Rivermuds Test Tank
- Thread starter Rivermud
- Start date
With such low flow, an algae scrubber would need to be narrow and long. Set a florescent tube on end and run it that way.
The reason the system has lackluster flow is because it doesn't have any syphon power behind it. In the pipe sizing thread in the sticky section, the chart for horizontal flow will give you the pipe size for the flow you are looking for.
The reason the system has lackluster flow is because it doesn't have any syphon power behind it. In the pipe sizing thread in the sticky section, the chart for horizontal flow will give you the pipe size for the flow you are looking for.
Nods. I knew my flow would be lackluster when I began. Though I expected about 70-100 more gph. I can get the high flow rate but I need more water pressure which is created with more depth. I don't have the depth to work with, it is within an 1/8th of an inch of the top of the tank when i get flows like that.
I'm just wondering if I should redo the system to get a higher flow rate or if I can design a filtration system to work with what I have.
In reviewing the chart I was expecting 200 GPH minimum and up to 380 maximum. I was hoping to get near 300.
size_ GPM
1/2 = 1.563
3/4 = 3.517
According to the chart with my pipe size doubled up since I use two overflows should give me 3-7gpm. 180-420gph. Sigh oh well lol.
We have the technology to make it bigger, stronger, faster.....
I'm just wondering if I should redo the system to get a higher flow rate or if I can design a filtration system to work with what I have.
In reviewing the chart I was expecting 200 GPH minimum and up to 380 maximum. I was hoping to get near 300.
size_ GPM
1/2 = 1.563
3/4 = 3.517
According to the chart with my pipe size doubled up since I use two overflows should give me 3-7gpm. 180-420gph. Sigh oh well lol.
We have the technology to make it bigger, stronger, faster.....
So, I am going to work on re-doing the overflow unless I get a few suggestions about testing filtration with a lower flow rate. I'm also looking for suggestions on improving the design I am currently using for the over flow.. ok, the floor is yours.. i'll be headed to the store in about an hour or so..
Let me know what you think of my workaround idea. I've been thinking that I don't have to change everything, I just have to change a couple of things, mainly the top overflow pipes on my system to allow for more horizontal flow. My other pipes are not affected by the restriction of the horizontal flow per say so increasing the area for water to flow horizontally within the current system should work. That probably sound like jibberish..
Imagine putting an upsizing coupler just above the 30% pipe. Upsize to say 1" or 1.5". The after the elbow for the tank level overflow, put a Regular Y fitting in to split the flow into to pipes effectively giving me four 1" or 1.5" horizontal pipes. That should allow for more than enough flow. I can connect the extra overflow pipes back to the main line anywhere in the chain. Thoughts?
View attachment workaround.bmp
Imagine putting an upsizing coupler just above the 30% pipe. Upsize to say 1" or 1.5". The after the elbow for the tank level overflow, put a Regular Y fitting in to split the flow into to pipes effectively giving me four 1" or 1.5" horizontal pipes. That should allow for more than enough flow. I can connect the extra overflow pipes back to the main line anywhere in the chain. Thoughts?
View attachment workaround.bmp
Hey..... I have a question would a bigger sump with more media and a lower flow rate work the same as a smaller sump less media and a higher flow rate???? Just something to think about.....
I'm sure I can find a way to make it work. Either with filtration or with flow. However this thread has pretty much died so I'll just simply get it done and finish it. I thought maybe there would be interest in the idea of a test tank, but shrug. I'll post the work and finish it.
bummer,
i think you need more flow to run any think i can thinkof,
well you could experiment with a diy denitrifier(sp) that uses slow flow rates mabe one of those after it cycles a algea system and a low flow biotower with some mechanical pad up on top and you would be se
on filtration, if if the denitriawatever works you would hardly have to change the aqua
i think you need more flow to run any think i can thinkof,
well you could experiment with a diy denitrifier(sp) that uses slow flow rates mabe one of those after it cycles a algea system and a low flow biotower with some mechanical pad up on top and you would be se
on filtration, if if the denitriawatever works you would hardly have to change the aqua
I wouldn't pronounce the thread dead. The DIY section on a whole has been really slow lately for what ever reason. I don't check every thread due to time constraints and I imagine that is fairly common.
The problem with the flow doesn't stem from the horizontal sections alone. It is a total of the resistance through all of the pipes from the bulkhead fittings to the four way tee (cross). I went looking for the math for the higher resistance in smaller pipes, but couldn't find anything. It is a result of the viscosity remaining the same but the diameter reducing resulting in a higher proportion of resistance to cross sectional area.
Anyway, replumbing the outer portions from the bulkheads to the four way should help out a lot. Another solution I came up with is if the sump is large enough, you could operate the system with the valve at the 30% level cracked open slightly. In the event of a power outage, the sump would need to hold that extra water. If you are going to use a drip system on this, the normal sump water volume would need to be fairly large.
The problem with the flow doesn't stem from the horizontal sections alone. It is a total of the resistance through all of the pipes from the bulkhead fittings to the four way tee (cross). I went looking for the math for the higher resistance in smaller pipes, but couldn't find anything. It is a result of the viscosity remaining the same but the diameter reducing resulting in a higher proportion of resistance to cross sectional area.
Anyway, replumbing the outer portions from the bulkheads to the four way should help out a lot. Another solution I came up with is if the sump is large enough, you could operate the system with the valve at the 30% level cracked open slightly. In the event of a power outage, the sump would need to hold that extra water. If you are going to use a drip system on this, the normal sump water volume would need to be fairly large.
Oh, I think running the system with low flow should be fine. There has been much debate about flow rates but no one has bothered to actually find out what will work. The debates are always about speculation or theory, or "what someone else said".
If a sump is sufficiently large, there has to be a point in the water flow where "single pass efficiency" is achieved. I believe that it is possible to successfully operate a large sump with very low flow.
If a sump is sufficiently large, there has to be a point in the water flow where "single pass efficiency" is achieved. I believe that it is possible to successfully operate a large sump with very low flow.
