Return gph and overflow

[Jrapa86]

-My Return Pump is a Sicce Syncra (don't know which version).
- PVC: Sch 40 - 3/4"
- # Elbows: 9
- # Tee's: 2
- 1 Check Valve
- Height: 3ft
- Length: 7.5ft (~91")
- Estimated Head Pressure: Unsure
- Current Reading on Flow Meter (at max): 134 gph return. Im pretty sure that is bad.

I have a COR 2000gph return pump arriving today. My aim is 5-10 passes thru the sump. My concern is the current pump is hard-plumbed with 3/4, and my overflow is a single outlet hard plumbed to 3/4 as well. To get behind the tank to install larger pipe will be incredibly difficult, near impossible.

Am I going to overload my overflow with the new pump?

Can I get away with using existing 3/4”?

 

[KStatefan]

How much flow are you wanting?

 

[X-37B]

How big is the system and why 5-10x flow?

Just use a ball valve to control flow and you should be fine. It will be needed to control your overflow anyway.

 

[14 foot reef]

-My Return Pump is a Sicce Syncra (don't know which version).
- PVC: Sch 40 - 3/4"
- # Elbows: 9
- # Tee's: 2
- 1 Check Valve
- Height: 3ft
- Length: 7.5ft (~91")
- Estimated Head Pressure: Unsure
- Current Reading on Flow Meter (at max): 134 gph return. Im pretty sure that is bad.

I have a COR 2000gph return pump arriving today. My aim is 5-10 passes thru the sump. My concern is the current pump is hard-plumbed with 3/4, and my overflow is a single outlet hard plumbed to 3/4 as well. To get behind the tank to install larger pipe will be incredibly difficult, near impossible.

Am I going to overload my overflow with the new pump?

Can I get away with using existing 3/4”?

Please be cautious with a single overflow, without emergency over flow. What will stop tank overflow if your 1 single 3/4" drain gets clogged. You really need to rethink this, as its just a matter of when, not if your tank overflows.
Lets address this main issue first before we start trying to slam even more water down a single drain.
Example, I have 4 drains, an 6 electronic floats that will turn power off to the return pumps if tank level goes too high. At the same time, my wife and I will get a text and an email letting us know tank overflow emergency.
This ensures dry carpet. One single 3/4" drain ensures wet floors and loss of animals.

 

[GarrettT]

To get behind the tank to install larger pipe will be incredibly difficult, near impossible.

There is always a way. If I can do it on my tank, you certainly can do it on yours.

https://barraquatic.net/products/bulkhead-grip-tool
Use a 2'' PVC to serve as a wrench. This is worse case scenario. If interested, I could certainly walk you through other methods of how to make it work.

 

[Jrapa86]

How much flow are you wanting?

I have 83gal total including the sump. I am still learning, and from what I’ve read, 5-10x passes through the sump per hour was recommended. So that would be 415-830gph.

 

[Jrapa86]

How big is the system and why 5-10x flow?

Just use a ball valve to control flow and you should be fine. It will be needed to control your overflow anyway.

I’ve been doing reading and overall I saw the recommendations being anywhere from 5-10x passes. Should it be something else? I have a total of 83 gal (including the sump). No livestock yet. Looking to mix fish with LPS and if possible SPS, but not hard set on anything.

 

[Jrapa86]

Please be cautious with a single overflow, without emergency over flow. What will stop tank overflow if your 1 single 3/4" drain gets clogged. You really need to rethink this, as its just a matter of when, not if your tank overflows.
Lets address this main issue first before we start trying to slam even more water down a single drain.
Example, I have 4 drains, an 6 electronic floats that will turn power off to the return pumps if tank level goes too high. At the same time, my wife and I will get a text and an email letting us know tank overflow emergency.
This ensures dry carpet. One single 3/4" drain ensures wet floors and loss of animals.

This is a really good recommendation that I am going to take to heart. My greatest challenge will be how to add an additional overflow.

 

[DCR]

I have 83gal total including the sump. I am still learning, and from what I’ve read, 5-10x passes through the sump per hour was recommended. So that would be 415-830gph.

You will be hard pressed to achieve even the lower end of this range with 3/4" return pipe and I definitely would not want to be pushing that much flow through a single 3/4" overflow. I think you are seeing that with your 134 gph measurement.

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

3/4 inch will flow approx. 660 GPH at no head. EDIT: I found somewhere else that says a 3/4 inch pipe can flow 1,380 GPH... This is at average water pressure to a house.