230 Watt RD3 high pressure pump

[reefkeeper2]

I got the RD3 230 Watt pump when it first came out. It's a great pump and it's still going strong. I notice now on the Royal Exclusive website that there is a high pressure model. That would be even better for my setup. I'm assuming the one I have is the flow model. How can I tell which I have and how do I order the parts to convert my pump to the high pressure model?

 

[scuzy]

High pressure model probably had a different motor block.


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[reefkeeper2]

No, a different rotor and pump head I think.

 

[slief]

The 230 gets a new impeller and volute. The RD3 150 needs just a new rotor. The pressure version just came out a handful of months back. If you’ve had your pump greater than 6 months, it’s the flow version. The label on the pressure pump also indicates it’s the pressure version.

The pressure pumps only make sense for heads in excess if about 14’.

This is the rotor for the pressure conversion.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Spare-Par....html?MODsid=b388b5ce418e57a67bd41f94c424f8e3

This is the volute/pump cover for the pressure conversion.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Spare-Par....html?MODsid=b388b5ce418e57a67bd41f94c424f8e3

 

[reefkeeper2]

I have a basement sump and there is 13 feet of head not including elbows and pipe reduction down to 1inch as it enters the tank. It's a lot of money to replace. I wonder if it's worth it.

 

[slief]

I have a basement sump and there is 13 feet of head not including elbows and pipe reduction down to 1inch as it enters the tank. It's a lot of money to replace. I wonder if it's worth it.

What speed are you running your pump at? If you could increase the output pipe diameter to 2" up to the display where the reduction is, it would reduce friction loss quite a bit and may reduce the need for the upgrade.

 

[reefkeeper2]

I have it running on full power. I already have the plumbing at 2 inches up to the display but once it reaches it there are two elbows and a reduction to 1 inch to get thru the bulkhead. The overflows could handle many times more flow than they are getting. It's not a big deal, but I'm always looking for ways to increase flow in the tank. My tank is viewable from all sides with center overflows. Powerhead placement choices are limited.

 

[slief]

I have it running on full power. I already have the plumbing at 2 inches up to the display but once it reaches it there are two elbows and a reduction to 1 inch to get thru the bulkhead. The overflows could handle many times more flow than they are getting. It's not a big deal, but I'm always looking for ways to increase flow in the tank. My tank is viewable from all sides with center overflows. Powerhead placement choices are limited.

I do think the pressure pump would add a bit more flow but what I would suggest is to use the head calculator at the link below. Choose RD3 230 and see what that tells you as far as head goes. The we can compare it to the flow charts on the pressure pump which are real numbers and not just estimates. That is one thing Germany is very meticulous about is testing true flow with real pressure meters. The reduction to 1" at the display is the big killer unless you have a pair of 1" that are fed by a 2 in line and split via a 2" T or WYE.

http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/head-loss-calculator