Waterfall Pump Humming Noise?

[msr0459]

the idea behind ball valves is one to manually shut down a line.

the other is to take water from one line that splits into two , three or more. you can adjust the flow to each line from one pump .

like they said more than 20 25% and your working the pump to where it could not last as long . its head pressure making the pump work harder then it needs to

I get it, now... I just misunderstood from the beginning that I wouldn't be able to adjust the flow any more than I'm doing now, without damaging the pump. At this point I guess I should've just used one pump, the OASE 8000, and wye'd it to the second stream, and used ball valves AFTER the wye to send to each stream? Sigh... although I've no way of knowing if that would've taken away too much from the main fall.

Oh well, back to an earlier question...it seems like a bleeder valve would be the answer, yet I can't find anything online as to where, or how I would plumb it. Here's the inside of the vault currently. Would it be spliced in somehow inside there?

 

[JRS]

It would be added via a T somewhere after the pump output so that excess water goes back to the reservoir instead of being pushed up the pipe. By adjusting the opening of your bleeder, you will change the pressure/volume of flow to your output. The water exiting from the bleeder recirculates; reducing back pressure on your pump.

 

[msr0459]

It would be added via a T somewhere after the pump output so that excess water goes back to the reservoir instead of being pushed up the pipe. By adjusting the opening of your bleeder, you will change the pressure/volume of flow to your output. The water exiting from the bleeder recirculates; reducing back pressure on your pump.

Can't find anything online specific to "bleeder valve"... would a "diverter valve" be the same thing?

 

[GBBUDD]

Can't find anything online specific to "bleeder valve"... would a "diverter valve" be the same thing?

Use a union and let it leak if you need more relief than drill a hole in the pipe below the water line

 

[msr0459]

Use a union and let it leak if you need more relief than drill a hole in the pipe below the water line

I get what you're saying, but at this point I really would like to be able to adjust the flow to where I like it, instead of just guessing.

Heck, I fired up the secondary pump today, and I'm pretty sure it's also going to be too strong of a flow for what I was wanting there.

It seems that because of the steep incline, the longer drops of the cascades are just simply louder. So again, if there were a way I could install something I could "dial in" the way I want it would be awesome. My "Desoto Falls" are wearin me out!

 

[Pablo]

Can't find anything online specific to "bleeder valve"... would a "diverter valve" be the same thing?

Here is a video from ozponds, not exactly your situation but might help.

 

[GBBUDD]

I get what you're saying, but at this point I really would like to be able to adjust the flow to where I like it, instead of just guessing.

Heck, I fired up the secondary pump today, and I'm pretty sure it's also going to be too strong of a flow for what I was wanting there.

It seems that because of the steep incline, the longer drops of the cascades are just simply louder. So again, if there were a way I could install something I could "dial in" the way I want it would be awesome. My "Desoto Falls" are wearin me out!

Pretty simple then . why not get rid of one of the pumps tee off the one line and have extension to the other place two ball vales one on each and you'll be closer to what your looking for save the second pump for when the other dies in a couple years but store it in a plastic bag DRY

 

[msr0459]

Pretty simple then . why not get rid of one of the pumps tee off the one line and have extension to the other place two ball vales one on each and you'll be closer to what your looking for save the second pump for when the other dies in a couple years but store it in a plastic bag DRY

I was considering that for sure. If I can't figure out how to plumb in a bleeder valve I may do that. But just to make sure:

The ball valves would go AFTER the tee, or wye connection, correct? And better to place them down towards the pump, where they are now, or up at the spillway, or does it matter?

 

[GBBUDD]

NO...... if you split close to the pump then you will double the amount of water you need to push up the hill IN TWO PIPES .. SEND THE ONE PIPE UP THE HILL AND WHEN YOUR CLOSE TO ONE OF THE points you want to have the water start to dump into the spill way . you put the tee on then your ball valves and run a second pipe the short distance to the other stream.

 

[msr0459]

NO...... if you split close to the pump then you will double the amount of water you need to push up the hill IN TWO PIPES .. SEND THE ONE PIPE UP THE HILL AND WHEN YOUR CLOSE TO ONE OF THE points you want to have the water start to dump into the spill way . you put the tee on then your ball valves and run a second pipe the short distance to the other stream.

Ah, makes sense. But just so I understand the science... why does using ball valves after a tee up near the spillway not stress the pump? How is that different than if I moved the ball valve on my single pump/single flex, up to the top?

 

[GBBUDD]

water takes the path of least resistance all your doing is LIMITING HOW MUCH OUT OF ONE PIPE TO ANOTHER. yes if you have 4000 gph and you using a 1 inch line that is choking your pump it will not push 4000 through that small a pipe actualy i think i saw you have a 8000 and a 4000 . use the 4000 use a 2" line split it at the top of the hill to to a 2" tee and two 2" ball valves that way EACH line can carry the full load and you tune down how you want how much water to which

 

[msr0459]

water takes the path of least resistance all your doing is LIMITING HOW MUCH OUT OF ONE PIPE TO ANOTHER. yes if you have 4000 gph and you using a 1 inch line that is choking your pump it will not push 4000 through that small a pipe actualy i think i saw you have a 8000 and a 4000 . use the 4000 use a 2" line split it at the top of the hill to to a 2" tee and two 2" ball valves that way EACH line can carry the full load and you tune down how you want how much water to which

@GBBUDD , I know you must get frustrated with me asking so many questions, and I do greatly appreciate it, but...

Why use a Tee instead of maybe just a 60 degree elbow or whatever? That's still 2 lines that are then headed for 2 different spillways. If using a Tee, wouldn't I then connect a 60 or 90 to turn the flex after the tee?

I actually have a 5150 pump (and the 8000). Why use the smaller one, if I can use the ball valves to safely control the flow?

Inquiring minds want to know

 

[GBBUDD]

Yes you can use a Tee wye to make the split.

I was saying use the smaller because your saying it's too loud . Wait till you get your electric bill running both

 

[msr0459]

Just updating. After weighing all possibilities, I went with a "bleeder valve" to try and solve my over powering falls... and it's working perfectly!

The ball valves I already had installed after the pump, came in handy as well. Since the check valve was holding all the water in the flex, I was able to close the ball valve, thus preventing a major splash back when I cut through the pvc inside the vault (to install the bleeder valve).

Plenty of more to do to make it complete, i.e., landscaping, more rocks here and there, but now I can FINALLY just let it roll, and move on to the secondary stream. Ugh! Lol