capsfan December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 The pump in my 2.5 gallon is a little bit too strong for the mushies and zoas. Does anybody see a problem with cutting off a couple rotors on the impeller to reduce flow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Ward December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 The pump in my 2.5 gallon is a little bit too strong for the mushies and zoas. Does anybody see a problem with cutting off a couple rotors on the impeller to reduce flow? hmmm... why not valve it back some? add a ball valve to the output and use it to restrict outflow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extreme_tooth_decay December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 Agree with Brian. If you cut some tabs off the impeller, I wonder if it might become unbalanced and rattle and/or seize. tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan December 30, 2008 Author Share December 30, 2008 I do not have much room to work with. Only about 4 inches where the pump is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extreme_tooth_decay December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 I do not have much room to work with. Only about 4 inches where the pump is. You could maybe fit a reduction fitting/smaller out-tube to just reduce the diameter of the outflow, that would throttle it back too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rascal December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 You could also try opening up the outlet a little bit, or even drilling some additional holes -- the idea being to disperse the flow rather than reduce it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Ward December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 if you cut the tabs off the impeller it can become unbalanced and seize as tim mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan December 30, 2008 Author Share December 30, 2008 Okay, so I wont do that. This is the room I have to work with... And the pump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extreme_tooth_decay December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 Can you fit vinyl tubing over the outflow? Then you could put a vinyl reducing fitting in the tube (1/4"->1/8" or some such). If the outflow is a bunch of holes, you could try plugging one or more of them up to restrict the output also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanCallan December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 You can add a nozzle to the end of the pump to spread out the flow so it's less direct. It's pretty common in nano cubes, jump over to nano reefs and have a look around. Something might work for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason the filter freak December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 a simple solution often done on nano reef is sanding down the the fins of the impeller so cut down of flow some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L8 2 RISE December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 why not just get a new pump? How strong is the pump you have now? Surely there are pumps out there that have 10 or so gph that you could use? Maybe I'm wrong... if so, I'll leave it to these guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 Shorter blades on the impeller is one typical way that manufacturers use to reduce the pump output. I have heard about people removing impeller blades, but you have to be balanced about it, otherwise you wind up shortening the service life of the pump. In both cases, you need to make sure that the impeller remains balanced (just think of blade removal as an extreme form of blade shortening). Is there any chance that the pump that you've got has a flow adjustment already built in to it that resticts the intake? (That's another way that I've noticed that manufacturers use to give variable output capability to small centrifugal pumps like the one you're showing in your pictures.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanCallan December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 Do you know the diameter of the outlet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason the filter freak December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 the lowest gph pump i've seen is about 45 gph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanCallan December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 the lowest gph pump i've seen is about 45 gph In the automatic water change thread I linked to some 6gph pumps. They go low, real low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan December 30, 2008 Author Share December 30, 2008 a simple solution often done on nano reef is sanding down the the fins of the impeller so cut down of flow some That might work why not just get a new pump? How strong is the pump you have now? Surely there are pumps out there that have 10 or so gph that you could use? Maybe I'm wrong... if so, I'll leave it to these guys I don't want to get a new pump because the hole in the acrylic would be too big or too small. Shorter blades on the impeller is one typical way that manufacturers use to reduce the pump output. I have heard about people removing impeller blades, but you have to be balanced about it, otherwise you wind up shortening the service life of the pump. In both cases, you need to make sure that the impeller remains balanced (just think of blade removal as an extreme form of blade shortening). Is there any chance that the pump that you've got has a flow adjustment already built in to it that resticts the intake? (That's another way that I've noticed that manufacturers use to give variable output capability to small centrifugal pumps like the one you're showing in your pictures.) It does have an adjustment. It goes from 60 to 90 gph. It is turned all the way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesprite December 30, 2008 Share December 30, 2008 (edited) Pumps used for tabletop fountains go really low gph if you have trouble finding something else low enough, though I'm not sure if they would go high enough. Pond section of pet store, sometimes reptile section (not sure how strong those are), and then craft sotres sell them without fountains (people make their own). The nozzles are very short so you would maybe have to add something on to it. Edited December 30, 2008 by treesprite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan December 31, 2008 Author Share December 31, 2008 I think I am going to sand down the tabs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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