Need pump advice

Cord · 05/05/2006, 04:51 PM

I am setting up a 240 gallon aggressive/FOWLR. I have 2 corner overflows with a 1 inch overflow and a 3/4 inch return in each. I was going to use Dursos for each overflow, and I have (2) Quiet one 6000 pumps. I was going to use one pump for each return. They are rated for something like 1500GPM each, but according to the reef central pumphead calculator, with 5 feet of vertical head, and 4 feet of horizontal distance the flow rate should be 600GPM.

My questions are: will the flow really decrease that much? Is this too much pump for my 2 overflows/returns to handle? I don't want to run my sump dry.

I have never set up a tank with a sump before, so I don't have personal experience with overflows and return pumps, so share your experience with me.

Thanks.

Cord.

Cord · 05/05/2006, 11:01 PM

anyone?

mg426 · 05/06/2006, 12:48 AM

It all depends on how much you drains can provide. Check out the overflow/drain calculator on the homepage.

Cord · 05/06/2006, 10:13 AM

Supposedly rated at 600 GPM, but my LFS guy said you could run more through them, and as the water level rose in the tank, more would flow in the overflow, self correcting itself. But I'm wondering if that's true.

robsmith32 · 05/07/2006, 01:22 AM

once it has been setup for a while, there will be buildup on the inside of the pipes which will diminish what they can actually handle thru them.. I'd split off 1 pump and run to both sides as most people do. Run the 1 6000 as a return and your sump won't have near as much bubbles and skimmer will work much better that the pump isn't fighting them. Bubbles are great in the skimmer, but not at input of pump.
Put the other 6000 as a closed loop, or use seio's/tunze/mj mod for in tank flow.

Balinor · 05/08/2006, 06:57 AM

Cord,

I have a 120G tank with two overflows rated at 600gph each, 1" drain and 3/4" return. I have 2 Quiet One 3000 pumps, one hooked up to each overflow. I had to use a ball valve on each pump so that they didn't overflow the tank. I would think the 6000's would defintely be too much flow for that overflow.

Don

Cord · 05/08/2006, 02:07 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess I will use one pump with a gate valve and see how it goes.

ChemE · 05/08/2006, 03:50 PM

Actually, the LFS should have told you that you don't need that much flow. You can get away with 240-360 gph. The 5 volumes per hour is based on whim and whimsy not science. My recommendation is use a small pump for your sump return and get the majority of your tank turnover from other sources such as those mentioned above ; ie tunze, mj, CL, etc.

xtrstangx · 05/08/2006, 04:05 PM

Run a 1.5" return all the way until the bulkhead and then change it over to 3/4"... You should get WAY more flow, probably 900+

05/05/2006, 04:51 PM	#1
Cord Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: California Posts: 125	Need pump advice I am setting up a 240 gallon aggressive/FOWLR. I have 2 corner overflows with a 1 inch overflow and a 3/4 inch return in each. I was going to use Dursos for each overflow, and I have (2) Quiet one 6000 pumps. I was going to use one pump for each return. They are rated for something like 1500GPM each, but according to the reef central pumphead calculator, with 5 feet of vertical head, and 4 feet of horizontal distance the flow rate should be 600GPM. My questions are: will the flow really decrease that much? Is this too much pump for my 2 overflows/returns to handle? I don't want to run my sump dry. I have never set up a tank with a sump before, so I don't have personal experience with overflows and return pumps, so share your experience with me. Thanks. Cord.

05/06/2006, 12:48 AM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	It all depends on how much you drains can provide. Check out the overflow/drain calculator on the homepage. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

05/08/2006, 03:50 PM	#8
ChemE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Nashville, TN Posts: 1,607	Actually, the LFS should have told you that you don't need that much flow. You can get away with 240-360 gph. The 5 volumes per hour is based on whim and whimsy not science. My recommendation is use a small pump for your sump return and get the majority of your tank turnover from other sources such as those mentioned above ; ie tunze, mj, CL, etc. __________________ Holding it down on the engineering tip y'all Current Tank Info: 190G

05/05/2006, 11:01 PM	#2
Cord Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: California Posts: 125	anyone?

05/06/2006, 10:13 AM	#4
Cord Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: California Posts: 125	Supposedly rated at 600 GPM, but my LFS guy said you could run more through them, and as the water level rose in the tank, more would flow in the overflow, self correcting itself. But I'm wondering if that's true.

05/07/2006, 01:22 AM	#5
robsmith32 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: BUford, ga Posts: 609	once it has been setup for a while, there will be buildup on the inside of the pipes which will diminish what they can actually handle thru them.. I'd split off 1 pump and run to both sides as most people do. Run the 1 6000 as a return and your sump won't have near as much bubbles and skimmer will work much better that the pump isn't fighting them. Bubbles are great in the skimmer, but not at input of pump. Put the other 6000 as a closed loop, or use seio's/tunze/mj mod for in tank flow.

05/08/2006, 06:57 AM	#6
Balinor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: S. Florida Posts: 14	Cord, I have a 120G tank with two overflows rated at 600gph each, 1" drain and 3/4" return. I have 2 Quiet One 3000 pumps, one hooked up to each overflow. I had to use a ball valve on each pump so that they didn't overflow the tank. I would think the 6000's would defintely be too much flow for that overflow. Don

05/08/2006, 02:07 PM	#7
Cord Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: California Posts: 125	Thanks for the advice guys. I guess I will use one pump with a gate valve and see how it goes.

05/08/2006, 04:05 PM	#9
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	Run a 1.5" return all the way until the bulkhead and then change it over to 3/4"... You should get WAY more flow, probably 900+