Closed loop & pump question.

[Bori]

Hello again all. I'll be needing to pick your brains please. I have a 110 gal fowlr that's running on an Iwaki70rlt pump. The tank is not drilled and has a lifereef overflow. The return is a 1" seaswirl and diy 1" pvc pipe run to the opposite wall with holes drilled along a 13" pipe return. Now for the last 7 or so years I've ran the iwaki with a ball valve on the outlet side, closed about 3/8 of a turn. This is because if I open the valve all the way the outlet side will over flow the tank. In other words it's too strong. Being that flow is never enough, especially in a deep tank, can I Tee off the pump and add an "over the top" closed loop? Or do you think it will still over flow the tank? I know, If it ain't broke...yada yada yada. But I hate not having the full use of this great pump. I'm looking into creating better flow for when I do upgrade to sps &/or lps. Oh btw, the tank is 3 sided(exposed) so the overflow & outlet, etc all come from the remaining tank wall (4th side). If I can find an old picture I'll post it. Thanks --Rob--
I found an old pic. Don't worry the lion fish and huma have long since been traded away. This is the top 1/2 of the tank looking thru the oppsite short (18") side.

 

[NYreefNoob]

it wont give anymore flow. might give less of a flow to more places though.

 

[Bori]

Even if I opened it up all the way?

 

[NYreefNoob]

it will still push more water though but at less pressure if you are using more than one outlet, already tried it before. personally id drill the tank and put more of a drain so you can run higher return or just get a few good powerheads for the in tank flow

 

[Bob 1000]

MJ mods work well...:wink1:

 

[Bori]

I actually have MJ's running inside the rock structure via pvc pipes. I think drilling it at this stage would open up a whole new can of worms. The tank overflows when the valve is open all the way because the return is much faster than the overflow box can accomodate. Would adding a 2nd over flow box work? Seems that 2 overflow box should accomodate the added flow. No?

 

[cb747]

2nd overflow box or larger existing one would do the trick! Right now your pump is putting out more than the overflow box will handle.

 

[Bori]

That's what I thought. Adding another overflow would be easier than having it drilled now. Thanks

 

[cb747]

Your welcome and i like your avatar!!

 

[kimoyo]

Bori,

Were you asking if you could tee off the inlet or the outet? Either way wouldn't work because teeing off the inlet would flood the sump / drain the tank. And teeing off the outlet wouldn't change anything because your drain is too small anyway. Either way a 2nd overflow box as was recommended is the right thing.

The maxijet mods are much different than just maxijets, mods can give off 2500gph at 20W.

More importantly, with our electric rates, if you went down to an iwaki 40 instead of a 70 you could be probably be saving yourself $20-$25 a month. After 1 year, your electric savings would have paid for the new pump...since you've had the pump turned down almost half.

 

[Bori]

You're absolutely right kimoyo re: the Iwaki. I picked it up on ebay @ 8 yrs ago & it's been my work horse ever since. It's over kill but I couldn't pass up the deal at the time. In hind site I should have bought a smaller one. The T would be on the outlet side. As suggested before I'll probably add another overflow. Thanks for the info on the mj mods. I'll do a search on them.

i like your avatar!!

...Thanks cb747 lol

 

[Bikinisalt]

Add another lifereef box and you should be fine. I have a AGA 120G with two Lifereef boxes at each corner and running it with a Iwaki 70RT myself, flow is excellent. I used to have two Korella 4 pumps and did away with them because my return has 4 3/4 outs pointing in different directions in the tank. I did not need to cut down on the pump at all. Hope this helps...

 

[Bori]

Just ordered one. Thank you all!