colberag Posted June 1, 2008 Posted June 1, 2008 Ok I searched a lot for this but could not find exactly what I was looking for. I just got a JBJ ATO and I am trying to work out a few issues with the pump. I have a MJ900 with 1/4'' tubing that I wanted to use. but it pushes out so much water that it fills faster than I would like. Is it possible to alter the output of the pump so it can hook up to tubing with smaller diameter (like airline tubing) or will the pressure increase so much that it will spray out of the other end? Also, if I have another pump (the stock pump from the BC14 to be exact) that is not powerful enough to drive water from my top-off water to the tank using 1/4'' tubing, will reducing the diameter of the tubing allow it to pump higher? (this probably has to do with physics, which I took twice in college and still don't know a thing) Finally, for anybody with an ATO, how did you attach your tubing to the tank so it does not flail around when filling? Thanks
Hellzbellz Posted June 1, 2008 Posted June 1, 2008 Ok I searched a lot for this but could not find exactly what I was looking for. I just got a JBJ ATO and I am trying to work out a few issues with the pump. I have a MJ900 with 1/4'' tubing that I wanted to use. but it pushes out so much water that it fills faster than I would like. Is it possible to alter the output of the pump so it can hook up to tubing with smaller diameter (like airline tubing) or will the pressure increase so much that it will spray out of the other end? Also, if I have another pump (the stock pump from the BC14 to be exact) that is not powerful enough to drive water from my top-off water to the tank using 1/4'' tubing, will reducing the diameter of the tubing allow it to pump higher? (this probably has to do with physics, which I took twice in college and still don't know a thing) Finally, for anybody with an ATO, how did you attach your tubing to the tank so it does not flail around when filling? Thanks You used to be able to trim down the impellers on MJ's to generate less flow. Just make sure you cut equally, and cut off a VERY little bit.... Do some google searching for a how to.
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 I am kind of hesitant to cut the impeller because I am afraid that once I do it will not be powerful enough to raise the water the 4 feet. Can anybody answer my question about decreasing the tubing diameter? Will this allow for a less powerful pump to pump higher? Also, anybody with an ATO, how do you attach the tubing to the tank?
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 Bump - I really need some help with this one.
Daemonfly Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 If it's outputting "too much" then just impede the flow. Easiest non-permanent way to do this is just with a valve inline. If you have soft tubing, then there's some nice small valves that work by clamping the tubing down (very common in the medical & lab fields). Smaller tubing will also work to reduce flow.
airangel Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 I'm using the JBJ ATO, MJ1200 pump as I needed the head height from floor up to about 5ft high. 1/2" tubing and I went to ACE and bought a 1/2" i believe, plastic , grey, 90 degree elbow from plumbing section, about 75-99 cents. I have it tied (twisty tied right now) over the back, actually hooked around my CPR Skimmer. Originally had it hooked to the AquaTek fans but it overshot into the display, its rigged better now. You can see if ACE has a reducing plastic gizmo part (sorry for lack of technicaleeze here). Also there is a metal clamp jobbie (sorry again, lol) I found in pond section vs plumbing at Walmart one year, you clamp it down on the tubing to restrict flow.
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 Thanks a lot. I guess I will check the plumbing section for some type of valve tomorrow. And I think I'll put an elbow on the end to attach it to the tank easier. Time for some duct tape and zip ties!
airangel Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 Bring your tubing so you can get them to give you a good fit. The right angle part I got has the graduated dodads (sorry again) on both ends of the connector part (but I'm not connecting the other end, just have it hanging over the top of my AquaPod and tied to other equipment. 90 degree barbed fitting If you hit Ace, go to a big one (one near me is like super center, lol, 22nd/Kolb). Am sure they also sell reducing clamps as well. Clamp Just make sure you don't get the tubing or fitting or whatever you have to return the water to the tank IN the tank or else it can siphon your tank onto your floor. oh FYI, mine does fill pretty fast too when it tops off but I'm not going to restrict the flow, I have it going into the pump chamber. How "slow" should it fill, any clue?
r20crazy Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 just buy and aqua lifter ($15) and some airline tube ($5) and call it done.
