Pump flow rate?

[Elo500]

I have a Jebao Dcs 12000. The graph on the box show about 1050 gph at 4 ft head height. The pump controller has 10 speed settings (LEDs). Is it accurate to say 5 LEDs = 500 gph(50%), 2 LEDs= 200 gph, etc?

[Joeb1983]

I was able to find plenty of info on the DC-12000, but not as much for the DCS-12000...

Here is what I got:

Jebao / Jecod DCS Silent 12000 Controllable Water Pump:

Adjustable Flow Rate of 9000L to 12000L (Converted:2377.5485 - 3170.0646 GPH)

[Vinny Kreyling]

Doubtful there is any information to answer this question except "possibly" the mfg.

[Joeb1983]

Settings/steps in ~ GPH based on the above without factoring in head loss:

1) 2377.5 Minimum
2) 2465.6
3) 2553.7
4) 2641.7
5) 2729.8
6) 2817.8
7) 2905.9
8) 2993.9
9) 3082
10) 3170 Maximum

You can always take the setting value listed ^ and use their chart or a head loss calculator to get the specific value your looking for...

[Joeb1983]

Here is Jebao's head loss chart I came across for the DCS 6000 - 12000...

[Elo500]

Thanks for finding that. There was one on the box that looked a little different. I was trying to figure out if the Dcs 12000 was too big for my 120 and 40 sump. It's about 4 foot from the pump to the return nozzle. I was figuring 1000 gph with the head loss based on the box graph. Then I was trying to figure out the controller settings and what flow I was getting at the lowest setting.

[Joeb1983]

No problem, I just got the specs/stats and crunched the numbers.

Given the size of the pump and info I found on it, it is a rather large pump for a 120 display and 40 sump.

Keep in mind to consider the actual water volume factoring in sand, rock-work, water height, equipment displacement, etc...

From that vague chart it looks like a ~ 600 GPH loss with each ~ 4' of head give or take...

With that said, at the lowest setting you still would be around ~1700 GPH... That's obviously before fittings and nozzles...

Is/are your overflow(s) rated for that much flow?..

I'm sure you could restrict it even more with a valve, but I'm not sure how DC pumps would like that... (never tried on DC pumps)

Just throwing it out there, I am currently in a "build' with a 72x24x15" display w/ eshopps RS-300 sump.

Calculating my total water volume factoring in everything I mentioned before brought it to ~118 gallons.

I went with Ecotech's Vectra M1 (Smaller version) and its max with zero head is 2000 GPH. Its min and max can also be calibrated however...

I believe the general rule of thumb (someone correct me if I'm wrong) for a return pump for a reef depending on stocking is ~ 8 - 10 times turn-over rate of your system.

For mine, I will run about 1100 GPH... If I didn't get the Vectra, I woud have picked up a return pump sized accordingly.

Hope all this helped.

[d0ughb0y]

Originally Posted by Elo500

I have a Jebao Dcs 12000. The graph on the box show about 1050 gph at 4 ft head height. The pump controller has 10 speed settings (LEDs). Is it accurate to say 5 LEDs = 500 gph(50%), 2 LEDs= 200 gph, etc?

The minimum (one dot) is not equal to 10%
fish street has a chart showing the minimum/maximum, and minimum is usually about 60-75% of max flow. Then you divide the range by 10 to get the flow for each dot increment.

so it is easy to get a pump that is too big by incorrectly assuming you can adjust the flow down to 10% of maximum.

[Elo500]

The tank has nothing in it but water now. I was trying to trouble shoot durso drain pipe noise and I read about having the right flow balance. It's a 1" pipe and read that is max is maybe 900gph? So I'm getting the impression I need to downsize the return pump or at least test a lower gph one.

I see other build threads using pumps rated at 650 gph

[Elo500]

Had a thought. There is a Y split after the pump for a chiller line. If I ran a Line from that valve back the sump, it would reduce the amount of water going back to the tank. Would that compensate for the the overkill flow rate?

[Vinny Kreyling]

Just a FYI -- I run a DC 12000 on a 250 from under the tank.
Settings 1 gives me no flow, I run @ #4.

[Elo500]

Thanks vinny. Now I know I need a smaller pump. I'm looking at the dcs 7000. The lower models have a smaller connector and my plumbing has a 1.25" connector

[Joeb1983]

Originally Posted by d0ughb0y

The minimum (one dot) is not equal to 10%
fish street has a chart showing the minimum/maximum, and minimum is usually about 60-75% of max flow. Then you divide the range by 10 to get the flow for each dot increment.

so it is easy to get a pump that is too big by incorrectly assuming you can adjust the flow down to 10% of maximum.

Exactly what I was thinking. Now I dont have a Jebao DC pump nor have I ever owned one.

I was simply going off the manufacturers statement of:


*** Adjustable Flow Rate of 9000L to 12000L (Converted:2377.5485 - 3170.0646 GPH) ***


Then used that MIN/MAX range and figured the #'s for each ramp up for each increment and the #'s matched up perfectly to their adjustable flow-rate statement.

( I originally was dividing by 10, but was off by one increment every time I did the math to reach 3170, then realized I had to get the step % value by dividing by 9 actually; given that the second "dot" was technically the first ramp. )

1) 2377.5 Minimum
2) 2465.6
3) 2553.7
4) 2641.7
5) 2729.8
6) 2817.8
7) 2905.9
8) 2993.9
9) 3082
10) 3170 Maximum

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

Just a FYI -- I run a DC 12000 on a 250 from under the tank.
Settings 1 gives me no flow, I run @ #4.

