Help me choose a return pump

[Scott.h]

Right – once the system is running.

Some updated comparisons....forgot to include the tee before, and this time I used long-radius 90º's.

i'm not really sure what those chart measurements really mean. Do you think based on the above criteria that that pump would work if I changed out my 6 feet of vertical with something bigger, and went into two 45s then downsized to a 1 inch ?

 

[MaiReef]

It may just work

 

[mcarroll]

They're just to show how big a difference there is between 1" and 1.5"....even 2" gives less resistance, but it's not as colossal of a difference. ;)

Where exactly would you do the switch down to 1"?

 

[Scott.h]

They're just to show how big a difference there is between 1" and 1.5"....even 2" gives less resistance, but it's not as colossal of a difference. ;)

Where exactly would you do the switch down to 1"?

i guess somewhere between the first bend and where the horizontal goes into the wall. Really I'd like to do it right after the bend so I don't have to change my hangers a second time

 

[mcarroll]

Well, you do have to decide if it's worth it or not – and it seems like some degree of testing might be warranted before you go sealing everything up! :)

But if you do make the switch to 1.5" (or bigger), then I think you'd really want 1.5" PVC all the way to the drop. Ideally, all the way to the Tee....let the Tee be your reducer.

(Those flow charts should be what you use to size your pumps BTW....is that what you meant? They're often in liters per hour instead of GPH....or even in gallons per minute. GPH/60 = GPM and LPH/4 ~ GPH)

 

[Scott.h]

Well, you do have to decide if it's worth it or not – and it seems like some degree of testing might be warranted before you go sealing everything up! :)

But if you do make the switch to 1.5" (or bigger), then I think you'd really want 1.5" PVC all the way to the drop. Ideally, all the way to the Tee....let the Tee be your reducer.

(Those flow charts should be what you use to size your pumps BTW....is that what you meant? They're often in liters per hour instead of GPH....or even in gallons per minute. GPH/60 = GPM and LPH/4 ~ GPH)

Yes, so if I did that you'd think my head pressure would be low enough to get 800 gph on the reef octopuses pump?

 

[mcarroll]

It seems likely....at least looks worth trying on paper! :)

This (second) upgrade in plumbing will certainly maximize your pump's output regardless!

 

[Scott.h]

The RO Varios-6 that I talked about before would give you all the flow you would need. It is controllable and is APEX ready, you don't need to buy other stuff to connect it, just a cable.

Which cable do I need and where do I get it? As retarded as it sounds I guess I'll redo as much of the plumbing as I can in 2" and go with the Varios. I might as well get the cable now too. Do you use a battery back up for that? I'm wondering if it's compatible with ecotechs battery unit? Or takes its own?

 

[bif24701]

Which cable do I need and where do I get it? As retarded as it sounds I guess I'll redo as much of the plumbing as I can in 2" and go with the Varios. I might as well get the cable now too. Do you use a battery back up for that? I'm wondering if it's compatible with ecotechs battery unit? Or takes its own?

What!? going bigger won't hurt you but if you already did 1" that's going to be fine. You only have 6' of total vertical climb correct? And 12 feet horizontal? That honestly isn't all that much. The return pump is important sure but 200 GPH isn't going to make or break your filtration. If you redo it, go with 1 1/4". The fittings, valves and stiff cost less. How many out lets do you have? What is the size of the final bulkhead for your output in the tank? Doing 1 1/4" up to the point it hits the tank or even if you leave it at 1" will still save you in friction loss.

 

[bif24701]

I already proved on page one that with the Varios-6 and 1 1/4" PVC plus fittings you will have 1300 GPH, actual will be around 1000 depending on outlet size, other fittings, unions, and/or valves. You don't need 1600+GPH flow through your sump.

 

[Scott.h]

What!? going bigger won't hurt you but if you already did 1" that's going to be fine. You only have 6' of total vertical climb correct? And 12 feet horizontal? That honestly isn't all that much. The return pump is important sure but 200 GPH isn't going to make or break your filtration. If you redo it, go with 1 1/4". The fittings, valves and stiff cost less. How many out lets do you have? What is the size of the final bulkhead for your output in the tank? Doing 1 1/4" up to the point it hits the tank or even if you leave it at 1" will still save you in friction loss.

according to the flow calculator going from 1" to 2" is the difference of 9.6 to 6.3 head pressure. On paper that's big for 20 bucks worth of plumbing. Weather or not it's true I'm not sure.

 

[bif24701]

Here is that cable. For when you get an APEX.

http://www.coralvue.com/icecap-y-module-cable

 

[Scott.h]

I already proved on page one that with the Varios-6 and 1 1/4" PVC plus fittings you will have 1300 GPH, actual will be around 1000 depending on outlet size, other fittings, unions, and/or valves. You don't need 1600+GPH flow through your sump.

this is what I'd have at 2"... According to paper. The mag 18 is a slightly larger pump but they don't have the Varios listed.

 

[bif24701]

i'm not really sure what those chart measurements really mean. Do you think based on the above criteria that that pump would work if I changed out my 6 feet of vertical with something bigger, and went into two 45s then downsized to a 1 inch ?

Take the calculated head loss, find it on the chart and that will indicate your flow.

 

[bif24701]

according to the flow calculator going from 1" to 2" is the difference of 9.6 to 6.3 head pressure. On paper that's big for 20 bucks worth of plumbing. Weather or not it's true I'm not sure.

Go for it.

