Controllable Return Pump Options?

[exnisstech]

I am using an aqua excel controller on my 160 gallon Red Sea max. How do I find the balance between the flow rate and the valve control to quiet the down flow. It is so loud. I am a relative newbie and I bought the set up used

I'm not familiar with that controller but the procedure is the same regardless. I don't really try to balance it between the pump and valve. I just decide how much flow I want from the return and set that then use the valve. I don't try to set the overflow water level with the pump controller. The jebao return pumps on my redsea tanks I run around 60% then use the valve to adjust the level so there is just a trickle going down the e drain.

 

[areefer01]

Friend, I was just joking around :) I wasn't criticizing your maintenance practices, I promise :)

Oh, I know :) You didn't come across that way at all. I was just thinking to myself that maybe I should have clarified that I don't use them and that maybe it would help in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Fish Fan]

Oh, I know :) You didn't come across that way at all. I was just thinking to myself that maybe I should have clarified that I don't use them and that maybe it would help in the grand scheme of things.

Good to hear, thank you for your reply!

 

[noobreefer2]

Oh ok awesome! How long have you had the Jebaos running for?

A little under a year

 

[noobreefer2]

BRS videos are about pimping promoting products they sell.

I also fell into this exact trap. I had spent so much money on BRS because it's what I relied on for info when I started.

 

[areefer01]

BRS videos are about pimping promoting products they sell.

Social media in general is promoting products that they sell or are sponsored by. My point I guess is that it isn't unique to BRS. BRS does have some content that isn't promoting only what they sell.

Salt and how long one can store it is a good one vs chemistry fall off is decent. Manual test kits vs repeatability was another. The onus is always on us, the hobbyist, to sift through what is reality vs social media bias. Nothing that you don't already know so let me step off my soap box.

Hope your day is well.

 

[exnisstech]

Social media in general is promoting products that they sell or are sponsored by. My point I guess is that it isn't unique to BRS. BRS does have some content that isn't promoting only what they sell.

Salt and how long one can store it is a good one vs chemistry fall off is decent. Manual test kits vs repeatability was another. The onus is always on us, the hobbyist, to sift through what is reality vs social media bias. Nothing that you don't already know so let me step off my soap box.

Hope your day is well.

I watched a couple when it was Ryan and Randy that had some good info. For the most part I don't really watch YouTube videos. I use YouTube so I can paste links of my tanks and such here but other than that I don't have much use for it. It's probably an old guy thing but to me most feel like they are people looking for a attention or just biased infomercials. I'm sure there is useful content I just don't bother wading through the trash to find the treasure.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

A little under a year

Oh ok well hopefully nothing goes wrong with it but if it does let me know!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Its just business.

Right lol

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I believe the BRS videos have value, but clearly their purpose is to sell products, and they will never tell you about a product they don't stock. Again, that's just business.

I like their videos, but I always suggest coming to R2R and asking before you purchase anything. Most of the time you don't *need* what you think you need, or like with these Jaebo return pumps, there may be a better/cheaper option that is not in the BRS line of products.

Yeah but I didn't know that was their purpose until now, I thought they were genuinely trying to help people with honest opinions, not just paid opinions lol.
Right, I'm glad i found this place.
Correct!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I personally fall into the camp that return pumps demand a higher priority in the total reefing budget as it ties to installation costs. Return pumps do not change if we are being honest so whatever you decide upon today chances are likely it will work for you down the road should you change things like doing an upgrade. Even though we say no, we will not upgrade, we do at some point in time. Reefs mature if we are successful. I personally feel increasing the budget gives one more room to buy quality products or products that otherwise may not be considered.

Few things to consider besides functional needs are installation, maintenance, access, and shared use. Return pump, skimmer pump, or a manifold. Buy a spare of whatever you end up using and now maintenance is silly easy because you can take any that can use the same pump offline and swap with one off the shelf. Super easy because they share the same connection fittings.

Now some here have said that the pump has been running great for X number of years. I do not doubt that. I've been there and done that, I'm busy. Well maybe lazy. Both. In any case my point is that pumps need maintenance and we should accept that. Especially to mission critical things like return pumps. New, out of the box, clean, they are moving like they should. Month one, two, three, or eighteen things start to change and the flow isn't the same. No matter how much we want to believe it deep down we know it is dirty. Film, life, micro fauna, whatever we want to call it - it is there. Example below for reference.

Note - I am not budget shaming or anti cleaning shaming just tossing out thoughts as I reply. Budget, look at what can use the same pump, connection, fittings, possibly buy a spare, and make your life easier.

Film, stombus snails, bristle worms, small crustaceans, and aiptasia on the body (not shown).

Yeah that is true as well.
Aahhh very smart, I didn't think of that but man that would get expensive having extras like that but I'll have to do that at a later time but I am very lazy also so I definitely will end up doing that.

 

[mboley]

Right, I don't plan on running anything at 100% since that's what I've seen on BRS' videos.
Yes.
I am going to be using 2 return pumps so one is a backup just in case and they will each have the 2 style nozzles.

You don't need to do that, pumps are very reliable these days. Two will take up room in your sump and produce more heat. I have a back up pump but it's in my closet if needed.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

@exnisstech, if you're around, please, would you please help me help the OP here?

The OP has been talking to me privately, and I am trying to convince them that I am not an expert :) That's first and foremost.

The OP wants to model their circ around something Josh from WWC said sometime around 8:50 minutes into this video. The idea is to place a gyre on one side of the DT and push water into the overflow on the other side. I'm sure Josh knows what he's doing, but I'm not familiar with this return setup. To me, this is going to cause a cyclical flow of water around the tank. I don't see this setup making chaotic flow patterns.

If you have a chance, please check out this video at about 8 minutes and 30 seconds. This is what @SaltWaterTank_Noob would be very interested to see what you think here:


Thank you in advance!

Thank you!
Here is a picture of how I would do the setup. There would be chaotic movement because of the Gyre having 8 different sections now along with the possibility of the return pumps giving some type of chaotic movement as well by putting them on those controllers.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Thank you!
Here is a picture of how I would do the setup. There would be chaotic movement because of the Gyre having 8 different sections now along with the possibility of the return pumps giving some type of chaotic movement as well by putting them on those controllers.

@exnisstech this is what it would look like

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I also fell into this exact trap. I had spent so much money on BRS because it's what I relied on for info when I started.

Now what do you use to find good things or better prices?

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

You don't need to do that, pumps are very reliable these days. Two will take up room in your sump and produce more heat. I have a back up pump but it's in my closet if needed.

Ahh ok, yeah I thought so.

 

[Fish Fan]

Now what do you use to find good things or better prices?

Reef2Reef!

 

[exnisstech]

@exnisstech this is what it would look like

I understand the flow down and back. I get lost when you talk about varying the flow of the return pumps which will vary the level in the overflow which will make it impossible to silence. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are trying to accomplish but I really have nothing else to offer.
Well I will offer 1 suggestion, be sure and have syphon breaks on those returns or the sump will most likely overflow when the pump is off with them being so far under the surface .

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Reef2Reef!

Right lol

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I understand the flow down and back. I get lost when you talk about varying the flow of the return pumps which will vary the level in the overflow which will make it impossible to silence. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you are trying to accomplish but I really have nothing else to offer.
Well I will offer 1 suggestion, be sure and have syphon breaks on those returns or the sump will most likely overflow when the pump is off with them being so far under the surface .

I meant that IF the gyre is not enough to make enough "chaos" in the tank then I would use the return pumps to add some more "chaos" by adding the variable timing thing to them.
By siphon breaks do you mean like check valves??? Or what do you mean cause I've not heard of that term