Elo500, does your DCS-12000 have flow on the lowest setting?

I see the DC-12000 has 6 ramps while the DCS-12000 has 10.

I'm interested to see the difference in controller settings.

Originally Posted by Elo500

The tank has nothing in it but water now. I was trying to trouble shoot durso drain pipe noise and I read about having the right flow balance. It's a 1" pipe and read that is max is maybe 900gph? So I'm getting the impression I need to downsize the return pump or at least test a lower gph one.

I see other build threads using pumps rated at 650 gph

I have a 1" Bulkhead with over-sized 1.5" Durso standpipe (adds "water weight" to aid flow from my understanding) on my Marineland 60 cube. They rate it for a 700 GPH although Ive read its been pushed to 750.

I can tell you if I ramp up the pump via the gate valve it surges and "flushes"... Very annoying, But its simply exceeding its limits.

Here is a simple flow chart.

[Elo500]

Yes at 1 dot it flows fast. It feels like too much flow going into the overflow and the drain into the sump it was like a washing machine with bubbles. At 5 dots the water in the tank rose up to the cross brace. I have a 1" durso drain which I read has a max flow rate of 650gph so I need a pump I can dial down to that after head loss. I really like the Jebao Dcs performance and price so was deciding between lower models. I'll have to reduce the 1" return pipe to 3/4 thread for the smaller pump. The power curve for the Dcs 5000 looks about right.

[Joeb1983]

Originally Posted by Elo500

Yes at 1 dot it flows fast. It feels like too much flow going into the overflow and the drain into the sump it was like a washing machine with bubbles. At 5 dots the water in the tank rose up to the cross brace. I have a 1" durso drain which I read has a max flow rate of 650gph so I need a pump I can dial down to that after head loss. I really like the Jebao Dcs performance and price so was deciding between lower models. I'll have to reduce the 1" return pipe to 3/4 thread for the smaller pump. The power curve for the Dcs 5000 looks about right.

That's what I figured... PVC reducers are cheap so no worries there. (Just use that and plumb the 3/4" into your 1" bulkhead, heck you could even throw a 3/4 NPT to 3/4 barb if you wanted to "soft" plumb it. If its a schedule 40 bulkhead then its best to use PVC to ABS cement if you choose to "hard" plumb it considering its slip).


My personal opinion is that's a pretty big pump for that tank honestly.

Can you get it to work... Probably... But, if funds allow; get a properly sized return pump to your tank. (Especially your over flow).

You definitely do not want a flood. Been there... It sucks.

In regards to my 60, I run a cheap RIO 3100.

Now its rated for 900 GPH, but with factoring my head loss its right in the ballpark of where I need to be... I do have a gate valve and it is closed about 25% to reduce the flushing and surging I mentioned, so I should be around 10X turnover.

Some people hate on RIO pumps... I personally never had a single issue (heat, noise or failure) on 7 tanks running 9 RIO's of various sizes. (Knock on wood)

[Elo500]

Here is the graph for the Dcs series. I need to aim for 600 gph at 4 ft head height. But I don't want to run the pump at max. The 4000 max about there so maybe the 5000 will be able to hit that dialed back a little?

Found this range chart
DCS3000 25W Flow from 900lph to 3200lph 2.8M Head (Hose tail for 8/12/16mm inc Cover)

• DCS4000 30W Flow from 2837lph to 4000lph 3.2M Head (Hose tail for 8/12/16mm inc Cover)

• DCS5000 40W Flow from 3800lph to 5000lph 3.5M Head (Hose tail for 20/25/32mm inc Cover)

• DCS7000 55W Flow from 5000lph to 7000lph 4.5M Head (Hose tail for 20/25/32mm inc Cover)

Not sure how to figure out what the low end is at a lower height.

[Joeb1983]

It does not have Jebaos in the list, but maybe try to find a comparable pump to get a ballpark idea?

http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php...oss-calculator

There are other head loss calculators online as well.

If see if I can figure something out at work.

[Joeb1983]

If your dead set on a Jebao DC pump:

DCS-4000's range is 749.5 - 1057 GPH

DCS-5000's is 1004 - 1321 GPH

According to the graph you posted it lists max head in meters.

The intervals are pretty spaced apart making them rather vague.

Plugging in some numbers and trying various pumps in the head loss calculator I supplied I got this:


Vertical length in feet - 4
Horizontal length in feet - 1
Pipe diameter in inches - 0.75
Number of 90 degree elbows - 1
Number of 45 degree elbows - 0
Number of gate valves - 0
Number of ball valves - 0
Number of union couplings - 2
Number of swing check valves - 0
Number of pipe exits - 1
Number of pipe entrances - 1


Using the Quiet One 6000 pump rated for 1,876 GPH max I was able to achieve 774 GPH

Just off the numbers (understand all pumps are different and this is just a very rough guesstimate) the DCS -7000 matches the figures above closer with its 1321 GPH minimum and 1849 GPH max.

Feel free to plug in exactly what you have plumbing wise in the calculator and see if it comes up different.

If it was me, after all this, I would just get a reliable and quiet AC pump to make life easier. lol! Because if its not a closed loop, your return will be a set GPH always anyways. (this coming from a guy who is using a Vectra on his new build)

Remember you have to not exceed what your overflow can handle... In what I gather in your case is 6 - 700 GPH given the 1" overflow plumbing and considering its a Durso.

[Elo500]

Thanks joeb1983!

[Joeb1983]

No problem. Hope everything works out!