Return Pump / Desired Flow Questions

[gabemerrill]

I'm just about finished setting up my tank, if you haven't seen the specification, heres a link http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=34501 I have a question about flowrates. I've got an Iwaki MD20RLT that came with my 50 gallon, and am thinking about two options.

#1 run a single pump, the one I have Or a more powerful one to the 30. Let the 30 overflow into the 50 then to the sump.
This results in ~ 400 gph or more with a bigger pump through both tanks

Or

#2 run two pumps, the Iwaki I have to the 30 and another to the 50, possibly an enheim 1250. This way I'd have ~ 400 gph to the 30 and ~700 gph to the 50.

I'm also thinking about running an additional powerhead in each tank timed with the lights for extra flow. Any suggestions?

 

[Len]

I'd go with option #2. The more flow, the better. Redundancy of pumps is also a better idea just in case one fails (although I have never seen an Iwaki seize before). I like your novel approach to building the tank and would love to see pix of it once you have it set up. It's interesting to say the least

 

[liquid]

You also may want to take a look at this: http://www.reefs.org/library/pumps

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, love your design.

3/4 " Pvc doesn't allow for 700 gallons per hour of flow if I read your post correctly.

I have 2, 1" PVC drains in my tank and they are about maxed at 750 gal/hour

any more water and they get really noisy, and believe me they are noisy already

A novel idea having the small tank on top, and one that I have been considering for the top of my 55 gal corner bowfront

One Idea is to let the flow through the sump and refuge be lower and have either powerheads or closed loops for added circulation

BTW what did you use to do those drawings with?

HTH bryan

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, and could you explain why you are timing the powerheads with the lights?

Bryan

 

[gabemerrill]

Brian,
Thanks for the info. I use MS Viseo, a pretty cool tool. As far as the powerheads I figured that I would want more flow in the day, but at night (or feeding times) turning the powerheads off reduces the current. The 50 gallon came with a 1 inch bulkhead for the overflow and flexible tubing, I'm going to hard plumb it, but I guess I have to do some calculations that I hoped to avoid. But better to find out now than when water goes everwhere. I just got a CPR CS50 for the 30 long, which a 3/4 inch pipe slips into and a 1 inch screws to (i think), but its rated to 600 gph. If what you say is true then I need to plumb both tanks to the sump. Anyone else have any thoughts??

 

[Anonymous]

You should definitly do some calculations, you will thank yourself later.

There is a difference between the size used for a pump and the size used for a gravity drain. With the suction of the pump under water it can actually pull water in and then push it out, with Gravity the only power for your drains, it takes a lot bigger size pipe to achieve the same flow.

I have a pump that puts out 750 gph at the head my tank is at.

if I cover one of my 1" bulkheads, the tank will overflow.

I wish I had done some more figuring cause I think mine are still too small. The faster the water drains, the more noise

HTH Bryan