Originally Posted by
wattsupdoc
http:///forum/post/2881492
Yeah, you will also find TONS of info on sumps overflowing and skimmers flooding. Because people post when something bad goes wrong....GEEEEZ
Just because you can find posts of failure doesn't mean it's not a good product. People just don't look for help when somethings going right.. However, we still use sumps and skimmers etc. don't we?
I guess skilters and seaclones must be good skimmers
I never said that I liked the CPR style OF. There are many other good uses for an Aqualifter. Like I mentioned, keeping the u tube bubble free would be a good thing. IT wouldn't fail if the AL failed. As long as it had been maintained, Also, the getting plugged issue can easily be avoided by simple methods of prevention and maintenance. Whenever you have any piece of equipment, you need to be aware of the maintenance issues that go along with it.
Never said that an aqualifter didn't have a use but I would not use it in a mission critical area, such as maintaining the siphon on my overflow whether it be CPR or if you drill a hole in a U-tube style overflow. Using them as dosing pumps ATO, ect.. great I myself plan on digging mine out to run a automatic dosing system.
Using a ball valve you can adjust a pump that is over running a OF Box. When you use a BV to control the flow you will not get creep, not over a period of a few days. I mean your talking 1 or 2 gallons extra in the DT per day, that is a minor amount. Tweaking the BV down a tad solves this issue. Had you installed one originally, you wouldn't have had to rebuild the drain. You set it, watch it for creeping, then dial it back so it drops down just slightly. It wont creep from there. I always do and always will recommend using a pump that is slightly higher with the head loss included than the system will drain. Diverting extra flow through reactors, UV, back through the fuge, or whatever, easily justifies this. A BV solves the problem.
Your right a ball valve would have solved my problem but the system ran for several months with no issue other than the pump not restarting before I replaced the pump so I didn't see a need to install a valve when I replaced the pump. Your eye must be better than mine I have a difficult time seeing my water level raise a 1/4" over 4 hours. Regardless there is no justifiable reason to run a larger pump unless you want to run additional systems with the pump and even then you should be aware of the possible risks if something in the system changes like pump efficiency but as long as you are sitting in front of your tank 24/7 you will never have an issue.
I posted my thoughts on the issue you can have your opinion too, I'm not going to further agrue what works for you. Good Luck
