Plumbing/sump/return pump question

hotdogmj71 · 11/05/2015, 11:09 PM

I have finished plumbing the sump & using the head loss calculator, I get 964GPH for my return pump. Info that came with my tank states that max flow draining from the tank is 700GPH. I have ball valves installed on return & drain lines.

Can I just dial down the return line to match the drain flow? If not, any other suggestions?
Thanks

tennesseebob · 11/05/2015, 11:11 PM

i imagine you can, but just to be safe i would dial it back a fair bit below the max rated flow of your drain. Im a paranoid person myself though, i think for safety sake id rather get a smaller pump.

CuzzA · 11/06/2015, 05:31 AM

I think you'll find that head loss calculations are sometimes exaggerated. Furthermore they don't account for friction loss due to your plumbing. For example, fittings like elbows substantially decrease flow. There's only one way to find out, run it and see what happens.

ca1ore · 11/06/2015, 08:25 AM

Each overflow on my tank is 'rated' at 700 gph, but they don't handle anywhere close to that in a way that I'd consider to be 'family-friendly'. In other words, at 700, they slurp, snort, gurgle, flush and generally misbehave. I'd view 400 as the upper practical limit for a single drain overflow.

fishgate · 11/06/2015, 08:39 AM

Correct - dial back the return until it is balanced.

11/05/2015, 11:09 PM	#1
hotdogmj71 Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Arkansas Posts: 241	Plumbing/sump/return pump question I have finished plumbing the sump & using the head loss calculator, I get 964GPH for my return pump. Info that came with my tank states that max flow draining from the tank is 700GPH. I have ball valves installed on return & drain lines. Can I just dial down the return line to match the drain flow? If not, any other suggestions? Thanks __________________ 120G 48x24x24; Trigger Ruby 30e; Mag12 return; MarsAqua 165 x2; Aquamaxx ConeS Q2; ReefKeeper Lite; SmartATO 10gal

11/05/2015, 11:11 PM	#2
tennesseebob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 423	i imagine you can, but just to be safe i would dial it back a fair bit below the max rated flow of your drain. Im a paranoid person myself though, i think for safety sake id rather get a smaller pump. __________________ 150g tall D/T (48x24x30), 40b Sump 2 Arctic t247 LEDs 2 Jebao RW-8, 2 RW-4 Skimz Monzter SM201 Current Tank Info: 48",24",30" 150g tall

11/06/2015, 08:25 AM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Each overflow on my tank is 'rated' at 700 gph, but they don't handle anywhere close to that in a way that I'd consider to be 'family-friendly'. In other words, at 700, they slurp, snort, gurgle, flush and generally misbehave. I'd view 400 as the upper practical limit for a single drain overflow. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

11/06/2015, 08:39 AM	#5
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Correct - dial back the return until it is balanced. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

11/06/2015, 05:31 AM	#3
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	I think you'll find that head loss calculations are sometimes exaggerated. Furthermore they don't account for friction loss due to your plumbing. For example, fittings like elbows substantially decrease flow. There's only one way to find out, run it and see what happens.