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Thread: Decrease in flow

  1. #1

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    Decrease in flow

    I notice a decrease in water flow coming out of the the pipe from my ATS around three days after a cleaning and slowly gets less and less. Its hard to tell how the flow is on the screen with the algae growing on it. I assume this is from algae growing up to the pipe slot. Is this a concern? how do I go about fixing this if it is an issue. My ATS is 15" long X 3" wide vertical fed by 540 gal/hr pump. The pipe with the slot holding the screen is 1/2" pvc.

  2. #2

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    Re: Decrease in flow

    Has no one else had this issue?

  3. #3
    kerry's Avatar
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    Re: Decrease in flow

    I have a plastic tube from an old water change siphon pained black that I have cut to fit over the screen tube, this keeps the light out of the screen slot so algae does not grow there. I just cut it to length and cut about a 1/2 slot down it so I can ease it over the screen tube.
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  4. #4

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    Re: Decrease in flow

    As Kerry says, you basically just need to stop any light reaching the slot.

  5. #5

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    Re: Decrease in flow

    I've been through the long list of scrubber designs and I don't see many people with light guards for their slots. I guess I'll have to see what I can come up with to design a light guard.

    Thanks for the replies.

  6. #6

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    Re: Decrease in flow

    I did this:


  7. #7

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    Re: Decrease in flow

    What did you make that out of - I can't tell from the picture.

    I just tried to make something out of a larger pvc pipe slipped over the main pipe (sort of a sleeve). If I make the groove large enough to allow the proper flow the light still gets to the top of the slot. If I make the slot small enough to stop the light I restrict the flow. I may just clean the top of the screen every three days where it goes into the slot. Kind of a pain in the ...... though.

  8. #8
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    Re: Decrease in flow

    More important is to replace that smooth screen material.

  9. #9

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    Re: Decrease in flow

    Quote Originally Posted by geosquid
    What did you make that out of - I can't tell from the picture.

    I just tried to make something out of a larger pvc pipe slipped over the main pipe (sort of a sleeve). If I make the groove large enough to allow the proper flow the light still gets to the top of the slot. If I make the slot small enough to stop the light I restrict the flow. I may just clean the top of the screen every three days where it goes into the slot. Kind of a pain in the ...... though.
    ...Its just some uPVC 40mm architrave I had in in my van I siliconed it to the top edge of the pipe, seems to have done the job!

    Quote Originally Posted by SantaMonica
    More important is to replace that smooth screen material.
    ...I know, I know

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