At the top of the water return pipe there is a pinky sized pipe that forms an elbow and connects the eyeball return to the pipe. The water return pipe is 28mm O/D. The elbow is approx. 10mm O/D.
WHY? I heard the XXL tanks are larger but didn't confirm, and I don't believe the return pipe would fit the smaller tanks from the bit of info I could find.
I modified it by removing eyeball assembly with the elbow. That leaves a metric male thread exposed.
A 3/4 FPT 3/4 slip elbow fits on thread loosely. A bunch of wraps with Teflon tape and the elbow screwed on securely lining up with the EYEBALL hole.
A close 2 inch piece of 3/4 pipe, and a gray 3/4 45degee fitting and I had a new return.
You can even drill the inside corner of the elbow for a siphon break that wont make noise
due to the water level in the overflow.
Disassemble the eyeball where it passes thru the trim plate. The standard 3/4 pipe fits a loosely into the trim plate and can be reinstalled so you don't have a big hole at overflow.
I angled the 45 toward the surface.(I guess a Y could be fitted as well) The water coming out is very gentle even at 530gph according to Apex.
Not here to debate sump flow rates, just save a bit of power for cheap.
I realize I need roughly 3 to 5x flow thru sump, which I can achieve at min 3x flow 35 watts(278) . 5x flow 75watts to get to 450GPH I use a Jebao 12000 pump with 1-1/4 to a 1-1/4 T to reactor, down to 1 inch at flow meter. 1 inch slip to 3/4 MPT wrapped in Teflon to stock return pipe.
After all that crap(if your still reading) the net gain was 123GPH at 50 watts power. That's with the reactor also at 30-40gph.
Before 35watts =278 after mod 410
Before 50 watts = 410 after mod 530
I couldn't find much info on this mod so I figured I would post. But I have seen posts where Vectra and other pumps struggled with noise from back pressure. Save some juice, noise and heat.
Your results may vary! try at your own risk!
Enjoy!
WHY? I heard the XXL tanks are larger but didn't confirm, and I don't believe the return pipe would fit the smaller tanks from the bit of info I could find.
I modified it by removing eyeball assembly with the elbow. That leaves a metric male thread exposed.
A 3/4 FPT 3/4 slip elbow fits on thread loosely. A bunch of wraps with Teflon tape and the elbow screwed on securely lining up with the EYEBALL hole.
A close 2 inch piece of 3/4 pipe, and a gray 3/4 45degee fitting and I had a new return.
You can even drill the inside corner of the elbow for a siphon break that wont make noise
due to the water level in the overflow.
Disassemble the eyeball where it passes thru the trim plate. The standard 3/4 pipe fits a loosely into the trim plate and can be reinstalled so you don't have a big hole at overflow.
I angled the 45 toward the surface.(I guess a Y could be fitted as well) The water coming out is very gentle even at 530gph according to Apex.
Not here to debate sump flow rates, just save a bit of power for cheap.
I realize I need roughly 3 to 5x flow thru sump, which I can achieve at min 3x flow 35 watts(278) . 5x flow 75watts to get to 450GPH I use a Jebao 12000 pump with 1-1/4 to a 1-1/4 T to reactor, down to 1 inch at flow meter. 1 inch slip to 3/4 MPT wrapped in Teflon to stock return pipe.
After all that crap(if your still reading) the net gain was 123GPH at 50 watts power. That's with the reactor also at 30-40gph.
Before 35watts =278 after mod 410
Before 50 watts = 410 after mod 530
I couldn't find much info on this mod so I figured I would post. But I have seen posts where Vectra and other pumps struggled with noise from back pressure. Save some juice, noise and heat.
Your results may vary! try at your own risk!
Enjoy!