 

[Scott.h]

What!? going bigger won't hurt you but if you already did 1" that's going to be fine. You only have 6' of total vertical climb correct? And 12 feet horizontal? That honestly isn't all that much. The return pump is important sure but 200 GPH isn't going to make or break your filtration. If you redo it, go with 1 1/4". The fittings, valves and stiff cost less. How many out lets do you have? What is the size of the final bulkhead for your output in the tank? Doing 1 1/4" up to the point it hits the tank or even if you leave it at 1" will still save you in friction loss.

I designed and did the whole deal myself. The fish has its own 12/2 ,20 amp breaker to itself. 14 plugs.. 8 above the fuge, 2 next to it at the mixing station, and 4 inside the wall, a set on each side for lights, powerheads, and backup heater. There is even a drain hole in the floor 2 feet from my sump sloped floor to it. And a RO line next to that. I was able to tweak all those things I didn't like about my other system. No more extention cords, six strip outlets, or carrying water. It's why I'm making such a technical decision with the pump, plumbing and such. I made a 1.75 hole in the side of the sump for the bulkhead. Now it makes me wonder if that will fit a 1.25 inch bulkhead. I might have to upsize the 1" to 1.25 as I believe that pump has a 1.25 inlet..

 

[bif24701]

I designed and did the whole deal myself. The fish has its own 12/2 ,20 amp breaker to itself. 14 plugs.. 8 above the fuge, 2 next to it at the mixing station, and 4 inside the wall, a set on each side for lights, powerheads, and backup heater. There is even a drain hole in the floor 2 feet from my sump sloped floor to it. And a RO line next to that. I was able to tweak all those things I didn't like about my other system. No more extention cords, six strip outlets, or carrying water. It's why I'm making such a technical decision with the pump, plumbing and such. I made a 1.75 hole in the side of the sump for the bulkhead. Now it makes me wonder if that will fit a 1.25 inch bulkhead. I might have to upsize the 1" to 1.25 as I believe that pump has a 1.25 inlet..

Nice! Get it right then lol!

I think the Varios-6 does have a 1.25 inlet and outlet.

I use 1.25 from the return to my tank, at the tank it was T'd from 1.25" to two 1" lines into to bulkheads for my two outlets. From the bulk heads its 1" to a 90 that reduces to .75 and .75 lockline outlets. My outlets are about about 5' vertical from pump, about 6-7' horizontal total, 4 90's, 3 unions, plus the fitting I mentioned above. With the Varios-6 at max power it provides the perfect amount of flow. In fact i don't think my drain could handle more. I have a SRO-5000 (10") skimmer and it works so well I struggle with low nutrients, and have 5 hungry Tangs.

I love the fact I have programmed the pump to run at low speed during feeding, there is no flow, may be just a trickle. That keeps the water level in the display and no back siphoning. Then the pump returns to normal speed after 10 min automatically. Love it.

I'm even considering replacing the Bubble blaster on my skimmer with a Varios-6 skimmer pump.

 

[DansReef.co.uk]

Ecotechs Vectra gets my vote .. its silent in my system. Ive never ran a return pump before with zero noise and this thing makes you scared the tanks turned off! - Winner winner Ecotech dinner.

 

[Scott.h]

Ecotechs Vectra gets my vote .. its silent in my system. Ive never ran a return pump before with zero noise and this thing makes you scared the tanks turned off! - Winner winner Ecotech dinner.

I agree it does sound like an awesome pump based on my research. It was my number one pick going in. But I'll say ecotech really screwed up by not making it apex ready and using those jacked up fittings that cost extra to make it "normal. But aside from it being $50 more the real deal breaker is that I want everything on this build to be able to run itself and communicate with eachother to my phone. Battery backups, apex, and dosing pumps. In today's market they really need to add that feature.

 

[Scott.h]

Nice! Get it right then lol!

I think the Varios-6 does have a 1.25 inlet and outlet.

I use 1.25 from the return to my tank, at the tank it was T'd from 1.25" to two 1" lines into to bulkheads for my two outlets. From the bulk heads its 1" to a 90 that reduces to .75 and .75 lockline outlets. My outlets are about about 5' vertical from pump, about 6-7' horizontal total, 4 90's, 3 unions, plus the fitting I mentioned above. With the Varios-6 at max power it provides the perfect amount of flow. In fact i don't think my drain could handle more. I have a SRO-5000 (10") skimmer and it works so well I struggle with low nutrients, and have 5 hungry Tangs.

I love the fact I have programmed the pump to run at low speed during feeding, there is no flow, may be just a trickle. That keeps the water level in the display and no back siphoning. Then the pump returns to normal speed after 10 min automatically. Love it.

I'm even considering replacing the Bubble blaster on my skimmer with a Varios-6 skimmer pump.

So are you meaning you are running a manifold running your skimmer now? You have more fittings, but it almost sounds like a slightly smaller plumbed version of mine. What size Is the tank?

I ended up re plumbing everything yesterday, again lol, in 1.5" all the way. With the bigger pipe I was able to get longer pipe hangers also, reducing my vertical slightly. Something we never considered, I feel having that 1.5 foot drop back into the tank will create vacuum, and on paper should cancel out equal vertical on the other side. I had 2" pipe in my hand but it just seemed a little ridiculous, despite the calculator. Redoing the math now I should be 5.81 head pressure and around 1100 gph on high with the various 6. More then I need, yet there if I want it. And yes that feed mode will be utilized. It will be nice not to have to unplug and get that hard startup I'm getting upstairs with that mag 24. So you control that feed mode at the pump controller, or have it doing that through the apex?