Ecotech Vortech Flow Rate Calculation in Random Modes

[dmw913]

Ok, first, apologies if this a total basics question and I'm just missing it somehow! I did an archives search and didn't find what I was looking for.

Trying to dial in my flow rate within the tank. Figuring out flow rate for return pump or single speed powerheads makes sense to me as it is a constant flow but I'm struggling with the calculations for the Vortechs inside the display. My current analysis is the following:

Red Sea Reefer 250 = Advertised as 54 gallons but Ecotech calculator gives me 61 (curious)
Two MP40s (one on each side of tank) (Obviously a ton of pump but MP10s don't stick on the 1/2" glass.
Desired flow rate = 40x So I'm looking at roughly 2200 gallons per hour

Question: How to calculate from here taking into account having two pumps and randomized modes? I envision an anti-sync Apex program in reef crest or pulse so am I just going to figure out the percentage off of max for the pump and bump it up a little to account for the points of lower flow?

Any help would be very appreciated.

See you at MACNA next weekend!

Denise

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Ok, first, apologies if this a total basics question and I'm just missing it somehow! I did an archives search and didn't find what I was looking for.

Trying to dial in my flow rate within the tank. Figuring out flow rate for return pump or single speed powerheads makes sense to me as it is a constant flow but I'm struggling with the calculations for the Vortechs inside the display. My current analysis is the following:

Red Sea Reefer 250 = Advertised as 54 gallons but Ecotech calculator gives me 61 (curious)
Two MP40s (one on each side of tank) (Obviously a ton of pump but MP10s don't stick on the 1/2" glass.
Desired flow rate = 40x So I'm looking at roughly 2200 gallons per hour

Question: How to calculate from here taking into account having two pumps and randomized modes? I envision an anti-sync Apex program in reef crest or pulse so am I just going to figure out the percentage off of max for the pump and bump it up a little to account for the points of lower flow?

Any help would be very appreciated.

See you at MACNA next weekend!

Denise

MP 10's should stick to 1/2" glass

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ok, first, apologies if this a total basics question and I'm just missing it somehow! I did an archives search and didn't find what I was looking for.

Trying to dial in my flow rate within the tank. Figuring out flow rate for return pump or single speed powerheads makes sense to me as it is a constant flow but I'm struggling with the calculations for the Vortechs inside the display. My current analysis is the following:

Red Sea Reefer 250 = Advertised as 54 gallons but Ecotech calculator gives me 61 (curious)
Two MP40s (one on each side of tank) (Obviously a ton of pump but MP10s don't stick on the 1/2" glass.
Desired flow rate = 40x So I'm looking at roughly 2200 gallons per hour

Question: How to calculate from here taking into account having two pumps and randomized modes? I envision an anti-sync Apex program in reef crest or pulse so am I just going to figure out the percentage off of max for the pump and bump it up a little to account for the points of lower flow?

Any help would be very appreciated.

See you at MACNA next weekend!

Denise

When using two pumps you want to always figure what flow at what percentages you're going to have and whether you're going to have the pumps go opposite or in sync. For example, you may have two pumps that combined are rated for 9,000 gph at 100% each, but if one pump is at 50% and the other is at 100% you're only pushing 6750 gph. So if you want to do 2200 gallons per hour you'd want to set each MP40 at around 40% which will always keep you at just over 1800 GPH each in opposite mode. Because as one reaches 40% the other is going to spin down to around 10 which will hold you around 2250 GPH. Or so I'm lead to believe that's how it works.....I may be wrong ;Shamefullyembarrased

 

[dmw913]

MP 10's should stick to 1/2" glass

Ecotech website is clear they do not stick to 1/2" glass and operate properly as are other anecdotal reports.

Additionally, I had a spare MP10 and tried to install it last weekend. It stuck fine until you turned it on. After about an hour of running in reef crest it would separate and wet side would fall. After an entire day of this, it was clear an MP10 is not a viable solution.

 

[dmw913]

When using two pumps you want to always figure what flow at what percentages you're going to have and whether you're going to have the pumps go opposite or in sync. For example, you may have two pumps that combined are rated for 9,000 gph at 100% each, but if one pump is at 50% and the other is at 100% you're only pushing 6750 gph. So if you want to do 2200 gallons per hour you'd want to set each MP40 at around 40% which will always keep you at just over 1800 GPH each in opposite mode. Because as one reaches 40% the other is going to spin down to around 10 which will hold you around 2250 GPH. Or so I'm lead to believe that's how it works.....I may be wrong ;Shamefullyembarrased

Makes perfect sense. I'll get to my kid's football game and do the math while they are warming up!

Anyone else want to weigh in on @crabs_mcjones math? Makes sense to me.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ecotech website is clear they do not stick to 1/2" glass and operate properly as are other anecdotal reports.

Additionally, I had a spare MP10 and tried to install it last weekend. It stuck fine until you turned it on. After about an hour of running in reef crest it would separate and wet side would fall. After an entire day of this, it was clear an MP10 is not a viable solution.

Any chance you want to get rid of that MP10

 

[dmw913]

Any chance you want to get rid of that MP10

Just missed it. Sold it earlier this week in dry goods forum.