Question about Pump/Chiller

[kyle]

I just recently got a 1/4 inline chiller and I am not sure about the best way to install it. It would be nice to not have to add any more pumps so I figured I would just link it in on my return Little giant pump (yes I know they arent that great). Will this slow down the return significantly.

Another question: If I have another larger little giant pump that is not in use but is rated at over 1000 gph can I use this under these conditions. My overflow is only rated for 800. Is there a way to slow down the pump without damaging it or putting too much pressure on it. Maybe a valve of some sort. Any better ideas as far as incorporating the chiller are welcome. I currently have a 125 gallon with a seperate sump and refugium under the main tank. Thanks for your time.

Kyle

[captexas]

Kyle - Some pumps can handle having a valve put on the return and some will wear out as they cannot handle the back pressure. Only certain models of the Little Giant pumps are pressure rated. The larger pump might work if the chiller water returns to your sump and you have ball valves to regulate the the output to the tank and to the chiller. But I would be very careful in planning it out to avoid possible floods due to overflow losing suction or something like that. Most chillers only need a small pump as you don't want the water circulating through it too fast.

[Jimnorris]

On my 1/3 inline chiller min. water flow is 105 gph. This is really low. I use a mag350 canister filter on a closed loop with the chiller works fine.
Jim

[kyle]

That is what I figured.I am stuck on what to do. The pump I have is not one of the pressure pumps.

[kyle]

What would be the best pump for a 125 gallon with an 800 gph overflow and 4 feet of head. I would like it to run through my chiller also.

[kyle]

Yes the Y would be nice but I am afraid I dont have enough flow with the smaller pump.

[captexas]

I mentioned running it back to the sump meaning if he went with a larger pump than what the overflow could handle. If you run a 1200gph pump, I don't think the head loss would be enough to reduce it down to 800gph for the overflow even going through the chiller. It might be possible, but I would hate to come home one day and find out the hard way it doesn't work. Definately find out what the reccommended min/max flow rates are for the chiller. The more of a temperature drop you need the slower the flow should be to increase contact time.

[captexas]

I think you could also put a Y on the drain with ball valves and have one line go to your sump and the other line through the chiller. Then the chiller could drain into your sump and just have the pump return as normal. The only issues with this is that this would slow down the flow through the main part of your sump and you might have to clean out the chiller every so often as the water going in is not mechanically filtered for any debris from the tank.

[kyle]

That would work too. I wondering If I should just bite the bullet and buy a new pump that would better fit my situation. Maybe I could trade the two I have for a different one.

[adamRS80]

I don't know guys this "Kyle" fellow seems kinda shady.

[kyle]

That's It.

[adamRS80]

In case anybody was thinking Im a jerk, Kyle goes to A&M and we're in a bunch classes.

[Tim Marvin]

I'm sorry, you guys couldn't make it into UT either.....JK......

[kyle]

That's funny. but I did make it into UT and I decided to choose the better university

[adamRS80]

Beautiful, and well executed Kyle

[Tim Marvin]

LOL...JK.....My brother in law graduated from A&M and is doing pretty well for himself now. What is your major?

[Tim Marvin]

Hey I've been trying to figure out why you guys wave a white flag at the games now? What is that for?

[Tim Marvin]

At any rate, why don't you run the overflow down through the chiller before it goes to the sump,and then pump it back to the tank. How big are the pipes running throught the chiller?

[adamRS80]

Kyle and I are both construction science majors. As for the white flag I don't know what you're talking about..our colors are maroon and white though.

[Tim Marvin]

I thought I saw white at the A&M/UT game. Is the flag mostly white with the maroon on the edges? I thought your colors were mostly maroon with a little white.
Anyway a friend of mine, Steve (xien2000corp), is coming out there to start school. He is really looking forward to it, cool guy.

[kyle]

It's all in good fun. The white flags are actually towels. It's more of a core thing than anything. The towels say something about the 12th man. As far as the chiller goes, it is being shipped right now, so I do not have it yet. I know the flow is rated at a maximum of well over 1,000 gph but I am not sure if the overflow and chiller would get backed up due to nothing forcing the water but gravity. This way would be nice but I am just not sure. What do you think.

[TAXMAN]

I dun did went to a&M 2. Thay dun did lern me wale bout farmin. :confused:

J/K. I like Aggies sometimes. But I'm a Longhorn fan, so I have to jab at ya.

Just in case you decide to use a larger pump and you want to restrict the flow. Remember that you always restrict the flow at the discharge of the pump. Never on the return " Inlet " . Restriction on the return can cause the pump to cavitate with air. This will reduce flow, create heat and wear the impeller out quicker than normal.

[kyle]

I'll stop here before this gets out of hand and I have to find out where you live. That is good to know about the pump though. I would have put it on the inlet because I figured that placing it on the discharge would put too much back pressure on the pump. Thanks

[Tim Marvin]

You could T off the overflow with a ball valve and just let the amount you want to go through the chiller and the rest can just go on to the sump. Then return the rest from the chiller to the sump from return pipe. I agree with taxman, putting it between the pump and sump is a bad idea.

[kyle]

ok I like that idea

[Henry]

Are you going to place your chiller in your stand? Is there enough room. Remember that when the chiller is running it will add heat and noise to the room that it is in. I'm just thinking out loud here, but if the chiller is in the stand it will/could cause extra heat that will lead to increased evaporation, which will lead to increase cycle time for the chiller. kinda a catch 22. If possible I would install chiller outside stand with a small pump to circulate water through it much like Jim has his setup. The slower the flow the better.

[kyle]

I was planning on placing outside my stand becasue there is now enough room under the stand. Would you recommend an exteral or internal pump.

[Henry]

If space is a concern, a small internal pump should be fine. But if you have the room I always prefer external pumps.