ft, 100ft, any height, and as long as you come back down and the line remains under full siphon, there is zero ft of net head height.
Now, there are other factors that can cause the restrictions, but these are not technically head height, even though they are often converted to a "head height" value and expressed that way.
Does that make sense, or am I misunderstanding the setup?
Also, I would really still like to know what's in the larger pvc pipes and how they are setup inside.
Ok im gonna agree.to disagree on this subject. Like i said nothing but media in the towers. Actually im goood. Gph is at 40 do thats where i need to be
If you're anxious for results you could always kick start your colony...
https://www.amazon.com/Prodibio-Dig...96730&sr=8-1&keywords=prodibio+biodigest&th=1
I thought another member stated that he noticed a drop off in reduction after he stooped dosing
So in your opinion could be a waste unless i continue dosing ?I believeTomt37 mentioned that he noticed an increase in nitrate reduction with his biopellet reactor when he added with a bacteria supplement (Prodibio, I think). I figure this would be followed by a gradual drop off in nitrate reduction.
