Head loss calculation question.

[radav88]

I have what is probably a silly question but I just want to be sure I'm doing this correctly. I have a 150 gallon tank and I've been trying to determine the amount of head loss. My plan is to have one return that will need to move water up about 5 feet vertically with a minimal amount of horizontal run that will T about half way and run to two 3/4 " bulkheads. When determining the head loss do I only consider the vertical height overall + vertical run + any elbows and other fittings? Or for example if after the T'd off section I have 2 pipes that are 2 ' long does the head loss become 7 ' in total because now you have 2 pipes that the pump is trying to push water through?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I have what is probably a silly question but I just want to be sure I'm doing this correctly. I have a 150 gallon tank and I've been trying to determine the amount of head loss. My plan is to have one return that will need to move water up about 5 feet vertically with a minimal amount of horizontal run that will T about half way and run to two 3/4 " bulkheads. When determining the head loss do I only consider the vertical height overall + vertical run + any elbows and other fittings? Or for example if after the T'd off section I have 2 pipes that are 2 ' long does the head loss become 7 ' in total because now you have 2 pipes that the pump is trying to push water through?

I could call that 6.5, assuming you have a 5-ft rise, then a tee, then presumably another 90 where it turns into the tank on each side.

 

[Uncle99]

Total Vertical height is 90% of the requirement, unless your horizontal run is to the next state.

 

[radav88]

Thanks for the quick replies. My tank is a peninsula where the return pump will be closest to the overflow/return end of the tank so it will have a minimal amount of horizontal run and just mainly vertical with a couple of bends.

 

[Quietman]

I'd add in nozzles to the above. There is horizontal head loss but it's minimal when talking reefing. More impacting would be reducing size of pipe. Of course, height, valves, nozzles, bends all add to head loss. And if you're talking flow (and why wouldn't you be) the build up of gunk on the pump impeller and pipe walls will add significant losses.

What I do (after calculating for a +/- 30% guess when purchasing) is a gallon jug and math to make sure I got it right.

Good luck.

 

[KStatefan]

Pentair has a nice calculator As others have said the height is the majority of the loss unless you have a really long horizontal run or the flow velocity is high

 

[JoshH]

Pentair has a nice calculator As others have said the height is the majority of the loss unless you have a really long horizontal run or the flow velocity is high

Great calculator! It still doesn't look like it includes frictional losses which are often over looked in a Total Head loss calculation but it does ask for horizontal run as well so it might? I wish it would say

 

[KStatefan]

Great calculator! It still doesn't look like it includes frictional losses which are often over looked in a Total Head loss calculation but it does ask for horizontal run as well so it might? I wish it would say

It is included in the pipe and fitting head loss.

 

[JoshH]

It is included in the pipe and fitting head loss.

Is it? Lol I just want to confirm before I update my go to calculator list. Still using two different calculators right now ;Nailbiting

 

[KStatefan]

Is it? Lol I just want to confirm before I update my go to calculator list. Still using two different calculators right now ;Nailbiting

What other loss besides gravity and friction is there?

 

[JoshH]

What other loss besides gravity and friction is there?

None, Just had one calculator for each one as I could never find one that did it all.

 

[radav88]

Pentair has a nice calculator As others have said the height is the majority of the loss unless you have a really long horizontal run or the flow velocity is high

Awesome calculator, thanks alot!