bmac16 Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 what kind of flow rate do you get out of the aq. lifter .....i plan on putting my ATO on a timer so i have no chance of spills, overflow, etc
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 Airangel - thats exactly what I'm looking for. I don't know if the Ace nearest me is a supercenter (its on oracle) but Im sure I'll find what I'm looking for. Thanks for the info. And about fill rate - I dont think there is a set formula on how fast it should fill. I was just a little anal about dropping fresh water at that rate into the tank. But the float switches are sensitive enough that I dont think it really matters. Also, are you using the regular bracket for your switch. On mine the rim of the tank causes it not to be able to sit straight, causing the switch to sit at an angle in the water. And one last thing, when ever I stick my hand or arm in the water and then take it out it causes the pump to activate. Now at first I thought it was because I was making waves but I did it slowly and it still turned it on. I guessed that I was causing the water level to rise and then drop suddenly when I remove my arm, causing the switch to activate, but when I look at the switch it is free floating (so the pump should not be on). It seems like if the switch is back to its original position it should not be activating the pump. (sorry if I am a little obsessive about this but I live on a second story condo and flooding my tank would do a lot more than just kill my livestock!) Finally, about the aqualifter, I heard also that it could not pump vertical the approx. 4 feet that I need it to, plus I had a spare MJ900 after mt BC14 died.
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 Just in case anybody is wondering...I was sitting watching TV s second ago and I saw the sensor and pump light for the ATO go off. Well since I dont have it plumbed yet (see above) I have manually topping off for 2 days to see how the sensor works, sensitivity, etc. So I went to fill it and the light went off, then immediately kicked back on. I though that was weird so I looked at the switch...and what do you think I see dangling from it but one of my HUGE turbo snails. Now I was under the impression that these brackets were snail guarded, but I think my turbo just out smarted JBJ. SOOOOOOOO glad I had not hooked this up to anything yet. I am immediately snail proofing and putting it on a timer. Guess bed will have to wait....
bmac16 Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 yes i think a timer is one of the best things to put an ATO on!!! ......all you should need is 3-5 min a day and thats that lol
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 I agree. But in 5 mins my maxijet could empty my 13 gallon container! Hopefully the 5 mins a snail is on it wont coincide with the 5 mins it turns on (that is if they can get by my new impenetrable snail barrier!!!!) I think I am going to plug it into one of those digital coralife timers and leave it on only for 1 minute.
bmac16 Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 you have a mj900 correct? at approx 3ft..... and it pushes 13g in 5 min! ....i was planning on a 1200 for 5ft ....think i will def try the 900 first lol
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 I was just making that up - but I am going to fill it up with tap water and run it into my sink and see hoe long it takes....give me a few mins and ill be back with the results.
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 Ok, the results of my pseudo-scientific experiment......my MJ900 drained half of a 13 gallon trashcan (so 6.5 gallons) using 1/4'' tubing at a height of exactly 4 feet in 3 minutes and 13 seconds. So it would take about 6 1/2 mins to drain 13 gallons... This really scares me!
bmac16 Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 so the head was going uphill right? .....also just try 1/2" vinyl from a python or sumthing should slow the flow pretty good....or like one guy said before just get a gang valve
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 Yes it was going uphill (the hose output was 4 feet higher than the pump). I am am using vinyl tubing, I believe (at least it is the same consistency as the tubing on my python). I think I am going to get a valve tomorrow so I should be all good. And about you using it a 5 feet, I did not have enough tubing to reach that high so I dont know if a MJ900 can pump that high. Quick question - will reducing the tube diameter allow a pump to pump higher? I have a weaker pump that I would like to use, but it wont reach 4 feet using 1/4'' tubing.
bmac16 Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 would you say the water was coming out pretty quickly or....? ....im pretty sure it would but you have to remember you would be using a weaker pump going higher ....but if that doesnt work then just mod the 900's prop........today i moded my ac70 fuge (tank isnt up yet) while i was freshwater testing NE way i cut the prop at an angle instead of completely off ....just an idea ...trying to think of options for myself too lol ohhhhh nvm the talk about weaker going higher ...i see wat you mean now the pump would not push the top of tubing
colberag Posted June 2, 2008 Author Posted June 2, 2008 It was coming out fairly quick - like running the sink about half blast. Anyways I am not worried about the speed it fills the tank anymore cause I have been messing with my float switches and I can tell they are pretty sensitive. I am now mainly concerned about even if I have it on a timer, and by chance a snail gets on it during the timer, in a minute it could still drain 2 gallons which would flood my tank and my floor. Also, if I use the weaker pump I can use the MJ900 with my hydor-flo in the main tank, cause its the only pump powerful enough to rotate that thing to my liking. I am going to experiment with smaller diameter tubing tomorrow and see what happens. Do they make a plumbing part that can reduce the size of a 1/4'' output to like 1/8'' or even smaller?
bmac16 Posted June 2, 2008 Posted June 2, 2008 im pretty sure there is an adapter ,but even if not you can diy one with each size adapter and joining them
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.