Flow Restriction for DIY Auto Water Change Pumps

[Bubba30]

I am wondering if anyone has experience using these types of flow restrictor.

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Reverse-Osmosis-Flow-Restrictor-with-Quick-Connect-700-ML-for-100-GPD-Membrane-/281416856993

 

I am looking to prototype an automatic water change system; I was going to pair these flow restrictor up with peristaltic pumps rated a bit higher in flow rate(800ml/min) to keep two separate pumps synced up in flow rate. I've got some pumps coming from China and am going to test how close they sync when linked in series. If there are discrepancies I was hoping the flow restriction would get them lined up. Just curious what the life expectancy of these would be or if I should anticipate them clogging/failing.

 

I will be using high/low floats to power off the pumps if they get too far out of sync due to individual pump failure or if there are any issues with new salt water being added or waste water being removed.

[Bubba30]

 

 

Pumps came in from China. Pretty nice looking geared DC motor. They are rated at 800ml/min so over 12 gallons of water an hour. Life expectancy is 8000 load hours so they are going to move quite a bit of water and last a long time. Need to build a box and figure out a timer; I could run it off RKL but want to design a stand alone system.

[Kahmu84]

Nice and good luck with the project

[Bobyboy]

Sound theory and all, seems a bit over complicated.

I just use the reef keeper DP1 pumps and do a gallon a day continuous water changes.

Combined with a salinity probe and a float switch to monitor maximum water level in the sump area it's been working well for almost a year now!

[Bubba30]

Sound theory and all, seems a bit over complicated.

I just use the reef keeper DP1 pumps and do a gallon a day continuous water changes.

Combined with a salinity probe and a float switch to monitor maximum water level in the sump area it's been working well for almost a year now!

I guess two pumps is more complicated than one. I didn't think most peristaltic pumps were intended for continuous running. Have you had any issues over the year?

 

I decided to forgo the flow restrictiors and use a virtual weir on the outgoing pump. I will use faster pump on outgoing so only water that overflows into the weir will get pumped out. This will keep the water level consistent and will not pump out more than is pumped in. The only failure would be if the outgoing pump stops pumping out; I am going to look into running it through a relay and high water float switch.

[Bobyboy]

I guess two pumps is more complicated than one. I didn't think most peristaltic pumps were intended for continuous running. Have you had any issues over the year?

 

I decided to forgo the flow restrictiors and use a virtual weir on the outgoing pump. I will use faster pump on outgoing so only water that overflows into the weir will get pumped out. This will keep the water level consistent and will not pump out more than is pumped in. The only failure would be if the outgoing pump stops pumping out; I am going to look into running it through a relay and high water float switch.

I will rephrase, I change out 1.5 gallon a day continuously.

The dp1 runs from 15ml up to 60ml a minute @ 60 ml it takes an hour to pump 1 gallon.

 

1 have 2 pumps setup, 1 pump removes old tank water while the other pump adds fresh salt water. They are calibrated at 30ml/minute and run on timers for on half an hour then off over the course of 6 hours from 12:01am to 6:01am every morning.

 

I have yet to encounter any problems, never an overflow and when the clean container is low the float trips both pumps off and I get an alert the same for when the dirty container is full.

Doing it this way works best and as it doesn't screw with my ATO float.

[Bubba30]

I will rephrase, I change out 1.5 gallon a day continuously.

The dp1 runs from 15ml up to 60ml a minute @ 60 ml it takes an hour to pump 1 gallon.

 

1 have 2 pumps setup, 1 pump removes old tank water while the other pump adds fresh salt water. They are calibrated at 30ml/minute and run on timers for on half an hour then off over the course of 6 hours from 12:01am to 6:01am every morning.

 

I have yet to encounter any problems, never an overflow and when the clean container is low the float trips both pumps off and I get an alert the same for when the dirty container is full.

Doing it this way works best and as it doesn't screw with my ATO float.

Makes sense. Thanks for explaining your setup. How big is the system and how are your nitrates?

[StrainedSky]

image.jpeg

Pumps came in from China. Pretty nice looking geared DC motor. They are rated at 800ml/min so over 12 gallons of water an hour. Life expectancy is 8000 load hours so they are going to move quite a bit of water and last a long time. Need to build a box and figure out a timer; I could run it off RKL but want to design a stand alone system.

Happen to have a link for the pumps? Looks like a decent pump.

[Bubba30]

Happen to have a link for the pumps? Looks like a decent pump.

I got them directly from the manufacturer in China. If you search for Honlite Peristaltic Pumps you can find them. These are the same pumps Neptune uses on their DOS pump only with stepper motors rather than brushed. I got two samples and just paid for shipping. Received them in 6 days.