Reducing gph for return pump

[jason604]

Hi my return pump is 600gph and my eshopps overflow is 300gph. If I just use a ball valve on the discharge of the pump to reduce flow would that damage the pump? Or should I just split the discharge so half the water goes back to my refugium?

[Cal_stir]

restricting the outlet is ok, but a bypass would probably be better.
never restrict the inlet of a pump.

[Nano]

restricting the outlet is ok, but a bypass would probably be better.
never restrict the inlet of a pump.

+1 i've read of the water wearing down the ball valve til all hell brakes loose

[Myka]

You can cut most pumps back with a ball valve which actually reduces the power usage as well. I wouldn't push it more than 20-25% though. Maybe you could use some flow to run a GFO (and/or carbon) reactor(s). Which brand of pump do you have?

[ckmullin]

Hi my return pump is 600gph and my eshopps overflow is 300gph. If I just use a ball valve on the discharge of the pump to reduce flow would that damage the pump? Or should I just split the discharge so half the water goes back to my refugium?

what I do. split it.

[paddyob]

gate valve. After the pump.

[subman]

Whats your reasoning for reducing the flow?

[jason604]

Whats your reasoning for reducing the flow?

pump is double what my eshopp 300 overflow should handle

[jason604]

gate valve is good as a shut off valve not a reducing valve. Ball valve or globe will work better i think i might try ball or just divert the extra flow to refugium

[sphelps]

If your pump is rated at 600GPH it won't actually pump that much given there is head pressure losses from both static head and pipe friction losses. In many cases you only end up with half the rated flow, there are online calculators you can use to get better idea.

A valve on the output is fine, it just adds to the head pressure, no different than adding more height.

[jason604]

If your pump is rated at 600GPH it won't actually pump that much given there is head pressure losses from both static head and pipe friction losses. In many cases you only end up with half the rated flow, there are online calculators you can use to get better idea.

A valve on the output is fine, it just adds to the head pressure, no different than adding more height.

After testing the pump is too strong at 4 feet head so I decided to split the return line back to sump and now it's running perfectly

[MMAX]

You can choke the flow back with a ball valve if you want, but eventually it will wash it out. Always use a gate valve.

[Simons]

I think some kind of return line back to the sump from the output line or some type of valve is the only answer. That's why I like variable speed pumps so you can adjust the flow without having to add another level of plumbing. The more you add to your plumbing work the more potential issues they could be.

[mark]

You can choke the flow back with a ball valve if you want, but eventually it will wash it out. Always use a gate valve.

Wash out the ball, really?

[MMAX]

Wash out the ball, really?

Happens all the time in my line of work.