Pump Question?

Patriot54 · 02/07/2009, 10:30 AM

How do I figure out how big of a pump I need to return my water from my sump to my tank? It is a 10 gallon sump and a 29 gallon tank.

rgrobe · 02/07/2009, 10:51 AM

Typically you want the turnover rate to be 3x to 6x per hour. For your tank that would be somewhere within the range of 90 to 180 gph. You also have to account for head loss. That will be the vertical distance between the sump and the DT. Pumps are rated with no head loss and then become less effective the higher the water is pumped. Most maufacturers have a pump chart available with head loss information.

It is always best to choose a pump at the upper end of the scale in case you want to add an auxilliary loop in the future.

Choose a pump that is rated 90 -180 gph after head loss. I would choose somethiong between 120-180 gph.

mikid · 02/07/2009, 11:05 AM

REMEBER THAT YOU WANT TO USE YOUR SUMP FOR CLEANING AND MAINTAINING YOUR TANK,YOU DONT WANT YOUR FLOW THORUGH YOUR SUMP TO BE TO FAST,YOU WANT YOUR SKIMMER TO PULL OUT ALL IT CAN,SO LESS FLOW THROUGH YOUR SUMP IS BETTER,USE POWERHEADS TO MOVE YOUR WATER!,MIKE

Patriot54 · 02/07/2009, 11:12 PM

I can't seem to find the chart for the pumps, can someone post on for me? Is there an equation I can use to figure it out?

paper clip · 02/08/2009, 12:07 AM

Each pump manufacturer has the specs of their pumps listed on their websites. Some of the web sites that sell pumps also list the flow rate and head heights that go with each pump.

paper clip · 02/08/2009, 12:08 AM

oh, I forgot about the calculator on the home page of this site!

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

02/07/2009, 10:30 AM	#1
Patriot54 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 727	Pump Question? How do I figure out how big of a pump I need to return my water from my sump to my tank? It is a 10 gallon sump and a 29 gallon tank.

02/07/2009, 11:05 AM	#3
mikid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: fair oaks,california Posts: 1,767	PUMP? REMEBER THAT YOU WANT TO USE YOUR SUMP FOR CLEANING AND MAINTAINING YOUR TANK,YOU DONT WANT YOUR FLOW THORUGH YOUR SUMP TO BE TO FAST,YOU WANT YOUR SKIMMER TO PULL OUT ALL IT CAN,SO LESS FLOW THROUGH YOUR SUMP IS BETTER,USE POWERHEADS TO MOVE YOUR WATER!,MIKE __________________ Mike Dickenson....Marine Aquarist Roundtable of Sacramento, Co-Founder Current Tank Info: 187 Gal Display/125 Gal sump/Reefkeeper Elite/Rw20s/Leds

02/08/2009, 12:07 AM	#5
paper clip Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bronson, Iowa Posts: 105	Each pump manufacturer has the specs of their pumps listed on their websites. Some of the web sites that sell pumps also list the flow rate and head heights that go with each pump. __________________ Overfeeding is just like feeding, only better Current Tank Info: 2x 28g nano cubes

02/08/2009, 12:08 AM	#6
paper clip Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bronson, Iowa Posts: 105	oh, I forgot about the calculator on the home page of this site! http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php __________________ Overfeeding is just like feeding, only better Current Tank Info: 2x 28g nano cubes

02/07/2009, 10:51 AM	#2
rgrobe Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Diego area Posts: 416	Typically you want the turnover rate to be 3x to 6x per hour. For your tank that would be somewhere within the range of 90 to 180 gph. You also have to account for head loss. That will be the vertical distance between the sump and the DT. Pumps are rated with no head loss and then become less effective the higher the water is pumped. Most maufacturers have a pump chart available with head loss information. It is always best to choose a pump at the upper end of the scale in case you want to add an auxilliary loop in the future. Choose a pump that is rated 90 -180 gph after head loss. I would choose somethiong between 120-180 gph.

02/07/2009, 11:12 PM	#4
Patriot54 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 727	I can't seem to find the chart for the pumps, can someone post on for me? Is there an equation I can use to figure it out?