How can I calculate how many gph is running through my sum

MarineGirl411 · 12/29/2006, 12:17 AM

Hi,
I have a question. I just set up my 40 breeder finally. I have a 1 in BH with an internal overflow over it to keep fish out. I was having trouble with noise and bubbles. Well, I turned my return pump down and now there is no noise trouble. I have noticed that the sump looks pretty calm and I am not sure how much water is running through it, being circulated etc. I am going to have a refugium in there as well. The skimmer is also in the first chamber. The ref is in the second chamber. Is there a way for me to make sure I am getting enough skimming done and enough circulation through my sump/refugium? When I put my hand over the return line into the tank, I can't feel much coming out. Please let me know. Thank you.

MarineGirl411 · 12/29/2006, 12:17 AM

UGH! I meant sump!

xenon · 12/29/2006, 12:19 AM

I was wondering the same thing 20mins ago. I have my mag 9.5 throttled back and was wondering how much flow I have.

The min and max is 3-5x but I have no idea if I am in that range.

MarineGirl411 · 12/29/2006, 01:39 AM

me either. can someone help us? My return is a quiet one 3,000w 3ft head if that helps.

xenon · 12/29/2006, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarineGirl411
me either. can someone help us? My return is a quiet one 3,000w 3ft head if that helps.

The wattage of your return pump is useless info. How many GPH does it push and how much of that is lost at 3ft head loss?

staticx · 12/29/2006, 04:34 AM

The max is not 5 x per hour not sure where you got that info from xenon. In my sump I have about a 25x turnover. Its fine as long as you dont have build up on top of the water. If your return pump is 1000 gph and you turn it down a 1/4 of the way you will have about 750 gph if you had a 75 gallon sump you would then have a 10x turnover. There is no right amount really just whatever works for you.

green814 · 12/29/2006, 09:14 AM

May be a little work, but this was my thought on how to find my flow rate.

Have someone help you.
Hook up a flexible hose to your drain pipe.
Run that into a very clean 5g. bucket marked off for every 1/2g.
Turn the return pump back on for a set time (30 sec, or 1 min up to you) or until you run out of water in the return area. Use a watch in case you run out of water( or come close)
Figure out how much water you have in that time, & convert it to GPH.

This should give you a real close flow rate.
Chris

danch · 12/29/2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xenon
The wattage of your return pump is useless info. How many GPH does it push and how much of that is lost at 3ft head loss?

It's unlikely that the pump uses 3000 watts. That's probably the model number. From http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...n.asp#qone3000 that pump will push just under 600 gph at 4ft of head.

MarineGirl411 · 12/29/2006, 08:39 PM

no i didn't mean the watts were 3,000. LOL no that's the model #

loves saltwater · 12/29/2006, 09:30 PM

All though it is a pain in the butt green814 way of doing is very accurate to find out how much flow you really have

fio1022 · 12/29/2006, 09:57 PM

here is what I'm using.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx
Installed about two weeks ago.
I'm running about 400 gpm through fuge.It is the return from a carbon canister.I regulate flow with a gate valve.

fio1022 · 12/29/2006, 10:00 PM

Correction:about 150gph
Just rechecked meter.

Tripspike · 12/29/2006, 10:14 PM

Greens way is the only way short of fios way. Everything else would just be a guess at bes'.

Trip

MarineGirl411 · 12/30/2006, 03:15 AM

I will have Lennon help me. One member suggested using vinyl tubing on the return line that goes into the tank to determine how many gph is running through the system. Using a 1 gallon jug, timing it, then using a 5 gallon jug underneath it to make sure it doesn't fill too much. I didn't see how that would measure how many GPH though. Wouldn't I also have to be draining water as well in the sump to accurately test that? So you are saying take the vinyl tubing from the drain pipe? that might work better actually. I could take off some of the ridgid pvc and just drain it into a milk jug. If that would work. But then if I am taking out that water, what is going to put the water back in my system? Maybe I'm just really confused here. =/

Tripspike · 12/30/2006, 10:47 AM

It is very simple...don't overcomplicate it. All you want to do is measure the time it takes to fill the 1 gallon container in seconds. Then simply divide 3600 by the number of seconds it took to fill the 1 gallon container and this wil give you the GPH.

Two notes:

1. Use the drain line from your overflow or weir to fill the 1 gallon container. (You might need a funnel to direct the water flow into the 1 gallon container.

2. Place the 1 gallon container inside a 5 gallon pail to contain overflow and any spills from the 1 gallon container.

Hopefully this helps you out.

