koralia nano with dimmer

wintu · 03-23-2012, 04:00 AM

anyone use koralia nano or other circulation pumps with table top dimmer to get less flow? i just got the pump and its way to much for 17gal tank so i was thinking using dimmer to deal with it.
dimmer link http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-TBI03-...pr_product_top

**jreich** · 03-23-2012, 04:14 AM

they are not made to be run on a dimmer, not a good idea. it will probably do 1 of 2 things
1 not work at all
2 burn out the pump

wintu · 03-23-2012, 04:35 AM

what about fan control dimmer or am i better off to get 12v koralia pump and some sort of controller for that

**jreich** · 03-23-2012, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wintu

what about fan control dimmer or am i better off to get 12v koralia pump and some sort of controller for that

a fan dimmer is basically the same thing. point is a pump is not made to work on a dimmer.

wintu · 03-23-2012, 04:52 AM

but its not regular pump, there is little propeller that is creating the flow so its basically a fan mechanism.

**audioaficionado** · 03-23-2012, 05:14 AM

There are wave maker power heads designed to have variable flows.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18915
They are 12V and controlled by adjusting the voltage with the proper controller.

wintu · 03-23-2012, 05:36 AM

Quote:

There are wave maker power heads designed to have variable flows.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18915
They are 12V and controlled by adjusting the voltage with the proper controller.
__________________

i know about those but its little pricey i just want to get little bit more flow in the corner below the outflow because there isn't any. but that nano pump is way too much, its pushing 240gph . do you guys know about the pump that would have something like 80gph i think that would be just perfect

**audioaficionado** · 03-23-2012, 05:57 AM

You could try covering up part of the outside cage ball to restrict the water movement through the impeller.

**jreich** · 03-23-2012, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wintu

i know about those but its little pricey i just want to get little bit more flow in the corner below the outflow because there isn't any. but that nano pump is way too much, its pushing 240gph . do you guys know about the pump that would have something like 80gph i think that would be just perfect

just buy a smaller powerhead, or do as stated above and block some of the intake on the PH. that pump would be way to strong for a 17 gal, i use one in my 40b and i think its a lot for that tank, but mine atleast does slow down over time.

**audioaficionado** · 03-23-2012, 08:50 PM

I've got the 425 gph version in my heavily planted 45 tall and the fish are loving it.

**jreich** · 03-23-2012, 09:26 PM

have u noticed if yours slowed down over time?

**vincenz** · 03-23-2012, 09:42 PM

I'd leave it in there for a few days. After a while, it in a tank like that, it'll start sucking up little plant detritus and the flow will be muffled anyway. Same thing is happening in my 20 gallon high with the same koralia. Or get a piece of black pantyhose or something similar and cover the intake area a little.

**audioaficionado** · 03-23-2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jreich

have u noticed if yours slowed down over time?

None that I've noticed. If some small bits get stuck on the outside or inside, they eventually get ground up by the impeller once they start decomposing.

tiggity · 03-24-2012, 01:31 AM

I have the 240 on my 37 gal. like the others said, plant leaves gets stuck in and around the unit but I have not noticed a slow down. At first I thought it was too strong and mounted it on the corner close to the surface and pointed to the opposite tank wall to disperse it. Then I noticed my fish swimming around it so I repositioned it so I flows openly, made the fish happy.

Diana · 03-24-2012, 03:08 AM

A smaller pump might be the answer. Perhaps a table-top fountain pump. They move about 60 gph less than a foot high when used as a fountain pump. Look for one that has suction cup feet. It might stick to the side of the tank.
As noted above, Koralias will slow when they are getting plugged with plants (Java fern is a pretty good one for stopping these) but that is not a stable condition. The moment you clean it up it works full speed again.

03-23-2012, 04:00 AM	#1
wintu Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: S.F Posts: 94	koralia nano with dimmer anyone use koralia nano or other circulation pumps with table top dimmer to get less flow? i just got the pump and its way to much for 17gal tank so i was thinking using dimmer to deal with it. dimmer link http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-TBI03-...pr_product_top

03-23-2012, 05:14 AM	#6
audioaficionado Planted Tank Overclocker (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Medford, Orygun Posts: 2,177	There are wave maker power heads designed to have variable flows. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18915 They are 12V and controlled by adjusting the voltage with the proper controller. __________________ Steve 45 gal tall high-tech : 2-23-12 update Complete CO2 Leak Test : How to build a CO2 regulator Never argue with a fool. Onlookers often can't tell the difference. Growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional. My advice is free and worth every penny.

03-23-2012, 05:57 AM	#8
audioaficionado Planted Tank Overclocker (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Medford, Orygun Posts: 2,177	You could try covering up part of the outside cage ball to restrict the water movement through the impeller. __________________ Steve 45 gal tall high-tech : 2-23-12 update Complete CO2 Leak Test : How to build a CO2 regulator Never argue with a fool. Onlookers often can't tell the difference. Growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional. My advice is free and worth every penny.

03-23-2012, 08:50 PM	#10
audioaficionado Planted Tank Overclocker (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Medford, Orygun Posts: 2,177	I've got the 425 gph version in my heavily planted 45 tall and the fish are loving it. __________________ Steve 45 gal tall high-tech : 2-23-12 update Complete CO2 Leak Test : How to build a CO2 regulator Never argue with a fool. Onlookers often can't tell the difference. Growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional. My advice is free and worth every penny.

03-24-2012, 01:31 AM	#14
tiggity Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 406	I have the 240 on my 37 gal. like the others said, plant leaves gets stuck in and around the unit but I have not noticed a slow down. At first I thought it was too strong and mounted it on the corner close to the surface and pointed to the opposite tank wall to disperse it. Then I noticed my fish swimming around it so I repositioned it so I flows openly, made the fish happy. __________________ 40B Dirt \| Aqueon Evolve 8 Dirt \| Fraternity of Dirt #120

03-23-2012, 04:14 AM	#2
jreich Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: philadelphia Posts: 2,940	they are not made to be run on a dimmer, not a good idea. it will probably do 1 of 2 things 1 not work at all 2 burn out the pump

03-23-2012, 04:35 AM	#3
wintu Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: S.F Posts: 94	what about fan control dimmer or am i better off to get 12v koralia pump and some sort of controller for that

03-23-2012, 04:52 AM	#5
wintu Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: S.F Posts: 94	but its not regular pump, there is little propeller that is creating the flow so its basically a fan mechanism.

03-23-2012, 09:26 PM	#11
jreich Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: philadelphia Posts: 2,940	have u noticed if yours slowed down over time?

03-23-2012, 09:42 PM	#12
vincenz Cryptocoryne (View User Tanks) PTrader: (36/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New York Posts: 659	I'd leave it in there for a few days. After a while, it in a tank like that, it'll start sucking up little plant detritus and the flow will be muffled anyway. Same thing is happening in my 20 gallon high with the same koralia. Or get a piece of black pantyhose or something similar and cover the intake area a little.

03-24-2012, 03:08 AM	#15
Diana Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Contra Costa CA Posts: 5,013	A smaller pump might be the answer. Perhaps a table-top fountain pump. They move about 60 gph less than a foot high when used as a fountain pump. Look for one that has suction cup feet. It might stick to the side of the tank. As noted above, Koralias will slow when they are getting plugged with plants (Java fern is a pretty good one for stopping these) but that is not a stable condition. The moment you clean it up it works full speed again.

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