RSM issue...HELP!

[hollow]

I have the 1048 on the bottom level of the stand, so I am working against the ~5 feet of head you are looking at. I have not placed a flow-meter in series with my plumbing, but the chiller has worked very well for several months now. I not sure that there is catastrophic consequences to having a lower flow rate then recommended. I know the chiller can be damaged by standing water (no flow or pump off) because the water can freeze and damage the coils. However, low flow (20 gph+) should not create any problems. It takes a lot of energy to remove heat from water (high specific heat), so bringing down the temp by 40 deg F (to freeze it) takes a lot of time & energy.

 

for incompressible fluids (water, not air) Q (flow rate) = Area x Velocity

20 gph = 1.541 in^3/sec Area (0.5" dia pipe) = 0.196 in^2 Then V = 7.862 in/s

While this speed may not seem fast, any given volume of water spends at most 1-2 seconds within the chiller at this rate. This is of course not nearly long enough to freeze it. Therefore the only real danger to low flow rate is the inability to keep up with the heating of the tank.

 

So in short, this pump may not be an ideal choice, but it is capable enough to allow the chiller to maintain temperature even when ambient temps are 85 deg+. This pump also has very low power consumption (something to think about).

 

Sounds great. I don't ever plan on having the ambient room temps go over 85. Did you use the pvc from the jbj installation kit with hose clamps? I would really like to use 1/2" clear vinyl because I like the look a lot better. Someone mentioned that the flexible vinyl would affect the flow rate because its not as rigid as the pvc tubing. Is this correct?

 

Just read this from another thread:

While you are at home depot getting clear vinyl tubing, you might want to get a length of foam pipe insulation to fit over the tubing. It's cheap, and uninsulated tubing adds a lot of surface area that will soak up heat from the air, making your chiller work harder.

 

I guess that why people use PVC instead of flexible vinyl.

 

Oh and where is your tank thread

[aero_reefer777]

Sounds great. I don't ever plan on having the ambient room temps go over 85. Did you use the pvc from the jbj installation kit with hose clamps? I would really like to use 1/2" clear vinyl because I like the look a lot better. Someone mentioned that the flexible vinyl would affect the flow rate because its not as rigid as the pvc tubing. Is this correct?

 

Just read this from another thread:

While you are at home depot getting clear vinyl tubing, you might want to get a length of foam pipe insulation to fit over the tubing. It's cheap, and uninsulated tubing adds a lot of surface area that will soak up heat from the air, making your chiller work harder.

 

I guess that why people use PVC instead of flexible vinyl.

 

Oh and where is your tank thread

 

 

I did use the PVC from the install kit with hose clamps. I should note that I cut the s-shaped piece down to another simple u-tube (like the other one). I am not sure why they give you a wacky s-shaped one anyway, it sure as hell won't fit in the back compartment of a RSM!

 

Don't use flexible tubing to make the turn into and out of the tank. The flexible tube will kink when it is forced around a sharp turn (like a u-bend), and restrict the flow.

 

Interesting point on the insulated tubing, the physics of it makes sense. However, I would not think the overall heat transfer would add up too much. Some people like to play it safe the whole way through, others would prefer a cleaner look to their setup. I would say the insulation is optional, but maybe worthwhile if your energy bill is skyrocketing running a huge chiller.

 

My Thread: Scott - Red Sea Max

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...ott+Red+sea+max

 

My wife is adding a pair of Reidi Seahorse's this friday, will have updates by Sunday!

Happy reefing!!

[HankB]

I have the 1048 on the bottom level of the stand, so I am working against the ~5 feet of head you are looking at.

 

Since both inlet and outlet are at tank level. you're not really pumping against any head. This is not like a sump where you're pumping from a reservoir back up to the tank. You're pumping from the tank back to the tank.

 

HTH,

hank

[aero_reefer777]

Since both inlet and outlet are at tank level. you're not really pumping against any head. This is not like a sump where you're pumping from a reservoir back up to the tank. You're pumping from the tank back to the tank.

 

HTH,

hank

 

Hank, I agree & stand corrected. With the intake and exit at the same elevation, there is no pressure head to pump against. So my flow-rate (for the 1048), is likely very close to zero head flow rate of 158 gph.

 

Thanks for the correction, hydrostatic hank

Matt