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Does having the red dragon in deeper water decrease air input due to increase in head pressure?
SteveU
SteveU
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“People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old ones.”
...Charles F. Kettering -
That would be the case. -
On a BK internal or external?400 gallon reef, Bubble King 300, I~Spin, 2 x 10,000K BLV 400W, 2 x 20,000K Radium 400W, 2 x 6,400K Osram 400W, Schuran Jetstream 1, AquaController ProComment
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Sorry.. It's a BK 300 internal.
If the RD pump is deeper then the body of the skimmer is deeper also. My thoughts were that would make it easier for the pump to fill the main body and hince reduce the head pressure. Maybe I'm way off (no surprise).
I may do a 50g water change today and I'll check with the flow meter I borrowed. At my normal sump water level the BK is drawing about 1800 lh air. We checked it Sunday and it was only at 1500. Turning the RD off for about 5 min increased the flow to 1800. That stayed constant for at least a couple hours when I re-checked it.
Bob had suggested this as routine maintenance before but I had'nt been following orders. I'll just get a multi peg timer and have it shut off everyday for 1/2 hour.
Madison... I think that's why we got the numbers we did Sunday. I was able to check the flow with the meter completly upright by using a plastic coffee can submersed to hold the bottom end of the meter. When doing that though there was no difference in the reading. I removed the collection cup after that and was readjusting the RD input screw. With the cup off I could see a lot of difference in water flow as I unscrewed it but no visible difference in air flow to the eye or to the meter. BTW... I took the rock out once I saw what I was able to do with the RD input screw. With the collection cup on the changes made to the input screw are not noticable.
Once these become more available here I'll be happy to offer input for a "User Manual" to help those setting up a new BK and understanding how to adjust.
SteveU“People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old ones.”
...Charles F. KetteringComment
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Logic would say that if the water level is higher in relation to the skimmer body the pump has to work less to raise it beyond that.400 gallon reef, Bubble King 300, I~Spin, 2 x 10,000K BLV 400W, 2 x 20,000K Radium 400W, 2 x 6,400K Osram 400W, Schuran Jetstream 1, AquaController ProComment
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I check with the next water change. The most I can lower the water level in the sump and still have the RD input under water is about 4" and that's 36 gallons.
SteveU“People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old ones.”
...Charles F. KetteringComment
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OK I couldn't wait to do the WC... I just did it.
Lowering the water level in the sump by 3.5" changed the air flow meter reading from 1.8 down to 1.6. I can't measure water flow but it's also reduced quite a bit since the air/water level in the main skimmer body is well below the riser tube.
SteveU“People are very open-minded about new things - as long as they're exactly like the old ones.”
...Charles F. KetteringComment
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I haven't tested it at different depths but I saw them work their best when the water was about 6"-8" deep. I also just pull off the vertical output pipes to reduce any back pressure it may cause if they are submerged.Comment
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I have my BK500 Dragons about 8" under the water.Comment
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