Re: [Killietalk] Pump for recirculation system

[Barry Cooper <bjc3 at centurytel_net>]

Earl,

you mention that you will need 15 psi for your drip valves. I am not 
sure why you would need that high a pressure for them, unless you are 
talking about solenoid valves to control the flow to the outlets. 
Anyway, to get 15 psi you will need some kind of external pump, not a 
submersible pump. I could not find any submersible that will give you 
that pressure. It is much more than 6-7 ft. head, by the way (1 foot of 
water is about 0.42 psi, so 15 psi = about 36 ft head pressure). In my 
fishroom, where I also needed 15 psi at a height of about 8' I used a 
shallow well pump. Similar pumps are often available on eBay are 
reasonable prices.

The other things you mention are much more difficult to automate. Adding 
salt to a given concentration (conductivity) would require a 
sophisticated computerized system. Similarly, controlling the mixing of 
tap and RO water automatically would be difficult. I faced similar 
needs, specifically the need to put additives, including salt, in the 
water. I do this by the more simple approach of having a large (300 gal 
in my case) reservoir. I fill that twice a week and add the salt etc. at 
filling. It circulates in the reservoir constantly, using a submersible 
pump, and at least a day is allowed after filling to dissolve the 
additives. If you want different water conditions in different tanks I 
guess you would need two systems, one for soft water and one for hard.

Barry J. Cooper
Sweet Home, OR 97386



Earl Blewett wrote:
> Dear FishFolk,
>
> I am re-building my fishroom and have all the parts for a fully automated
> flow through system. However, the Tulsa water is fairly hard 80 - 120 ppm.
> For some of my fish I cut it 50% with DI water and I also like to have salt
> in my water. I keep nothos and I like the longevity it gives to bbs. I can
> set things up as a semi-automated system as I have filters as well as DI and
> carbon cartridges to change my tapwater into reasonable water good water. 
>
> I am looking for advice on two things:
>
> 1.  A pump for a recirculation system one that I can valve down to 15 psi
> for my drip valves. The head would be about 6-7 feet.
>
> 2.   Some kind of timed drip system that I merge with my incoming water to
> add salt (or saline) at a measured amount to reach 1/2 - 1 teaspoon per
> gallon. 
>
> 3. Any way to merge pure DI water with the automated system. I bought a $30
> automated timer and an inline heater to bring my tapwater up reasonable
> conditions. 
>
>
> I may end up with a re-circulating system on a 30 gallong sump that I shut
> down and drain 20 gallons twice a week then manually add clean water. I have
> already figured out how to do this with my existing equipment.
>
> This would allow me to add a fluidized bed filter to the re-circulating
> system. I have them on two large tanks and although it is a pain to set them
> up and they can be finicky and clog, they are worth it. On a 20 gallon
> brackish tank every single species I've had in the tank has spawned. This
> includes bumblebee gobies, rainbowfish, mystery snails and livebearing
> halfbeaks, among others.
>
> Thanks for the advice,
>
> Earl
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Earl L. Blewett Ph.D.
> Assoc. Professor of Microbiology
> Dept of Biochemistry and Microbiology
> Oklahoma State University - Center for Health Sciences
> 1111 West 17th Street
> Tulsa, OK 74107
>  
> micro at earlblewett_net
> Office (918) 561-8405
> FAX   (918) 561-8414
>  
>
>
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