CA2OR Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 I am starting to have an issue with my flow. Where the red square is in comparment "3" represents the pump that pushes the water through my uv sterilizer and then dumps back into "5". My skimmer also resides in compartment 3. The problem I am having is that the pump in "3" is pumping so fast that the water level can't stay high enough for it to flow into "4". So it is by passing my cheato "4" and returning into the tank. So how do I get my water to be able to flow into chamber "4"? I am considering moving the UV sterilizer pump into the green square and have it dump back into "5". The reason I have been having it go there is to keep the top water in "5" moving. The return pump is at the bottom of "5" so the water sits still in the top of that chamber without the UV dumping in there. Should I put it somewhere else? Water flow right now is "1" intake carbon and LRR, "2" bubble trap, "3" skimmer with UV sterilizer pump below, "4" cheato, "5" return pump at bottom of "5" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 I think that sounds like a good plan... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Can you have the return from the UV go back into #1? Keep the pump in the same place. The water may go through the UV more than 1 time, but I think that it would be an OK thing to do. dsoz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Yes, I can do that too. Should I move the pump from 3 to 4 or leave where it is and move return to 1? The only issue I have then is the stagnant water in the top of 5 which is why it was dumping in there. What could I do about that?(scratch) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 I would simply have the return for the UV go back into the section that it pulls water from(red square). The total water movement through your system should then equalize. It may appear that returning the already sterilized water back into the section that it is pulled from may be pointless but in fact it will not at all affect its ability to do its job. I think this will really help with a nice steady flow throughout your refugium. Garrett 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Thank you Garrett and Dsoz. Between the 2 of you I have a nice answer. funny thing is both are in agreement with eachother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Yes' date=' I can do that too. Should I move the pump from 3 to 4 or leave where it is and move return to 1? The only issue I have then is the stagnant water in the top of 5 which is why it was dumping in there. What could I do about that?(scratch)[/quote'] Is the top of #5 really stagnant? There may be more going on in there than you realize. Just because the water is not moving does not mean that it is a "bad thing" Maybe that would be a good place to put some more chaeto or xenia. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 yes the water on the top just sits. Well, not right now because the UV is dumping into the top of that section stirring it up. That is why I am a little sceptical moving that return to another section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Try it for a week and see how it goes. If that was the way it was designed, it should be fine. To me it looks like chamber 5 is just some extra room for water level fluctuations due to evaporation. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 You could also do a split return off your UV. Put part (1/2?) of the flow back where Garrett suggested, and the other part into section #5. Would require a little bit of plumbing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Now that is a great idea. I didn't think about that. How would I split it? Is there a piece I could find at an LFS or Home Depot? I moved the return from the UV back into the same chamber it pulls from and it resolved the issue with by passing the cheato but no the stagnant water on 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 That is a great idea. Good thing someone on here is thinking. Good Job Brian. You should get some rep points for that idea. A "T" fitting, or a "Y" fitting should do the trick. I think that the "Y" one would be better. You would need more of the same size tube. I have seen them at HD. They are in the section for making sprinkler systems. I have seen 1/2" and 3/4" and there may even be 5/8" d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 Oh he got rep points for sure. Thanks D for the info on where to find. Will be heading there on Wed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Just trying to help. My return pump is split, and has a ball valve to adjust how much goes to the display and how much back into the sump. The parts should be relatively easy to find at HD. Like Dennis said, you'll want a "T" or "Y" shaped fitting and some more tubing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 Is the ball valve a part of a "T" or "Y"? or is that seperate part? Sorry when it comes to plumbing I am a Newb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 put the Y or T with the vertical part coming from the sump. The left (or right, whichever goes to chamber 1 or 3) is just more hose. The right (or side going to the top of chamber 5) has a ball valve (gate valve would give more control but more expensive) that can be partially closed to reduce the flow to chamber 5 (thus increasing the flow to the other chamber). I like this idea. It gives a split flow, and it gives you a customizable flow pattern. If you find that chamber 5 needs more/less flow, just turn the valve to adjust. Good thinking again Brian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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