Plumbing questions.

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krytan

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Sep 2, 2007
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Norwich, England
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Wayne
Ok i'm starting a thread about this but don't get to excited 'cause it's going to take me about a year to set up.
What i need to know is what size plumbing do i need for a 180g tank with a 40g sump at 20x turnover.
I was recomended that i use a reeflo hammerhead pump but the only ones i've found for sale are rated at 5800gph, is that going to be overkill? are there any alternatives?
 

tidioute06

AC Members
Mar 11, 2008
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Glendale, AZ
wicked flow. whats your head height? If you pushing 3 or 4 feet of head with some 90 degree turns you might be looking at like 3000gph...still high though.
You'd have to look at the stats on the pump. Worse comes to worse buy it and try it. if it's too much downgrade and sell it.

edit: this is the site for the stats on the pump. Thing is a beast.
http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem...size=Hammerhead (5800 gph)&child=MM1158&tab=1
 

redfishblewfish

Ignorance Specialist
Nov 19, 2008
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Central New Jersey
It sounds like a bit much for a sump directly below the display…now if you had a basement sump, that’s another story.

The major factors for return pumps are head loss (how many feet from the sump to the display), overflow rates, and other equipment you may wish to run off of it.

What overflow(s) do you have on the 180. You obviously don’t want to put more flow into the tank than the overflows can handle. Doesn’t mean you can’t use this pump…you can always tee off the return line and dump the excess flow back into the sump using a valve.

Head loss is another factor. Go on Reeflo’s website and look up the head loss chart for your pump. If the sump is directly below the tank, I’ve got to believe it’s only 4 – 5 feet from the tank. But run the numbers and see what you get. It will knock that 5800 down a little.

The lost point…additional equipment. Some people set up a manifold with multiple valves to run other stuff such as reactors. Calculate that into the mix if you are doing that.
 

Amphiprion

Contain the Excitement...
Feb 14, 2007
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That is far too much for a return, unless you are feeding a bunch of equipment with it or using it for a closed loop (which would work nicely). I recommend 1.5" plumbing on a tank of that size. I would look into 1500-2500 gph for your return if you don't plan to feed anything else with it. Realistically, you won't even need quite that much, but it can easily be throttled back.
 

krytan

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Sep 2, 2007
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I haven't drilled the overflows yet because i don't know what size i need yet, i want an overflow in each corner on the back of the tank and the return in the middle.
 

Sploke

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Oct 20, 2005
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I recommended the hammerhead as a closed-loop pump in chat - I said shoot for closer to 1000gph or so for your return.
 

krytan

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Sep 2, 2007
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Wayne
That is far too much for a return, unless you are feeding a bunch of equipment with it or using it for a closed loop (which would work nicely). I recommend 1.5" plumbing on a tank of that size. I would look into 1500-2500 gph for your return if you don't plan to feed anything else with it. Realistically, you won't even need quite that much, but it can easily be throttled back.
So would a mag 18 or a mag 24 be a good choice.
How does a closed loop system work?
 

Cerianthus

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Jul 9, 2008
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You can always build PVC manifold to use this pump or other pump to drive other equipments. Usually Reef Ready tank, I believe 1" bulkhead fitting can drain up to 600GPH, if memory serves.
You can also look into other brand which will accomodate your needs such as Reefflo, Iwaki, LG, etc.
 

Sploke

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Oct 20, 2005
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You can think of a closed loop like a canister filter, without the canister. You are basically pulling water from one part of the tank and pumping it back to another. It is used to increase flow in the tank. An alternative is to use a bunch of powerheads. I hate seeing powerheads in the tank, so a CL is very appealing to me. It is completely closed to the air, so both the intake and outlet of the system can be underwater, and you don't have to worry about anything overflowing if you lose power.
 
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