Filter Media Question (Rainbow Lifegard setup)

[sl]

Well I have a Rainbow LIfegard system, with a Quiet One Pump, which
pumps 780gph. I bought a mechanical filter that was 20 micron rated.
This thing is 20" long and fits in the canister no problem. I start
the pump and things work fine. but quickly stop working. Is the
media too good and picks up so much that it quickly clogs? Has anyone
else had this? I have to end up replacing the two mechanical filters
without the pleats that make it work, just to keep pump going. Is
there a good way to clean this that may help, or maybe i need a lesser
rated mechanical filter? Thanks

[Amateur]

"sl" > wrote in message
...
> Well I have a Rainbow LIfegard system, with a Quiet One Pump, which
> pumps 780gph. I bought a mechanical filter that was 20 micron rated.
> This thing is 20" long and fits in the canister no problem. I start
> the pump and things work fine. but quickly stop working. Is the
> media too good and picks up so much that it quickly clogs? Has anyone
> else had this? I have to end up replacing the two mechanical filters
> without the pleats that make it work, just to keep pump going. Is
> there a good way to clean this that may help, or maybe i need a lesser
> rated mechanical filter? Thanks

How high is the head you're trying to pump against, and have you vented the
canisters?
AC

[sl]

>
>How high is the head you're trying to pump against, and have you vented the
>canisters?
>AC
>
if by head you mean distance between pump and hose length to outlet?
I'm not sure what the head is. the cannisters are vented, the
mechanical cannister has an air bleed and i use that. one thing i
forgot, the air gauge is always at zero, whether newly cleaned or not.
the guy who built this, no longer has time or recollection on what
does what. so i'm kinda makin it up as i go

[NaCl]

Head is the height the pump has to pump to--not necessarily the length of
hose. Measure the vertical distance from the pumps motor to the outlet.

"sl" > wrote in message
...
>
> >
> >How high is the head you're trying to pump against, and have you vented
the
> >canisters?
> >AC
> >
> if by head you mean distance between pump and hose length to outlet?
> I'm not sure what the head is. the cannisters are vented, the
> mechanical cannister has an air bleed and i use that. one thing i
> forgot, the air gauge is always at zero, whether newly cleaned or not.
> the guy who built this, no longer has time or recollection on what
> does what. so i'm kinda makin it up as i go

[sl]

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 23:48:57 GMT, "NaCl" > wrote:

>Head is the height the pump has to pump to--not necessarily the length of
>hose. Measure the vertical distance from the pumps motor to the outlet.
>
>"sl"


then the head is 51/2 ft

[NaCl]

You may want to take a look at this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_pumps_pentair_aquatics_rainbow_lifegard_q uiet_one_information.asp

Based on your max flow rate you have a model 3000? It may be that the
combination of media and head are too much for the pump.

Try to minimize head or maximize media porosity. You don't need mechanical
filtration down to 20 microns anyway. Let your chemical media adsorb it.

"sl" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 23:48:57 GMT, "NaCl" > wrote:
>
> >Head is the height the pump has to pump to--not necessarily the length of
> >hose. Measure the vertical distance from the pumps motor to the outlet.
> >
> >"sl"
>
>
> then the head is 51/2 ft

[sl]

thanks. i had looked at that graph, i couldn't make it out, plust
there was money considerations. now i understand. though the old
pump was lesser capability. and the full 20 micronwas perhaps better
than the standards, which go from 20 to 5 micron.

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 07:01:44 GMT, "NaCl" > wrote:

>You may want to take a look at this:
>
>http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_pumps_pentair_aquatics_rainbow_lifegard_q uiet_one_information.asp
>
>Based on your max flow rate you have a model 3000? It may be that the
>combination of media and head are too much for the pump.
>
>Try to minimize head or maximize media porosity. You don't need mechanical
>filtration down to 20 microns anyway. Let your chemical media adsorb it.
>
>"sl" > wrote in message
...
>> On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 23:48:57 GMT, "NaCl" > wrote:
>>
>> >Head is the height the pump has to pump to--not necessarily the length of
>> >hose. Measure the vertical distance from the pumps motor to the outlet.
>> >
>> >"sl"
>>
>>
>> then the head is 51/2 ft
>