Aqueon "Megaflow" Flow Rate?

[Dan F]

Does anyone know the supposed flow rate of the Aqueon/All-Glass Megaflow tanks?

I recently set up my new 210 and I can't get much over 1000GPH of flow without the overflows "slurping". It seems like the vent on top needs to be bigger, but I don't want to start messing with them yet.

So, is 1000GPH as much water as you can flow through a pair of these overflows, or do I need to open up the vent more?

Thanks for your input!

 

[epond83]

page 8 http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/012/23815.pdf

Says the center over flow can handle 600 and the corners can hadle 400. The 210 has two center over flows so it should max out around 1200gph.

I have not yet delt with over flows, but it seems that if it were vented you could get an extra 200gph out of it but you will be at the max. Which could cause problems if something got clogged.

 

[Pharaoh]

Yep, each overflow tube should handle "up to" 600gph. So you are probably pretty close to maxing them out. The slurping looks like it would be cause by standpipe not being able to keep up in a consistent manner. Opening the vent should theoretically help this.

 

[Dan F]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I am probably just reaching the limit of what they are intended to flow. It is only the right-hand one that was slurping (tank is about 1/16th inch lower on that side) so I just closed the ball valve a tiny bit and the slurping is gone. I feel pretty confident that I could increase the flow by enlarging the vent, but I hate to cut up the darned overpriced fitting...

 

[Pharaoh]

You could always make your own and replace that one.

 

[FSM]

How large and how many drains are there? You could boost flow a lot buy running the primary drains as full siphons (with ball valves) and use the other two (which are probably used for the pump output) as backups. That also completely solves the noise issue.

 

[Dan F]

You could always make your own and replace that one.

I could, but that wuld be a waste of $45... They are snap-together thin-wall fittings, made specifically for this application.

How large and how many drains are there? You could boost flow a lot buy running the primary drains as full siphons (with ball valves) and use the other two (which are probably used for the pump output) as backups. That also completely solves the noise issue.

There are four 1" holes, two for drains and two for returns. I have 1" thin-wall from the bulkhead fitting to an 1 1/4" bushing, the two 1 1/4" drains go into an 1 1/2" tee.

Right now I am only running one return (1" braided flexible vinyl) but I was thinking of running a SQWD to switch the current from one side to the other. I suppose I could run a siphon on one of the 1" lines to increase flow, I'll have to think this one over...

 

[fox3]

I am running a 210G AGA with two megaflows.

I first used a Mag18 and the overflows were noisy. I tinkered away for a week or so and figured that I was not getting enough flow so I added a Mag7. Now I was flowing 1400gph but still had to close both BV's to quiet it down.

I swapped both out for a Danner Hy-Drive 3200 and now push ~1800-1900 GPH to the display and it quieted right up.

I am thinking with good plumbing techniques those megaflows are good for ~900GPH each.

 

[Dan F]

I am running a 210G AGA with two megaflows.

I first used a Mag18 and the overflows were noisy. I tinkered away for a week or so and figured that I was not getting enough flow so I added a Mag7. Now I was flowing 1400gph but still had to close both BV's to quiet it down.

I swapped both out for a Danner Hy-Drive 3200 and now push ~1800-1900 GPH to the display and it quieted right up.

I am thinking with good plumbing techniques those megaflows are good for ~900GPH each.

That is counterintuitive - increase flow to quiet it down - but I'll have to try it.

How do you like the Hy-Drive? I am shopping for another pump and they are very reasonably priced.

 

[fox3]

I know it sounds just wrong. After tweaking for a few days I noticed the more I restricted the drains the quieter they got. So I thort mebbe I needed more flow instead of more restriction.

I use a two or three inch piece of 1-1/4" clear vinyl from the bulkhead to the PVC drain pipes and can see how much air is being ingested into the flow. The more air bubbles the more noise so I closed the BV's to get less air. When I added the Mag7 I was able to open the BV's some before I saw the air bubbles. My next step was to increase flow to near full capacity and I bought this pump to do that.

The Hy-Drive3200 pump is quieter than the other pumps combined and throws off less heat into the tank. I put a piece of neoprene under it to dampen it. The only prob I had was I designed my pump well for a Mag24 so I am a little tight with this pump in the well. That and I needed to add another Loc-line return to keep the return flow under control.