Flow accelator and biomedia questions

[jschulzpt]

I saw this from Dr. Foster and Smith which is supposed to accelerate the flow of water by "up to 400%" after you connect it to the powerhead. Here is a link, has anyone used this, or have any thoughts on whether it would work or not.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=19714

Next question: for my sump I was toying between the ideas of using bioballs which there is a lot of slander for them out there and live rock which I can get for $3/#. If I decided to go this route I assume that I should break the rock into small pieces to increase the surface area, would you agree?

What do you think about me using instead of live rock either prefilter felt padding or Biomedia plates? I'm trying to go for the best bang for my buck without side effects.

LInk for Biomedia
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=4169
Link for prefilterpad
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18351

Thanks

[jenglish]

Never tried it but it looks like it would increase pressure but not actually the GPH flow. Looks like a flow restricter like putting your finger over the end of a garden hose. You aren't getting any more water out of it it is just going farther. JMO

[jschulzpt]

That's what I was thinking too Jenglish, but I thought there may be an engineer that may come across this and have some insight that is beyond my reach.

Any thoughts on the bacterial colonization media question?

Where's your Brasky quote?

[SWINGRRRR]

flow accelerators work. Google Penductors and read, read, read. They work by creating a low pressure area of water that sucks more water into it, there by increasing the output. Its not really uping to flow per say, its adding more water from the area around the nozzle to the flow coming out.

You can make some DIY ones for real cheap. I did. They work great, but when I went to a manifold, it messes with my reactors so I dont use them anymore. I highly recommend them though.

[SWINGRRRR]

I woudlnt use the biomedia stuff. Just KISS. Use live rock. Even the small live rock chunks you speak of can become nitrate sink. Keep the flow up over them if you use them.

[jschulzpt]

Swingerr would the penductor increase the GPH or just like Jenglish said increase the pressure? Thanks for the help on both issues.

[SWINGRRRR]

Both Let me think of a way to put it. It increases flow outside directly outside the nozzle, but increases the pressure inside the pipe. O, you can’t use it on a power head. Meant to say that earlier. The faster air or a liquid moves, the lower the pressure is around it. This low pressure outside "sucks" in more water outside the nozzle to increase flow. It’s the same amount coming out, but then it moves the water directly around it to. Moving water=flow. Just don’t confuse flow, pressure and velocity. They are all different.

[jschulzpt]

Thanks Swingrrr

[jenglish]

I'm not a big fan of most biomedias either. I just use live rock. Were you looking at using it in a wet dry?

[SWINGRRRR]

No problem. Post up if there still any qusetions.

I think they work great.

[jschulzpt]

Jenglish, I was really going back and forth between a wet-dry and just a regular sump with total submersion. Would it matter with the type of biomedia? (Probably showing some ignorance here)

Swingrrr, from the description of the flow accelerator it says that it CAN be used with a power head... what was your reasoning behind it not being used with one?

[SWINGRRRR]

I didnt read that in the description, but it cant be used on a PH. I dont think theres a PH in the world that can muster up enough pressure to make the penductor work. I think it would build up water pressure and blow water out the inlet on the PH.

Beside, they are thread.

[SWINGRRRR]

Originally Posted by jschulzpt

Jenglish, I was really going back and forth between a wet-dry and just a regular sump with total submersion. Would it matter with the type of biomedia? (Probably showing some ignorance here)

Swingrrr, from the description of the flow accelerator it says that it CAN be used with a power head... what was your reasoning behind it not being used with one?

It would ahve to be total submersion. A wet/dry, trickle, etc in a marine enviroment will be a nitrate sink. I know theres 30 year old reefers who use them, swaer by them, etc. But its an old way of thinking. If I can have much more effciency, at a lower cost, and easier why not. If you still wanna go with 30yo technology, I have a story about a ham I wanna tell you............................................

[jenglish]

Originally Posted by jschulzpt

Jenglish, I was really going back and forth between a wet-dry and just a regular sump with total submersion. Would it matter with the type of biomedia? (Probably showing some ignorance here)

Swingrrr, from the description of the flow accelerator it says that it CAN be used with a power head... what was your reasoning behind it not being used with one?

Biofiltration in a wet/dry application is very efficient at converting ammonia to nitrate... but unlike DSB or large chunks of large rock that have low oxygen areas it cannot change nitrate to nitrogen gas. So a wet dry can be great in a fish only tank but if it is a reef they will cause nitrate problems.

[jschulzpt]

I have a lot of SPS and softies now, I guess sump it is. Thanks for all of the advice so far. Do either of you know any other ways to increase GPH from the powerheads? My flow is probably sufficient, but I would not mind increasing it a little if possible especially if I can take out one of my internal pumps that is taking up space and sucking electricity. Especially if I can do it at a low cost. I saw that there was a mod for a Maxi jet that can increase total output by 10X, I know someone who has one and it is incredible the current it produces.