Pump recommendation please

[jarhead]

I am running a 1.5" PVC from the basement as my return. The distance is as follows:
4' down into the basement, 13' across the basement ceiling, and 8' down to the basement floor.
Using 1.5" PVC as a return, I would need to plan for 17' of total head loss. Can you recommend a good pump. Someone offered to sell me an Iwaki MD55 or MD100 pump. Will either one of those Iwaki's work for me?
How beneficial will it be if I raise the sump about 3-4 feet of the floor?
Which one will be less taxing on the electricity? TIA

 

[sparks]

You may be better of checking out some type of house hold pressure pump or even a pool pump.

 

[john f]

What size display tank?
How much flow are you wanting?
My gut feeling if you have a large display tank (180 or so) is to use an RKII pump. Second choice would be a large dolphin.
Go to Aquaticecosystems.com They have a bunch of pumps from large to small and if you get their catalog they show you output diagrams vs head pressure for most of them.

Also, each elbow in the system will add a foot of head or so.


John

[ May 07, 2002: Message edited by: john f ]</p>

 

[jarhead]

John,
The tank is a 135g Oceanic with an built in overflow in each corner. 17' of total head loss is already with the elbows factored in. How much flow do I want? Hmmm, I figure about 1500 gph. What is normally wanted for a 135g FOWLR tank?

[ May 07, 2002: Message edited by: jarhead ]</p>

 

[suckair]

that is a ton of head pressure and will cost you dearly in power consumption of the pump. It will also force you to use expensive high headpressure pumps. I would suggest a closed loop design for that much head. With a closed cloop you don't have head pressure as both ends are under water. The only head pressure you would have is the pressure difference from the supply and return in/out not the distance to the basement. Then you could easily use a ampmaster or other high efficiency pump.

My next tank design won't have a sump! All closed circur and inline heater/chiller/skimmer ect.. The skimmer will be the trick due to water bubbles.

 

[jarhead]

Now you guys are losing me. I am not familiar how a closed loop works. From what I have read, I'd need to drill 2 holes in the back of the tank and that's not an option for me.
What if I raise my sump in the basement about 4' off the floor, will that greatly reduce the head pressure?

 

[Bill2]

It'll reduce it 4'

Basically the longer and higher the water travels the more expensive a pump is needed

I would look at the sequence pumps.

 

[john f]

In my old 135 reef I used an Iwaki 100RLT split into two sea swirls (use 1" model).
It put out around 1600 GPH with the head pressure and was very good flow. An all SPS system could stand even a little more.

Here is an Idea:

Use two of the wave2k units in the tank and get a tunze comline skimmer for in tank use.
Then you need no sump and no plumbing and no sea swirls.


Thats how I would do it if I set up a 135 today.


John

 

[suckair]

just pressureize the sump! create a closed box that is air tight in the basement! That woudl eliminate the head pressure problem and get your pumps in th ebasement..

That would not work for a skimmer.. if the power went out the pressure would overflow the skimmer and the pump ressure required to overcome the head pressure would make it not praticle

having to push water upstairs and overcome all that head pressure is not praticle! The pump required like a sequence is expensive and consumes tons of power!

I have a sequence that could do it but the pump cost 380.00 and it's out put would be reduced to 1/2 of rated output with that much head pressure..

Running a open sump that far down from the system is not a good idea! I run a 3/4" water line into my basement for my chiller but it is closed. Get this.. the right overflow from my 120g goes to my basement thru the chiller, them back upstairs to the 60g refugium that is 6" below the level of the overflow, then back to my sump with NO pump! The trick is head pressure in a closed system! It is basicly a siphon. Closed loops are like that.. they don't have the head pressure open systems do and reduce the power required to ga in the water flow rates you need. With SPS systems needing massive flow rates this power savings can add up big time! My goal for a 120g system would 3000 gph or higher! That is why power heads do so well.. no head pressure! Many just use them for current in their tanks instead of massive pumps!

good luck

PS system design is a big deal. I learn more every time I setup a new tank. Each time I take my experiences from my past failures and try to improve the setups.