picking the right return pump.

B

bill109

AC Members
Jul 19, 2008
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hey everyone..
again im in search of someone who can help me get the right stuff..
i plan on getting a wetdry system for my 90 gal. i found one but it says max flow rate of 400 gph.. i cant find a pump close to 400 gph.. what do i do? does the max flow rate not mean what i thought? wont if i get one that does more gph than what it says wont it take in water faster than it can be brought to the sump?

the sump comes with an overflow box.. which means that that is the 400 gph.. do the overlfow box ghp and the pump need to match correct? i am looking and i cant find a overflow and a pump that match..?


thanks for your time..
any help you can give me would be very very appreciated..
 
Get a pump that is rated for 5-600 gph (maybe one of the lesser eheim models for energy efficiency) and just throttle it back with a vall valve installed in-line on the output side. That way you can fine tune (relatively, anyway) the flow coming from the pump.
 
If 400 gph is the max the overflow can handle, it's a good idea to look for a return pump that's in the 350 gph range after accounting for head pressure loss. To help recommend a brand / model that's appropriate, it'll be good to know a few things:
What is the height from where the return pump will be placed to the top of your tank?
How many return jets do you plan to have?
How many 90 degree elbows / other bends do you think you'll have in the tubing / plumbing that runs from the return pump to the return jet(s)?
Any plans for some sort of wavemaking device to be attached to the return line?
Are you looking for an internal / submersible pump, or an external pump?
 
fsn77 said:
If 400 gph is the max the overflow can handle, it's a good idea to look for a return pump that's in the 350 gph range after accounting for head pressure loss. To help recommend a brand / model that's appropriate, it'll be good to know a few things:
What is the height from where the return pump will be placed to the top of your tank?
How many return jets do you plan to have?
How many 90 degree elbows / other bends do you think you'll have in the tubing / plumbing that runs from the return pump to the return jet(s)?
Any plans for some sort of wavemaking device to be attached to the return line?
Are you looking for an internal / submersible pump, or an external pump?
Click to expand...

i am looking for a submersible..
i would like to to have 2 return lines.. this will be connected by a t connstor. there will be no bends other then the t connector
the return line will go from the pump up about 4 ft. (a few inches over)
and there will be no wave making devices.. i will have a few powerheads int he tank. thats about it.. its a reef btw.. =)
thank for the replys!
any other info needed?!

thanks again
-bill
 
ahh i need help lol
my filter now is about dead and trash lol.. i dont wanna spend an extra 50 for a hob if i dont have too..
 
What do you mean 2 return lines? Why not just split them off at the last minute? If it were me, I'd oversize the pump to begin with and just throttle it down a bit (throttling actually saves elemacatricacity [:D], lessen heat, and possibly increase pump life).
 
Amphiprion said:
What do you mean 2 return lines? Why not just split them off at the last minute? If it were me, I'd oversize the pump to begin with and just throttle it down a bit (throttling actually saves elemacatricacity [:D], lessen heat, and possibly increase pump life).
Click to expand...

thats what i ment.. i want to do one line from the pump. up to a valve to a t connector to 2 return lines. (the little joint ball looking lines with the nozzle on them lol) so it willl give flow from 2 places..
i have a rioplus1400 shoudl i buy something new or use tht?

i mean how much gph will be lost from the slpit?
 
bump for the day.. hoping for some responses when i check later today:help:

i was just told that a wet/dry setup will cause a ton of nitrates..
so now im back to square.. picking a sump
 
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Not sure how much pressure a T fitting will take. It is significant, though. I'd look into a Y fitting if at all possible to save on pressure. Do you have a link to the flow curves on that pump?
 
Amphiprion said:
Not sure how much pressure a T fitting will take. It is significant, though. I'd look into a Y fitting if at all possible to save on pressure. Do you have a link to the flow curves on that pump?
Click to expand...

ok well maybe i wont do a split.. just one return..
here is a link to the site im ordering off of. any pump that you think is workable is ok. its a little bit taller than 4 feet to the top from the stand. i CANT use my rio, i found my box and it wont work. it only puts out like 250gph.
anyways heres the link..
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_supplies.cfm?c=3578+4585
 
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