My question, is how does the flow to/from the Sump regulate itself?
I have a Red Sea Reefer 625 G2 Tank. It has a DT that is about 500 litres and a Sump that is 125 litres. I use a DC Return Pump that is rated up to 8000 lph but use it at about 60% - there are also losses from tubing and the head height to consider. The maximum flow rate for my DT and ReefMat isn't being exceeded.
I try to have the level of the Water in the Weir Box at just below the level of the Emergency Overflow. When it works, the inside of the Overflow stays dry. I don't know if this is the ideal way to operate? Also in the Weir Box is the Red Sea Down-pipe and there also two output pipes on each side, to return water to the DT.
Regulation of the flow out of the Tank is with the Red Sea Red Diaphragm Valve - it has markings around the outside and each mark varies the height in the Weir. It isn't difficult to reach a point where the height is (relatively) stable. What I find confusing, is how the System regulates the flow and stabilises the level. The Down-pipe is really two pipes with an outer pipe that has a square clear top. This sits on top of the inner pipe that is at a lower level and is centred by the first pipe. In normal operation the top of the outer Down-pipe is above the level of the Emergency Overflow - so water does not flow over the top. I assume that water in the column between the two pipes flows up and into the inner pipe. Since the outer pipe rests on the bottom of the Weir, it isn't obvious how this flow either gets through or is stable enough to be relied upon.
If the level in the DT rises and the height inthe Weir also increases, water can start to flow down the Emergency Overflow and a gurgle is heard. Only in extreme cases would it overlfow into the outer Down-pipe. If the water level is too low, then there is also a gurgle from the entrance to the Weir as Water passes though the holes and falls down.
I can regulate the flow easily enough and I can get the system stable. I use a Tunze OTA to set the water height in the Return Chamber. As Water evaporates, it replaces the lost water - this works.
My initial impression is that the water flows down the Down Pipe and the rate is limited only by what can pass through into the Weir Box. This can be varied by regulating the Diaphram valve or by changing the DC Pump speed e.g. selecting a slower/faster setting. It does seem that the Weir height is simply a balancing act between input and output - so how does it regulate? Changes in the height of the water in the Return Chamber also seem to influence (a little) the performance.
If I simulate the evaporation of water in the DT by removing a litre of water the System doesn't always adjust so the height could stay at this level, increase or decrease. I'm sure that the detail varies across different Weir Box designs, but that same principle of operation is being used? Some Users will allow a small flow of water to always pass down the Emergency Overflow - perhaps this is how they regulate the height. To me this seems like the operation of a fault WC, only by using the WC Overflow is the height in the Cistern Maintained.
I have a Red Sea Reefer 625 G2 Tank. It has a DT that is about 500 litres and a Sump that is 125 litres. I use a DC Return Pump that is rated up to 8000 lph but use it at about 60% - there are also losses from tubing and the head height to consider. The maximum flow rate for my DT and ReefMat isn't being exceeded.
I try to have the level of the Water in the Weir Box at just below the level of the Emergency Overflow. When it works, the inside of the Overflow stays dry. I don't know if this is the ideal way to operate? Also in the Weir Box is the Red Sea Down-pipe and there also two output pipes on each side, to return water to the DT.
Regulation of the flow out of the Tank is with the Red Sea Red Diaphragm Valve - it has markings around the outside and each mark varies the height in the Weir. It isn't difficult to reach a point where the height is (relatively) stable. What I find confusing, is how the System regulates the flow and stabilises the level. The Down-pipe is really two pipes with an outer pipe that has a square clear top. This sits on top of the inner pipe that is at a lower level and is centred by the first pipe. In normal operation the top of the outer Down-pipe is above the level of the Emergency Overflow - so water does not flow over the top. I assume that water in the column between the two pipes flows up and into the inner pipe. Since the outer pipe rests on the bottom of the Weir, it isn't obvious how this flow either gets through or is stable enough to be relied upon.
If the level in the DT rises and the height inthe Weir also increases, water can start to flow down the Emergency Overflow and a gurgle is heard. Only in extreme cases would it overlfow into the outer Down-pipe. If the water level is too low, then there is also a gurgle from the entrance to the Weir as Water passes though the holes and falls down.
I can regulate the flow easily enough and I can get the system stable. I use a Tunze OTA to set the water height in the Return Chamber. As Water evaporates, it replaces the lost water - this works.
My initial impression is that the water flows down the Down Pipe and the rate is limited only by what can pass through into the Weir Box. This can be varied by regulating the Diaphram valve or by changing the DC Pump speed e.g. selecting a slower/faster setting. It does seem that the Weir height is simply a balancing act between input and output - so how does it regulate? Changes in the height of the water in the Return Chamber also seem to influence (a little) the performance.
If I simulate the evaporation of water in the DT by removing a litre of water the System doesn't always adjust so the height could stay at this level, increase or decrease. I'm sure that the detail varies across different Weir Box designs, but that same principle of operation is being used? Some Users will allow a small flow of water to always pass down the Emergency Overflow - perhaps this is how they regulate the height. To me this seems like the operation of a fault WC, only by using the WC Overflow is the height in the Cistern Maintained.