return pump size?

[whip1]

Hi, I have a new 180 gallon reef with a 75 gallon sump/fuge and I am concerned the return pump is too small because I can only open the valves about 2/3 of the way open and I am having trouble with particales in the main display. the return pump is a 1800gph any ideas?
thank you

 

[Paul_N]

What is your overflow rated at? Is it particles or micro bubbles? If it's micro bubbles it could be the way your sump it set up.

 

[whip1]

What is your overflow rated at? Is it particles or micro bubbles? If it's micro bubbles it could be the way your sump it set up.

it has two 1 inch corner over flows I dont know what its rated.
how would I find out?
they are particals not micro bubbles.

 

[Paul_N]

it has two 1 inch corner over flows I dont know what its rated.
how would I find out?
they are particals not micro bubbles.

I think you get around 800 gph with a 1" so your around 1600 gph with 2. If anything I would think that with particles/detritus making it back to the tank it means that it doesn't have time to settle in the sump or get skimmed out so too low flow would not be your problem. You could always try a filter sock on the overflow from the tank.

Also you have to account for loss of flow for the pump for every foot so you are not getting 1800gph from the pump probably more like 1500 or 1400 if it is under the stand.

 

[Paul_N]

Here is a great link for flow rates through various types of overflows and different size plumbing for future reference:

http://modernreefkeeping.com/?p=861

 

[whip1]

I think you get around 800 gph with a 1" so your around 1600 gph with 2. If anything I would think that with particles/detritus making it back to the tank it means that it doesn't have time to settle in the sump or get skimmed out so too low flow would not be your problem. You could always try a filter sock on the overflow from the tank.

Also you have to account for loss of flow for the pump for every foot so you are not getting 1800gph from the pump probably more like 1500 or 1400 if it is under the stand.

Thanks Paul! each pipe is about 5 ft down to the sump. maybe I am not being patient enough we have been doing alot of work on the tank and moving corals around. my skimmer seems to be doing a good job but I have no idea what it is rated for either I got it free from a guy on cl here is a pic of the skimmer its about 2 1/2 feet tall and is pulling a good dry foam the cup is about 12 inches around and the pump on the skimmer says 500 gph. I was also thinking of replacing the koralia mag 7's with 2 mp40's because the 7's seem to blow really hard in only one area and nothing ever settles. wouldn't we want to be able to open the valves fully for good flow? as it is now we can't because the pump can't keep up without over flowing the sump.do you think this skimmer is big enough?

 

[whip1]

xlent thank you for the link!

 

[Paul_N]

That is a EuroReef skimmer and not sure what model.

Check their website and see if you can pick it out: Protein Skimmers, Calcium Reactors, Turnkey Aquarium Systems, Media Reactors, Sumps and Systems by Euro-Reef

 

[boehm742]

as it is now we can't because the pump can't keep up without over flowing the sump.

How much water is in your sump at normal operation? Do you have a pic of your sump?

 

[mr_X]

how is it that your sump is overflowing? what you are explaining is impossible. the return pump pushes exactly the amount of water back to the tank as what comes in the sump. it's what dictates the amount. if you put a smaller pump on the tank, less water will come down to the sump. if you put a larger pump on the system, more water will come into the sump. what valves are you talking about opening up fully? do you have ball valves on your drains? if so, yes. they should be open all the way. if you want to slow down the flow from the tank to the sump or back up, you want to choke back the pump itself, at it's exhaust port.

as for the koralias v.s. the vortechs, they are going to do the same thing. swapping them out is not going to solve your issue, although i don't understand why you would want to solve it. the powerheads are doing precisely what you want them to do- keep detritus suspended until the filtration has a chance to remove it. you don't want anything to settle.

 

[LegoZ81]

whip1 we really need to see some pics of your setup, the overflow box/etc. If you just have a hole drilled in the tank somewhere low without an overflow box or standpipe it will not work. you can not reliably rate match feed vs drain and will always have a HIGH change of overflow. so please post a picture of the drain in the main tank and of the sump