Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have a new 700 gph pump feeding my two half blue barrel GB's, the pump has way more flow than I need. I have read where several folks vent extra flow back into the fish tank to create more aeration and decrease ware on pump that comes from limiting it. I would like to do this same thing if possible. I have 3/4 black poly pipe going from the pump inside a blue barrel FT rising up to the 2 GB's where there is a ball-valve to control flow to first bed and then past that at the next one another ball-valve to control flow at second GB. What hardware would you suggest and how should I plumb it in?

Thx,

TX

Lets see if I can get this with an ASCI drawing

to tank ----- valve -Output of pump ----- Grow Bed

Valve to tank should be below grow bed outlet. 'Tune' flow to grow bed by shutting down the valve to the tank.

The pump is never pushing more 'head' than absolutely necessary. Is this clear as mud?

Ron

hehe that's an ASCII sentence not a drawing (no offense intended)

Ron, if you block the flow with a valve, the pump could draw more power as it pushes against the blockage.
Its speed of rotation would be reduced, which decreases the back-emf produced, which increases the current flowing through the coils of the motor.

huh? lol............................ give it to me in lay terms please, i'm part of the non-tech crowd.

TX

If you don't feel like building or buying a pump speed controller (could be expensive depending on the power the pump is meant to draw), I think diverting some of the flow could be good.

Imagine a pump running with zero head. It would draw very little power. Not much work needed to move water around at zero head, that is, at the same level. Just some energy drawn to balance viscous losses and the energy imparted to making the water flow around and aerate.)
Compare this with the pump completely blocked.( Against a pump completely unblocked at zero head.)

I think with some of the water going into the growbeds, this is a fairly good idea.

Unless you build or buy a pump speed controller which will truly save power if used at low speeds. (This controller needs to be electronic (switching type) to save power- most modern ones are. Like light dimmers and modern ceiling fan speed knobs. The resistive controllers (I don't think they exist nowadays) will waste energy to slow the pump.)

Sorry I couldn't help with the pluming help. I only know you need some kind of a 'T' thing with another ball valve.

The plumbing advisors like steve will be more knowledgeable in this field.

TX.... get a 3/4 Tee...... cut the existing piece of pipe from FT to first growbed, about 1' above the FT.....insert the Tee into the pipe from the FT... reconnect the other piece going to the first growbed/ballvalve into the top of the Tee.

Cut a short piece of pipe... insert into the horizontal part of the Tee.... connect a 90 degree elbow...cut another piece of pipe so the it reaches to just above the FT water level and insert it into the downward side of the elbow....

One pump return...... clear?

Umm... its a big story... will try...

Grand explanation gokul, thanks. ok, unless someone can suggest a supplier and descent price for said speed controller now explain with the same eloquence, how can I funnel some unused pressure/water back to the FT...........

non-tech TX

I guess it doesn't matter in this thread so I won't explain that back emf thing. I don't know if it will be useful to APers enough to put a story about it here.

So do PM me if you like an explaination. If many of you non-tech people want it I shall gladly post here though...

As above

Rupe explained it... do you need a diagram to help? Or more details?

Rup and gokul, your both awesome. The explanation is awesome, but I'm a visual learner, a diagram would be awesome........................please!

TX