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Re: CO2 & Reactor Flow Rate Problems



Dan,

Thanks for the info. I was able to locally obtain a ball valve and got
all my plumbing done this evening and the flow rate is about where I
need it. Thanks again!

Dan Dixon wrote:
> 
> on 10/23/99 1:50 AM, afishy at afishy at gateway_net wrote:
> 
> > If anybody can help on this one it would be appreciated.
> >
> > I am working on getting an Ultralife CO2 system fired up and am having
> > a water flow rate problem (?). Ultralife recommends that a 60 gph pump
> > be used to push the water through the reactor. I purchased a EHEIM 1048
> > that has a rated 158 gph with a 4'11" delivery head. I believe that the
> > flow rate is way too fast with this type of pump as I am having a hard
> > time pushing the CO2 into the reactor (I even tried blowing air into it
> > myself and it was almost impossible!). During the startup and adjusting
> > it looks as though I blew the Ultralife check valve from the high back
> > pressure.
> >
> > Has anybody else run into this? My next step (I got a replacement check
> > valve with emergency spares) is to try and reduce the flow rate to get
> > it closer to the 60 gph that Ultralife recommends to see if this takes
> > care of the problem. Any recommendations on how to get the 60 gph out of
> > a pump that is rated at 158 gph with a 4'11" head? I saw a chart
> > somewhere that gives hose lengths and delivery head adjustments in order
> > to get slower flow rates but can't seem to remember where I saw it at.
> > This entire system is being installed on a 125 gallon tank.
> >
> > Any helpful information and/or suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!
> >
> > Aaron
> >
> > afishy at gateway_net
> 
> Get a ball valve ($2-$3 at ThatFishPlace) and a T connector. Connect the
> input of the T to the pump. Connect one output to your reactor, placing the
> ball valve before it. The other output returns to the tank. Now you can
> control the flow to the reactor by adjusting the ball valve. I used to do
> this when I had biowheels to regulate how much water went through them.
> Works great.
> 
> Dan Dixon

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