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View Full Version : Powerhead on reactor rattling?


Andyf30
06/17/2013, 03:22 PM
So I have a brs phosphate reactor on my tank, hooked up to a marineland 400 powerhead (the gph is in the range brs recommends). The problem is that for the amount of GFO I have in the reactor to get an appropriate tumble, I have to dial the flow back using the inline flow restrictor. When I dial the flow back the powerhead starts rattling and the noise is very obnoxious. Any idea why this is happening and how I can stop it? It makes it so I can't turn it on when I'm around the tank.

sirreal63
06/17/2013, 03:45 PM
It happens when the flow is not enough through the power head, the impeller just hops in place. Either use a smaller power head or use a tee to direct the excess flow back to the sump so the maxi jet can run properly.

Andyf30
06/17/2013, 08:16 PM
Ok. I'll try and add a tee. I'll run to the hardware store tomorrow

sirreal63
06/17/2013, 08:20 PM
You will probably need a second valve as well to tune the flow.

Andyf30
06/17/2013, 08:50 PM
So I can tune the flow in the tee and to the reactor? Makes sense

sirreal63
06/17/2013, 08:53 PM
Yes, basically you are tuning the flow through the reactor but with both valves, the excess flow goes out the tee before the inlet in the reactor to prevent the impeller from fluttering.

shifty51008
06/17/2013, 08:58 PM
The marineland maxijets are kinda known for this if you have to dial them down. The colbalt maxijets are the original's and work great for these types of things

Andyf30
06/17/2013, 09:57 PM
I had one originally and it actually did the same thing, but it ultimately broke