Calculating head pressure

[gmckinley]

I am in the process of planning a system set up (this will be my first reef) and I know that pump head pressure has a big impact on pump output. Is there a good calculator to determine the head pressure of your plumbing system? I've looked at the calculator from 1/03 issue of Advanced Aquarist by Joshi, Paden, and Graber, but there appears to be some problems in the macros running the file. Has this been corrected and is it available anywhere? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[WannaBeReefer]

Here's one at reef central.

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

 

[gmckinley]

Thanks. I also found a calculator at customaquatics.com. Unfortunately, these two calulators give very different results for similar system parameters, which makes me wonder which is right.

 

[npaden]

For a more advanced discussion on head losses you might want to check out this article and the pump selection guide. http://reefs.org/library/pumps/

It has a really nice excel spreadsheet that should give you some flexibility in calculating your head losses. The calculator at reefcentral was derived from that spreadsheet and I would believe it over the one from customaquatics.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[liquid]

We've got the same calculator up at http://www.reefs.org/pumps

Shane

 

[npaden]

Shane, where is that linked from? I looked for it last night but couldn't find it. I'm sure it is someplace obvious but I couldn't find it. :lol:

Thanks, Nathan

 

[liquid]

Nathan:

I've been meaning to get it linked on the /library/pumps doc but I've been busy. There's a thread in the DIY forum where I mention that it's there, but that's as far as I've gotten getting it linked in. I've been way too busy lately....

Shane