How much water is really moving through the Over flow?

A.VOID · 02/22/2008, 08:41 PM

I see the over flow boxes are typically rated for 600 and 1200 GPH. However, I read that the real GPH is more like half that value since the overflow drain is not under sufficient/ constant pressure.

I'm trying to mate the pump up with the true over flow GPH. If the return pump is rated at 439 gph for 5', will I be safe with a 600gph rated overflow?

DrBDC · 02/22/2008, 08:46 PM

The overflows usually do work about what they rate them but then as the pipes get buildup, possible snails if not gaurded, etc. tends to slow them down. A 439 gph pump should work well with a 1" overflow drain pipe for a long time.

drparker · 02/22/2008, 08:49 PM

On the Home Page in the menus on the right you'll find a whole list of calculators. Checkout the head loss and the drain size calculators.

A.VOID · 02/22/2008, 09:11 PM

HA! I missed the calculators, and I've been studying/ reading for 2 weeks straight.

Thanks ... it looks like I the 600 gph will be fine. I assume the overflow will be regulated by the return and balance itself out as long as you have an adequate pump, correct?

drparker · 02/22/2008, 09:28 PM

Yes, as long as you don't exceed the capacity of the drain the overflow will adjust to rate of the return pump. I always put a ball valve in between the pump and the tank so I can adjust the flow. It's not that my overflows wont handle it but usually I want less flow through my sump/fuge.

02/22/2008, 08:41 PM	#1
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	How much water is really moving through the Over flow? I see the over flow boxes are typically rated for 600 and 1200 GPH. However, I read that the real GPH is more like half that value since the overflow drain is not under sufficient/ constant pressure. I'm trying to mate the pump up with the true over flow GPH. If the return pump is rated at 439 gph for 5', will I be safe with a 600gph rated overflow?

02/22/2008, 08:46 PM	#2
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	The overflows usually do work about what they rate them but then as the pipes get buildup, possible snails if not gaurded, etc. tends to slow them down. A 439 gph pump should work well with a 1" overflow drain pipe for a long time. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

02/22/2008, 08:49 PM	#3
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	On the Home Page in the menus on the right you'll find a whole list of calculators. Checkout the head loss and the drain size calculators.

02/22/2008, 09:11 PM	#4
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	HA! I missed the calculators, and I've been studying/ reading for 2 weeks straight. Thanks ... it looks like I the 600 gph will be fine. I assume the overflow will be regulated by the return and balance itself out as long as you have an adequate pump, correct?

02/22/2008, 09:28 PM	#5
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Yes, as long as you don't exceed the capacity of the drain the overflow will adjust to rate of the return pump. I always put a ball valve in between the pump and the tank so I can adjust the flow. It's not that my overflows wont handle it but usually I want less flow through my sump/fuge.