i been looking at pumps --need advice

[jeff l]

Thanks again for your help---------Jeff

[ChrisS]

Captain,
Could you put a "dimmer" like switch on the line to the pump to inrease or reduce the flow?

[captaincrab55]

Jeff if the pump is to strong then you need to put a valve inline between the pump and tank that way you can cut it back to whats needed

Another valve on the suction side will reduce the load on the motor.    That will reduce operating cost also....    Also check out the POWER SAVE 1200.

[ChrisS]

....any restrictions on the motor would cause it to work harder, like a dirty filter.....unless you could reduce power to the motor, eliminating the valves.

[captaincrab55]

Captain,
Could you put a "dimmer" like switch on the line to the pump to inrease or reduce the flow?

Dimmer NO, but a Variable Speed Drive would work.     Wholesale, the unit starts @ around $500.   Valve on the suction side and POWER SAVE  1200....

[jeff l]

Will reducing the intake  make the pump work harder?

[captaincrab55]

Will reducing the intake  make the pump work harder?

No...

[ChrisS]

.......I can't see how that is. Your restricting the flow slowing the motor down by drag, causing the motor to work harder. Your amps go up.

[ChrisS]

....would you be better off putting a valve at the end of the outflow.....so you can adjust the flow into the tanks and run the rest back into your filter. That way, the pump can run at capacity. Of course, it depends on the size of the tank you build. Since you have the pump already, just build the tank to fit the pump at the turnover rate needed.

[jeff l]

Good question

I do have the tank already built its 4x8x8"

[ChrisS]

....I'm really looking forward to seeing the final results.

[jeff l]

I need help

I just hooked up my new 3/4hp pump, and it is way to powerfull.

 So I put a valve at the pick up side and at fully open it sucks more water then the overflow pipe drains to my bio filter; I turn the valve a little and the output pipes "hiccup" or give a lot then pause then give a lot.

I cant get it right, is there anything else I can do.

Thanks for any ideas-Jeff

my overflow is 2'' pvc; my output pipes are 1''

[Crabcruncher]

Jeff

You could install a recirculating line. All it is, is a pvc connection teed off from the discharge of the pump and reconnected to the suction SIDE of the pump. What is meant by SIDE is what the pump is sucking from. Flow could be controlled by a valve in this line. The wider open this valve, the lower the flow from the discharge line. If pump is taking suction from a tank, than recirc line should return to tank. If you are pumping from a creek, than recirc line should return to creek. Do not tie it in to suction line of pump.

You are getting hiccups in your pump due to cavitation, tiny air bubbles on suction side of pump caused by your restricting flow with valve in suction line.

Alternate method would be to remove the pump impeller and grind it down to a smaller diameter which would reduce capacity.

I think your a recirc line kind of guy.

Cc

[horsefly]

Since we run a different type of set up I'm not sure if this will help. We run 2" inlet (coming from creek) and 2" outlet that supplies 3/4 lines where the areator nozzles are. We also have a check valve installed(check valve or backflow  valve). Installed before the pump, that way if the pump stops youwont loose prime. I also would double check all the fitting again. I took apart a realy long pipe design three times to get it right. Also if using PVC make sure ya use the purple cleaner stuff and use the blue type glue. Hic-ups are caused usually by air bubbles somewhere in the line. One more possible too, weak, trash in or going bad impeller. Are you using the swimming pool type sand filter??  SCRATCHED MY HEAD ON THIS, NOW I'M REALLY BALD

[horsefly]

Scan and send me schematic of the set up so I can get the visual of where the pump, bio, over flow and shedders are also water source. Thanks, this will help the blad spot on my head.

[jeff l]

I am going to take pics tomarrow and draw it out- thanks for yalls help

[R D]

Jeff, you need to find a Commercial operation and look at it,2 minutes looking at my set up will cure all your problems,leave the valve before the pump open,put one after the pump to control flow into the tank,you can put in a 1 inch or a 2 in, don't matter,all pumping systems are designed to pump more than you take out and it is controled by valves,if not then every time a house was built in the city they would have to add a new pump.

[jeff l]

Thanks everybody for your help,

I ended up putting a valve on the discharge pipes and that solved the hiccuping, but I had to turn the valve almost off to get the correct pressure.

It really seemed to strain the motor.

So what I did was take off one of the caps that had a hole in it,and added a third pipe that flows back into my bio filter.

So to sum it up I have one intake, 3 discharges

1 w/a cap w/a 1/4'' hole (to airate)
1 no cap
and 1 no cap going back into my filter

Thanks again, Jeff

[horsefly]

Glad ya got it all worked out, and hopefully thats the last of the problems. Now ya got to get the tanks filled up with peelers. I betcha the pump sorta looks like a spider with all of it's plumbing

[jeff l]

you are absolutely right, Ive got more 90's then you can shake a stick at

Once I have every thing working 100% I will replum everything more efficiently.

[horsefly]

you are absolutely right, Ive got more 90's then you can shake a stick at

Once I have every thing working 100% I will replum everything more efficiently.

I've gotta have a picture of this Bro Not picking or anything, but it's gotta be like a piece of art. I can't say much(putting foot in mouth) The first time I rigged up a 8 tray system, you would he thought I had stock in the PVC market. As matter of fact, we have a storage building with shelves full of elbow,couplings etc like a mini plumber/hardware store. Heck, we probably got 10 rolls of teflon 3 or 4 mega cans of glue bunches of 5200 caulk. We could almost build a ark