|
|
Post by billg71 on Nov 25, 2012 11:09:35 GMT -5
I've been reading Carl's articles on pump specifications and head pressure and I'm wondering if I'm coming up short with the filtration setup I have in mind. Primary filter: Rena Filstar XP1 with TMC 600 fluidized sand bed filter. I'm running about 26" of head on the Filstar, will the TMC filter push me past pump capacity if I hang it on the back of the aquarium? How about standing on the shelf next to the Filstar(which I'd prefer)? Carl recommends the XP2 for this filter, but if I use the XP2 I'll have to remove the shelf in the stand and that'll raise the head to around 30". Seems like one step forward and two steps back.... Secondary filter: Hydro-Sponge III with a SunSun JP-023 powerhead driving a TMC Vecton 8-watt UV sterilizer. Again, I'd like to mount the Vecton in the cabinet, head would be about 26-30" depending on where it mounted in the cabinet. Again, it looks like I'm marginal here as well, depending on resistance in the UV unit? My intent is to use the Filstar for mechanical filtration and peat with the TMC sand-bed filter as the primary biological filtration. The HydroSponge is the secondary biological filter and a prefilter for the UV unit. Is this a good approach? I don't mind upgrading at this stage(before everything's put together and the tank filled), I just don't want to go to all the effort to assemble it all and then find it doesn't work. I already have the XP1 and the SunSun head but I can either sell them or keep them as backups if I do need larger pumps. So I'd welcome any and all advice. TIA, Bill |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Nov 25, 2012 12:39:08 GMT -5
Bill, Basically, the Filstar XP1 should be enough IF you can get this filter as close to the water level as possible. While I am not positive, the 26" of head pressure may be too much. Another though though is a booster pump, such as a Rio 1000 placed on the intake should the head pressure be too much for this filter. With a booster, you may not even need the pump running within the Rena. As for the secondary filter: " Hydro-Sponge III with a SunSun JP-023 driving a TMC Vecton 8-watt UV sterilizer" with 26-30" of head. This Sunsun Filter along with most other power head pumps of this type (Hagen, Marineland, etc), are not meant for as much lift as the more multi purpose pumps. So my suggestion here is again this may work since the maximum head is about 52", but at your noted head pressure, you may have only about 130 gph You could also try a Rio 1000 or even 1100 if this does not work out. We also might be able to get a more powerful version of the JP-23; the 024 In conclusion, I think you have already got this figured out, it may be simply a matter of tweaking placement or pumps for optimal performance Carl |
|
|
|
Post by billg71 on Nov 28, 2012 15:16:05 GMT -5
Thanks, Carl! Got the Vecton mounted yesterday. I wound up with 35-36" of head so it looks like I'll probably be needing another pump, probably the Rio 1100. I'm figuring there'll be some flow reduction through the Hydro Sponge once it's populated and the larger pump will give me a bit more wiggle room to tweak things, can always reduce flow but it's hard to invent it. I just wish it was a bit smaller but I guess if I can hide a HSIII I can hide a larger pump.  Thanks again for the feedback! Best, Bill |
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Nov 28, 2012 19:05:12 GMT -5
Is the SunSun JP 23 moving water at all for you? The Rio 1100 should give you more than enough and also fit on a sponge filter ok. Carl |
|
|
|
Post by billg71 on Nov 29, 2012 22:13:15 GMT -5
Carl, SunSun head is still in the box, I'm dry starting the tank. I'm just thinking and rethinking, trying to plan ahead. I'm cursed with a background in engineering, frame houses for a living, do a fair amount of structural design. I just like to have some confidence that something will work before I build it. Do-overs aren't a good thing in my profession, hard to keep that mindset from carrying over into the hobbies...... Or maybe I'm just suffering from a case of "paralysis by analysis". Wouldn't be the first time.  Thanks for your help, Bill |
|
|
|
Post by billg71 on Feb 1, 2013 20:55:50 GMT -5
Just an update: Chickened out on using the XP1 to push the FSB filter, bought an XP2. Added water to the tank the end of December, hooked up the XP2 in-line with the FSB, adjusted the flow with a ball valve between the two and everything worked well with the ball valve about half open. Good fluidization at that flow rate, probably could have done just as well with the XP1 but picked up room for extra filter pads and carbon with the added capacity of the XP2. Mounted the JP-023 on the HydroSponge 3 and let it run with the aeration tube attached and an airline flow valve to regulate the air. In the next couple of weeks I did a weekly water change and dosed a couple of times with the Fritz TurboStart bacteria. Fed them with 10% NH3 from Ace Hardware, they seemed to start growing, got some nitrite production, nitrate followed. So I mounted the TMC UV, hooked it up to the SunSun and got decent flow, about 80 gph. I thought the water was pretty clear before but after a couple of days running the UV the change in clarity was obvious! The SunSun is pushing around 30" of head pressure and still maintaining a decent flow through the UV, couldn't ask for more. I'm using the 90-degree adapters on the unit for mounting so I guess that introduces some restriction but I'm good with 80 gph, gives me 10 gallons/watt and 2 changes an hour. According to Carl that's somewhere between Level 1 and 2 sterilization, works for me. Next water change I somehow managed to backwash half the sand from the FSB into the Rena and destroy the pump, took the FSB out and used the XP1 head as a backup. Worked well, more flow than the XP2/FSB combo but I lost the bio capacity of the FSB. So, in the interest of simplicity I picked up an XP3, transferred the media trays from the XP2 and filled the center tray with Matrix. I'm still using the XP1 pump and getting great flow. Hey, it works... And I still have a backup power unit. Maybe sometime I'll add the FSB back but I definitely will have some kind of plumbing manifold in place so I can shut things off and avoid this kind of mishap again. In the meantime things are working, the mechanics are simple and there's less "stuff" in the stand to deal with. There's a lot to be said for the KISS principle... Best to all, Bill P.S. Don't know how the photo got attached much less sideways, thought I had canceled it. Carl or Steven please remove it if you can. Thanx! Attachments:
|
|
