I NEED EVERYONE'S HELP PLEASE!

by **FishMane25** » Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:35 pm

so i bought my 125 used and just found out today that my tank is pushing almost 2800gph and i am running dual overflows . I need help on how to plug off one side of my overflows and just run one side with my smallest gph pump without creating a disaster for myself!i have a magflow 950gph pump and a magflow 1800gph running.....any help would be MUCH needed and appreciated!!!!! thanks yall!

by **jdak702** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:59 am

You could use a cork or something. If the overflow is in its own overflow box, water would get back there and be stagnant. That would be another issue to think of. I still don't understand why you can't use both overflows with one pump... It's not like the pump won't keep up with the overflow which is what i am thinking you are thinking.

by **yasherkoach** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 6:36 am

first thing, never restrict the inlet flow of any water pump. This will quickly cause permanent motor damage

You can restrict the outlet flow of the water pump with a ball valve in order to achieve the desired flow rate.

here are several ball valves you may purchase or get an idea what you need:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... =8016&s=lh

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... =3612&s=lh

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... =8017&s=lh

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... =4087&s=lh

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... =8018&s=lh

possibly:

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... 20412&s=lh

or

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/p ... 20411&s=lh

now you have a good idea what to do

or you may leave the gph the way it is (even though it is about 1500 gph more than is required for the gph should at least be 10 times the tank size (125 gal or 1250 gph)

let us know what you choose to do

by **christofrontosa** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 3:04 pm

i blocked my overflow with plexiglass cut to size and aquarium sealent so that i could use HOB filters. just make sure everything is completely dry.

by **FishMane25** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:07 pm

thanx a bunch! but after brain storming all morning at work i decided im just gonna run both overflows into one pump, just Y them and run the return back to the pump. that would be my best bet conidering i dont have much room to work with under the tank and im not gonna take a risk of having all of the other issues that were said. thanx again!

by **yasherkoach** » Fri Aug 20, 2010 10:57 pm

2800 gph is really okay... more the filtration the better, and though you are a bit over the top, it won't hurt matters

but it is good to see you found a remedy that will work

by **FishMane25** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 3:57 am

yea well that is just with my 2 pumps, my tank looks great and always has but i am also running a fluval 205 that is 185gph for the purpose of hooking up a UV sterilizer. so really im pushing like 3,000gph. im doing the work tomm on it and im just gonna run the 950gph pump and Y the 2 overflow returns into that pump. i will let everyone know how it turns out! lol

by **yasherkoach** » Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:15 pm

the Y tubing is a good idea...yes tell us how it goes

by **FishMane25** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 3:59 am

wellllll i did all the construction...it turned out good! i had to run back to my work twice before i got the same size of tubing that was originally ran on all the plumbing. but it works really well, i ran 5/8 tubing on the returns (same size as the orignal) and used a 5/8 Y to connect everything and put clamps on all of the connections and turned on the pumps and abra cadabra no leaks and is working PERFECT!! i appreciate all the ideas!!

by **yasherkoach** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:33 am

very cool...always good stuff when things work out really well

I NEED EVERYONE'S HELP PLEASE!

10 posts