Choosing the overflow and return pump. How to make sure they match?

Lemeshianos · 07/10/2008, 02:19 AM

I will start building the stand and tank in a few days.

The tank will be a 55 gallons.
I was thinking of buying the Eheim 1260 pump rated at 635gph or 1262 rated at 1262.
Additional circulation will be made with the use of powerheads.

Anyway the pump will have to face a 4 feet head loss aproximately.
How can I calculate what would the return flow will be and how can I design the overflows to match the return flow?

kau_cinta_ku · 07/10/2008, 02:26 AM

you only want 3-5 x turn over through the sump. so on a 55 gal. 165-275gph. you could do a little more but wouldn't go over 10x or 550gph.

so if you got a overflow rated for 600gph that would be good. then just get a return pump rated for the flow you want 165-550gph after head loss or you can always use a ball valve to turn it down.

use this calculator http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php to help figure out what your pump will push after head loss.

remember the overflow box will only drain as much water that is pushed up to the tank. so even if the overflow box is rated for 600gph it will also work foronly pushing 400gph. ect.

ser_renely · 07/10/2008, 07:56 AM

can you explain that last sentence a little more?

indydog1 · 07/10/2008, 08:05 AM

if water is coming into the tank at lets say 450 gph, then you will only have 450 gph going through the drain. even though they are rated for 600 gph. this would be the most that they could handle.

Deminos · 07/10/2008, 08:33 AM

you could also T off a gate valve on your return to adjust flow to the tank.

07/10/2008, 02:19 AM	#1
Lemeshianos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 468	Choosing the overflow and return pump. How to make sure they match? I will start building the stand and tank in a few days. The tank will be a 55 gallons. I was thinking of buying the Eheim 1260 pump rated at 635gph or 1262 rated at 1262. Additional circulation will be made with the use of powerheads. Anyway the pump will have to face a 4 feet head loss aproximately. How can I calculate what would the return flow will be and how can I design the overflows to match the return flow?

07/10/2008, 07:56 AM	#3
ser_renely Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,820	can you explain that last sentence a little more? __________________ RIP: Osc. Clown - Ammonia, YW GobY - overflow, YW Goby - Pistol shrimp, Firefish - acclimation. 5 Fire fish - pistol shrimp, Mandarin - Pistol shrimp!!!!! Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 15g sump/fuge,Tunze 9010 skimmer, Reefbreeders Photon 16" - 2 Osc. Clowns,2 Lyretail Anthias, Blue Chromis, mp20, mp10....another DAMN pistol shrimp!

07/10/2008, 08:05 AM	#4
indydog1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: round lake, il Posts: 1,590	if water is coming into the tank at lets say 450 gph, then you will only have 450 gph going through the drain. even though they are rated for 600 gph. this would be the most that they could handle. __________________ Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself Current Tank Info: 210 gal

07/10/2008, 02:26 AM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	you only want 3-5 x turn over through the sump. so on a 55 gal. 165-275gph. you could do a little more but wouldn't go over 10x or 550gph. so if you got a overflow rated for 600gph that would be good. then just get a return pump rated for the flow you want 165-550gph after head loss or you can always use a ball valve to turn it down. use this calculator http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php to help figure out what your pump will push after head loss. remember the overflow box will only drain as much water that is pushed up to the tank. so even if the overflow box is rated for 600gph it will also work foronly pushing 400gph. ect.

07/10/2008, 08:33 AM	#5
Deminos Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reserve Twp. Posts: 63	you could also T off a gate valve on your return to adjust flow to the tank.