Plumbing question

[Almondsaz]

This is not my strength so I need some help. I have a 125 system and currently have an Eheim 1262 as my return pump. In the return section I also have a mag (think its a 3.5) for my chiller (1.3 horse Current Tower).

My question is can I put a "T" in the return line and have the Eheim go to the return in the DT and to run the chiller? Don't know if that is enough flow.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[uncleof6]

IME, the 1262 does not provide enough flow to run the tank, let alone a chiller as well. Considering most plumbing systems will run at around 4 - 5' total head, you will be lucky to be flowing 400 - 500 gph with the eheim. The 1/3 hp current chiller wants 300 - 600 gph. (I have seen it listed much higher) So if you split the flow from the pump, the chiller is not going to get the flow it needs, and with the added friction loss in the chiller, your total flow will drop even farther. (even if you run both to the DT-- which you should do) If you want to run multiple things on a single pump, you need to allow for the flow need to the DT + the additional flow for the added equipment. This means a larger pump, than one that is running at the low end of the scale.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Almondsaz]

Jim: Thank you for your response. Do you know of a good in sump return pump that I should be looking at? And would that pump allow me to run the chiller and the return to the DT? I had the tank plumbed and was told that this pump was fine. The plumbing pipe is 1 1/2 inch (ID) for the overflow and I would be concerned putting more flow into the tank that the pipe could draw the water out of the overflow fast enough.

Really appreciate your input!

 

[autodave]

Jim -How would regulate the flow?(DT and chiller from one pump)"Almondsaz-sorry don't mean to hijack

 

[Almondsaz]

autodave....good question and I will look forward to the response. Plumbing these systems can be a mystery.

 

[uncleof6]

I hate to suggest a particular pump, as there are just too many out there to keep up with. But we are not talking about a huge increase either, for the sake of the drain system. You just want to add some kick to the pump, maybe up to ~1200 gph (0') So you can feed the chiller at least its minimum (300 gph) while not have the other line running so low. But if you are running an air/water mix drain @ 1.5", 400 gph is close to, if not, the maximum it will handle reliably. Aside from working the drain system for increased flow, I would almost be tempted to run 100% through the chiller, then to the tank.

Jim

 

[uncleof6]

Jim -How would regulate the flow?(DT and chiller from one pump)"Almondsaz-sorry don't mean to hijack

autodave....good question and I will look forward to the response. Plumbing these systems can be a mystery.

With out flow meters it will always be a mystery. The flow is controlled with valves, and is rather straight forward, but flow meters come in handy, for precision adjustments, (that change when the flow meter is pulled out of the line) Known volume buckets, and a stop watch can give you pretty accurate flow rates, and you can fine tune for that 300 gph minimum through the chiller, and figure your total flow rate. A bit trickier to do if your tank is already in service, however.

Plumbing is straight forward for a split in a return line: this is for a "fuge" but the concept is identical.

Jim

 

[autodave]

Thanks Jim-I have always ran my chiller with a dedicated pump-I was setting up a new system and was kicking the idea of having just one pump

 

[uncleof6]

Thanks Jim-I have always ran my chiller with a dedicated pump-I was setting up a new system and was kicking the idea of having just one pump

Well tell me about the new system, if you design the system for it, no limit on what you can do.

Jim

 

[NoHooks]

I don't mean to hornn in, and Jim seems to have more technical knowledge than I about pumps/chillers, but I know that to regulate the flow to either device (DT or chiller), all that is necessary is to insert a ball valve before that device. As you close the valve (or open it), you decrease (increase) the flow to that device and increase (decrease) the flow to the other device.

 

[NoHooks]

sorry for the last response - I didn't tur the page and therefore didn't realizze Jim had already responded - with pictures no less. Good luck on your setup.