Pump Size for Algae Scrubber and Bio Pellets

[gb530]

I currently have a TLF 150 reactor with pellets running on a 1200 Maxi-jet (295 gph). After about 1 weeks of the pellets running they get clogged and the flow slows down tremendously with about 15% of the pellets still tumbling. In my opinion, its due to the low flow rate of Maxi-jet, things get clogged, and slow it down but if I had a little more flow things would blow through easier and everything would flow nicer.

Within the next couple weeks I will be setting up an Algae Scrubber with 3/4" piping. I want to get a pump thats big enough for both the algae scrubber I will be setting up and my current TLF 150 reactor.

So heres the questions..... What size pump (gph) do you recommend I use for both my scrubber and TLF reactor? and the debatable question, what brand would you recommend?

 

[klwheat]

Well, I believe the flow rate recommendation for the algae scrubbers is 35gph/inch of scrubber (horizontal measurement). I guess the first questions are what type of scrubber? And how are you setting them up...ie is the outflow of one going into the other, or are they just T'd off of the same pump? Also, what has been clogging on the tlf reactor? Are the biopellets clumping or is the outflow screen getting blocked

 

[gb530]

The screens are getting blocked. It doesn't seem like they are slowing down from clumping, however once they do slow down they seem to clump up. (if that makes sense)

I plan to T off to the reactor from the main line going to the scrubber. The surface area will be 120" (10" by 12"). The cut in the PVC for the scrubber will be 10.5" long and 1/8" thick. I am setting up a scrubber similar to the one below...

 

[klwheat]

Well, you'll want 350gph for the scrubber plus whatever for the reactor. What kind of reactor is it? It may be getting blocked if the pellets aren't soaked first and float, or if the flow is too high.

 

[gb530]

Thanks for the help so far klwheat! The pellets are not blocking it and it's the 150 TLF reactor. Seen here: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11586

I honestly feel like the flow is just not enough... I could be wrong though. I know the Maxi-Jet (im using the 1200) and TLF reactor (150) are really popular. Anyone else having trouble with the 1200 running the TLF reactor?

 

[gb530]

I am going to post a video in a few minutes of my rector, stay tuned....

 

[gb530]

I am just showing off my tank in the first half of the video to make it a little more interesting but at the end I show how my reactor is behaving. You can also see quite a few green hair algae patches in my tank, the main reason why I am setting up the algae scrubber...

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP5X5awsY9k&feature=youtu.be

 

[gb530]

Anyone?