pump and head pressure question?

CHSUB · 03/05/2012, 08:05 PM

i'm planning my plumbing and have a question: on the intake side of my pump do you add head pressure when accounting for flow return. example, from sump to pump is 1' from pump to tank is 5'; if i move the pump 3' down the line is the head pressure reduced on the outlet side???

hotdogg · 03/05/2012, 08:23 PM

For every foot you push water up you loose pressure and therfore gallons per hour...sucking up two and pushing three is still 5 feet of head.

Salty88 · 03/05/2012, 10:43 PM

From my experience if you use an over flow system suitable for your tank, both rates will equal at many points depending on the amount of water in your tank. If I want my return to pump more water to cycle the tank more i just need to add more water, and open up the ball valve to the return line until the display tank level sustains at a higher point on the overflow box. I hope im in the ball park with what you were trying to ask.

opusthepenguin · 03/05/2012, 11:18 PM

I'd be careful making the intake side of the plumbing very long unless its a large diameter pipe. It would be pretty easy to starve the pump and loose way more flow than head height would ever amount too.

opusthepenguin · 03/05/2012, 11:49 PM

Probably obvious but the pump has to be below the water level in the sump. Its not going to pull water up to itself.

03/05/2012, 08:05 PM	#1
CHSUB "Certified Hobby Expert" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 2,038	pump and head pressure question? i'm planning my plumbing and have a question: on the intake side of my pump do you add head pressure when accounting for flow return. example, from sump to pump is 1' from pump to tank is 5'; if i move the pump 3' down the line is the head pressure reduced on the outlet side??? __________________ Goniopora Police _________________ building a 60"x36"x30" peninsula reef...follow at "NEW TANK BUILD" on reef discussion forum! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2110638

03/05/2012, 08:23 PM	#2
hotdogg Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ringwood, NJ Posts: 23	For every foot you push water up you loose pressure and therfore gallons per hour...sucking up two and pushing three is still 5 feet of head.

03/05/2012, 10:43 PM	#3
Salty88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: California Posts: 23	From my experience if you use an over flow system suitable for your tank, both rates will equal at many points depending on the amount of water in your tank. If I want my return to pump more water to cycle the tank more i just need to add more water, and open up the ball valve to the return line until the display tank level sustains at a higher point on the overflow box. I hope im in the ball park with what you were trying to ask.

03/05/2012, 11:18 PM	#4
opusthepenguin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 117	I'd be careful making the intake side of the plumbing very long unless its a large diameter pipe. It would be pretty easy to starve the pump and loose way more flow than head height would ever amount too.

03/05/2012, 11:49 PM	#5
opusthepenguin Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 117	Probably obvious but the pump has to be below the water level in the sump. Its not going to pull water up to itself.