Trip

12/29/2006, 12:17 AM	#1
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	How can I calculate how many gph is running through my sum Hi, I have a question. I just set up my 40 breeder finally. I have a 1 in BH with an internal overflow over it to keep fish out. I was having trouble with noise and bubbles. Well, I turned my return pump down and now there is no noise trouble. I have noticed that the sump looks pretty calm and I am not sure how much water is running through it, being circulated etc. I am going to have a refugium in there as well. The skimmer is also in the first chamber. The ref is in the second chamber. Is there a way for me to make sure I am getting enough skimming done and enough circulation through my sump/refugium? When I put my hand over the return line into the tank, I can't feel much coming out. Please let me know. Thank you. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

12/29/2006, 12:17 AM	#2
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	UGH! I meant sump! __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

12/29/2006, 01:39 AM	#4
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	me either. can someone help us? My return is a quiet one 3,000w 3ft head if that helps. __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

12/29/2006, 08:39 PM	#9
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	no i didn't mean the watts were 3,000. LOL no that's the model # __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

12/29/2006, 09:30 PM	#10
loves saltwater Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Katy,Tx Posts: 945	All though it is a pain in the butt green814 way of doing is very accurate to find out how much flow you really have __________________ Does anyone have the number to Reef Keepers Anonymous! AM- 0 Rite- 0 Rate- 0 Phos- 0 PH- 8.0 SG- 1.026 Cal- 420 KH- 8.0 dKH Alk- 2.51 meg/L Mag- 1350 Temp-78-80 Current Tank Info: 125RR/30 gal DIY sump-fuge/100 lbs of LR/PM Bullet Skimmer/1000GPH Closed loop/T5 4X54 Watt HO

12/29/2006, 12:19 AM	#3
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	I was wondering the same thing 20mins ago. I have my mag 9.5 throttled back and was wondering how much flow I have. The min and max is 3-5x but I have no idea if I am in that range.

12/29/2006, 04:34 AM	#6
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	The max is not 5 x per hour not sure where you got that info from xenon. In my sump I have about a 25x turnover. Its fine as long as you dont have build up on top of the water. If your return pump is 1000 gph and you turn it down a 1/4 of the way you will have about 750 gph if you had a 75 gallon sump you would then have a 10x turnover. There is no right amount really just whatever works for you.

12/29/2006, 09:14 AM	#7
green814 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Swartz Creek, Mi Posts: 144	May be a little work, but this was my thought on how to find my flow rate. Have someone help you. Hook up a flexible hose to your drain pipe. Run that into a very clean 5g. bucket marked off for every 1/2g. Turn the return pump back on for a set time (30 sec, or 1 min up to you) or until you run out of water in the return area. Use a watch in case you run out of water( or come close) Figure out how much water you have in that time, & convert it to GPH. This should give you a real close flow rate. Chris

12/29/2006, 09:57 PM	#11
fio1022 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,557	here is what I'm using. http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx Installed about two weeks ago. I'm running about 400 gpm through fuge.It is the return from a carbon canister.I regulate flow with a gate valve. __________________ its all about time,space,and money Current Tank Info: 240g,64g acrylic sump/fuge.

12/29/2006, 10:00 PM	#12
fio1022 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,557	Correction:about 150gph Just rechecked meter. __________________ its all about time,space,and money Current Tank Info: 240g,64g acrylic sump/fuge.

12/29/2006, 10:14 PM	#13
Tripspike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, CT Posts: 875	Greens way is the only way short of fios way. Everything else would just be a guess at bes'. Trip

12/30/2006, 03:15 AM	#14
MarineGirl411 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,583	I will have Lennon help me. One member suggested using vinyl tubing on the return line that goes into the tank to determine how many gph is running through the system. Using a 1 gallon jug, timing it, then using a 5 gallon jug underneath it to make sure it doesn't fill too much. I didn't see how that would measure how many GPH though. Wouldn't I also have to be draining water as well in the sump to accurately test that? So you are saying take the vinyl tubing from the drain pipe? that might work better actually. I could take off some of the ridgid pvc and just drain it into a milk jug. If that would work. But then if I am taking out that water, what is going to put the water back in my system? Maybe I'm just really confused here. =/ __________________ I am a reefaholic and there is no cure. =) Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef, Cardiff Nano Seahorse tank.

12/30/2006, 10:47 AM	#15
Tripspike Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, CT Posts: 875	It is very simple...don't overcomplicate it. All you want to do is measure the time it takes to fill the 1 gallon container in seconds. Then simply divide 3600 by the number of seconds it took to fill the 1 gallon container and this wil give you the GPH. Two notes: 1. Use the drain line from your overflow or weir to fill the 1 gallon container. (You might need a funnel to direct the water flow into the 1 gallon container. 2. Place the 1 gallon container inside a 5 gallon pail to contain overflow and any spills from the 1 gallon container. Hopefully this helps you out. Trip