Mag drive pump throttled back, ok or no

[grubsnaek]

i have two 1" drains and a Mag 18 as my return pump. i have to throttle it back just about half way. is this ok or should i just down grade to a Mag 12.

 

[jrthomas40]

you can change the gph on the 18's

 

[usc932000]

I would think that you are ok by backing it down a little. Mags are good pumps. I have a Mag 7 that I currently have back throttled a little. Its better to have that extra push and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[grubsnaek]

Originally Posted by jrthomas40
you can change the gph on the 18's

how?

 

[grubsnaek]

Originally Posted by USC932000
I would think that you are ok by backing it down a little. Mags are good pumps. I have a Mag 7 that I currently have back throttled a little. Its better to have that extra push and not need it than needit and not have it.

makes sense!

 

[veni vidi vici]

i saw somewhere a Mag return with a Tee just below the valve returning some of the flow back to the sump.Im guessing to relieve some of the back pressure .

 

[chilwil84]

saw somewhere a Mag return with a Tee just below the valve returning some of the flow back to the sump.Im guessing to relieve some of the back pressure
sounds safer mags are good sturdy pumps but you usually want to have a ball valve on your return and have it oversized than putting a ball valve on your return pump

 

[grubsnaek]

Originally Posted by chilwil84
sounds safer mags are good sturdy pumps but you usually want to have a ball valve on your return and have it oversized than putting a ball valve on your return pump

are you saying its better to have an over sized pump with a ball valve, rathere than a pump that doesnt push enough with a ball valve. kinda lost.

 

[scotts]

First off I was in the industrial maintenance filed for 15 years so I know industrial pumps more than the pumps we deal with. But they are basically the same. Pumps are designed to operate under pressure. Throttling back a pump will not have an adverse effect on the life of the pump. Of course throttling it back too much will over tax the pump. If you ever look at a pump curve you will notice that there is a minumum pressure they the should not run below. (Sorry I just get a little tired of people trying so hard to have no pressure on their pumps) Also you always throttle back the OUTLET of the pump, never the inlet.

 

[grubsnaek]

alright the break down. in my 125 i have only LPS and softies. i have a mag18(throttled back) and two hydor koralia #3. even with the pump wide open it still isnt enough to have SPS. i was just wondering if by having the pump throttled back would harm the pump. but scott says no. so i guess im good.

 

[trippkid]

The pump will be fine, don't worry about it.

Matt

 

[grubsnaek]

thanx

 

[reefraff]

Just make sure you place the valve on the output side of the pump, not the intake.

 

[grubsnaek]

the pump has been going for awhile now, just wanted to make sure this was ok, thanx everyone for your help

 

[chilwil84]

not all hobby pumps are pressure rated that is why only certain pumps are used in closed loop systems and other are not

 

[grubsnaek]

chilly willy i see your location is down the shore, your from jersey

 

[triga22]

The pump will be fine.

 

[chilwil84]

exit 58
mags hold up to a lot of abuse but if you are spending a lot on your tank calculating your flow and having the proper pump should be a small part of it with all the money spent on a reef having a well thought out calculated system shouldnt be a question most floods are from either problems with the pump and problems with the return. modifying a skimmer is one thing but going against what is recomended by the manufacture for a return pump is asking for trouble not today or tomorrow but one day (probably when u are on vacation) your house, business , and your animals are under your control

 

[05xrunner]

thats how I run my Mag5 in my sump...I have it throttled back with my ballvalves and no problems at all

 

[ameno]

you will be fine with that pump, a mag 12 probably would have been better, just from an entergy standpoint. But i have not seen anything from the manufacture that says not to restrict the flow on the discharge on mag pumps.