Is 600gph too much flow through AM1000 reactor?

[growitnow]

Hello,

A common question with reactor set up is "is this pump strong enough? What about the opposite - what is the consequence of having a pump driving CO2 reactor that is too strong? Is this just that if flow through the reactor is too strong, then CO2 bubbles will get blown out more quickly than they can dissolve therefore wasting CO2?

My own interest is in setting up AM1000 in 90gal tank. I want to split the output of the reactor with a Y-connector, then discharge CO2 enriched water through two Loc-line nozzles located at left and right of back of tank. Point is I want decent flow OUT of each Loc-line split to help push water around tank.

Can I use up to say 600gph pump driving AM1000? Or would that be "too much" and if so why is that bad?

My pump options:
Eheim 1250 (320 gph)
Eheim 1260 (634 gph)

Thanks,

 

[Gerryd]

I think you need to flow less flow to the AM1000 as they are not built for very high flow. Can you split the output AFTER the reactor and use a booster pump to create a strong flow from that point to the tank?

OR split PRIOR to the reactor and use a ball valve on the line to the reactor to control the flow into it. The other line would get the other flow...

The am1000 has small tubing so not much flow is even possible. Too high and you may send backpressure to the pump. Some canisters do not like this, so be careful.

That said, most filters flow are optimistic to say the least.

 

[growitnow]

Hi Gerryd, thanks for reply.

Two questions:
1) I did a search before posting and saw a post of yours where you indicate you used a Mag 5 (500gph) on AM1000. Can you elaborate? Was your Mag 5 at full throttle, driving only reactor? (i.e., was your input to AM1000 actually around 500gph, or...?). In my set up the pump will drive only the reactor in closed loop. So I might elect for Mag 5 (500gph) rather then Eheim 1250 (320gph). (a.k.a. is Mag 5 OK for AM1000 when Mag 5 will drive only reactor?)

2) Sorry but I do not understand your first suggestion. Are you saying I might split output of reactor, then, install an inline pump with a higher flow rate to the reactor outflow leg, than the pump pushing water IN to the AM1000? I interpret your suggestion this way, but does not make sense to me.

e.g., 320 gph pump -->reactor -->reactor output tube-->600gph pump ---> output tube from 600gph pump ---| split to L/R

Many thanks,

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,
1. Yes, the mag 500 was at full flow into the am1000. The output from the reactor went into the main pump sump for distribution to the tank. My setup was WAY DIFFERENT back then LOL

I think the 500/am1000 worked pretty well. Just add a throttle valve to control the flow just in case...

2. No, split PRIOR to the reactor.

So,

320-pump to fork in road. Right fork goes to throttle valve and am1000 and then the tank and left fork goes straight to the tank.

Or you could COMBINE the flows AFTER the reactor and input that to a NEW PUMP to then distribute to tank.

Just an idea...........Does it make sense?

 

[growitnow]

Gerryd, many thanks, again.

I will be driving AM1000 with dedicated pump, not canister. Good on Mag 5. I have a few different Eheim hobby pumps and would have preferred to stick with Eheim; but from what you've suggested Mag5 w/500gph seems fine because 600gph may be too much w/Eheim 1260 (636 gph) that I otherwise would have chosen.

And yes, understood re: split prior to reactor. I misread your "Can you split the output AFTER the reactor and use a booster pump to create a strong flow from that point to the tank?".

I can blast water around with other pumps, though my goal is to have CO2 rich water output coming out of reactor, at different output locations (L/R of tank). My interest is not in flow per se but in pushing as much water through the AM1000 as I can - to enable two splits after reactor (so each split will have non-trivial CO2-rich current coming out of it). Mag 5 seems best shot from what you've said. Thanks.

===

"Or you could COMBINE the flows AFTER the reactor and input that to a NEW PUMP to then distribute to tank."

Apologies, but how can the output of the reactor be combined with a new pump? The reactor has an input tube. The reactor has an output tube. To combine the reactor output with a new pump implies connecting the output tube of the reactor to the input of a new pump - which was my initial misinterpretation that you generously corrected.

Best and thanks,