How to INCREASE flowrate on Megaflow Overflow System?
- Thread starter JPReef
- Start date
8BALL_99
New member
No reason to run so much through your sump. You only need enough water going through the sump to feed your skimmers and heaters. More then that is just wasting power. Your better off getting your flow from powerheads or closed loop. They move more water for less energy. Also if you max out your overflow and you do have any kind of small blockage you will have a overflowed tank pretty quick.. FWIW if you insist, You can run a mag 7 or even a mag 9.5 with a single 1" drain. Again I wouldn't recommend it..
PowermanKW
New member
I don't know much, but just went through this. My 90 has a 1" drain. The Megaflow rating is based on how muchwater the 1" drain will drain.
If you have a barbed connection like I did, it isn't 1". I changed to a slip BH fitting, and oversized my piping. My return is a 3/4", but again, the barbed BH was very restricting. My 9.5 was not putting out near a much as it could. So I increased it's piping too.
Now I have way too much flow. Drain drains it fine. But like 8BALL said, there is no need to just move water around. I only need enough to supply my skimmer. I needed the extra flow to supply my new fuge, but still have plenty. Had to install a valve to throttle back the 9.5.
Bottom line though is that you will always be limited by how much a 1" drain can drain.
If you have a barbed connection like I did, it isn't 1". I changed to a slip BH fitting, and oversized my piping. My return is a 3/4", but again, the barbed BH was very restricting. My 9.5 was not putting out near a much as it could. So I increased it's piping too.
Now I have way too much flow. Drain drains it fine. But like 8BALL said, there is no need to just move water around. I only need enough to supply my skimmer. I needed the extra flow to supply my new fuge, but still have plenty. Had to install a valve to throttle back the 9.5.
Bottom line though is that you will always be limited by how much a 1" drain can drain.
customcolor
New member
mag 7 will work just fine. i think at 4' or so its only 500gph for the mag7
You can do some things to increase the water that it will handle, but I will say you don't want to. The more water you have flowing through the tank/sump the louder it will be, and the harder it will be to keep the bubbles out of the sump, plus you decrease your surface skimming and make your skimmer less effeciant.
Kim
Kim
I thought the rule of thumb was to run 5 to 10 times the size of the tank in gallons through the sump in 1 hour???
I did think about using both of the drains and running the return over the back on each end of the tank. Mainly because i don't want powerheads clogging up the display tank. I hate the look of powerheads.
thanks for the suggestions though. and btw. what is the herbie method? ive been out of the salt hobby for about a year now and im just getting back into it, so im a bit rusty.
I did think about using both of the drains and running the return over the back on each end of the tank. Mainly because i don't want powerheads clogging up the display tank. I hate the look of powerheads.
thanks for the suggestions though. and btw. what is the herbie method? ive been out of the salt hobby for about a year now and im just getting back into it, so im a bit rusty.
padgett152
New member
put a T in the return line. Have one line going to tank and one line going back to sump. you can valve the one going to sump, then their will not be any back pressure on return pump.
PowermanKW
New member
Here you go.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=344892
Some one here suggested it to me. Long thread. It has some advantages. I'm going to replumb my recent replumbing to go to the Herbie method.
PowermanKW
New member
Buried in the thread there was discussion, but that was a couple of years ago. He got his from an existing overflow kit he had on hand.
Most talked about searching for "overflow screens" and there were several out there from aqua culture suppliers. I was just going to drill some pipe. The screen looks nice, but I thought the small holes would be hard to keep clean from algae.
DodgeDude99
New member
i know the rule of thumb for wet/drys on fish only was 6-8xhour.
i have a 90 w/corner overflow using the megaflow drains.
the megaflow is 1.25", the bulkhead is 1", and i have an increaser to take the 1" bulkhead to a 1.25" drain and have it drop 8' to the basement.
i have a little giant 4mdxsc (the model with the higher flow rating) and that is pushing water up about 9.5' thru 1" pipe to a 3/4" bulkhead back to 1" pipe into the tank.
the overflow can handle the pump going full throttle, but i obviously dont run it that high because i wouldnt be able to hear my TV.
i have a 90 w/corner overflow using the megaflow drains.
the megaflow is 1.25", the bulkhead is 1", and i have an increaser to take the 1" bulkhead to a 1.25" drain and have it drop 8' to the basement.
i have a little giant 4mdxsc (the model with the higher flow rating) and that is pushing water up about 9.5' thru 1" pipe to a 3/4" bulkhead back to 1" pipe into the tank.
the overflow can handle the pump going full throttle, but i obviously dont run it that high because i wouldnt be able to hear my TV.
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