Flow rates

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

How much turnover do I need to run a bean animal? I got 29 gallon. I’ve got a 300 gallon pump right now and it not strong enough to keep it flowing.

blaxsun · Jan 4, 2023

For most tanks you want around 3-5x flow (or more).

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

Then I would have enough. But the bean animal seems to use more for sure.

blaxsun said:
For most tanks you want around 3-5x flow (or more).

blaxsun · Jan 4, 2023

fancy_fish101 said:
Then I would have enough. But the bean animal seems to use more for sure.

You can always have more flow (it never hurts). As long as the fish aren't struggling...

KStatefan · Jan 4, 2023

A 300 GPH pump is not going to pump 300 GPH with head losses

Troylee · Jan 4, 2023

What matters is the size of the plumbing.. bean animal is nothing more than the creators name.. it’s a herbie style with a extra emergency drain.. I used to run all those crazy things now I just have a single full siphon drain and no emergencies… tank is super quiet.. I have a cover over my drain and never had an issue with a drain getting clogged! I know it’s a possibility and we prepare for the worst but it works for my application lol..

nereefpat · Jan 4, 2023

fancy_fish101 said:
How much turnover do I need to run a bean animal? I got 29 gallon. I’ve got a 300 gallon pump right now and it not strong enough to keep it flowing.

fancy_fish101 said:
Then I would have enough. But the bean animal seems to use more for sure.

What do you mean here? Your overflow box is emptying? If so, you would need to close the gate valve more. It might help to describe your overflow a little more, or get a picture.

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

KStatefan said:
A 300 GPH pump is not going to pump 300 GPH with head losses

Yes, I’m just saying that’s the gph it is. It’s probably doing at most 150 gph

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

Troylee said:
What matters is the size of the plumbing.. bean animal is nothing more than the creators name.. it’s a herbie style with a extra emergency drain.. I used to run all those crazy things now I just have a single full siphon drain and no emergencies… tank is super quiet.. I have a cover over my drain and never had an issue with a drain getting clogged! I know it’s a possibility and we prepare for the worst but it works for my application lol..

I use 3/4 pipe.

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

When the siphon kicks in on main it sucks all the water out of the chamber. Not leveling, I been adjusting it so 2 can take some put 1 still takes it all. After a while it like pulls more water. Sorry not the best at explaining

nereefpat said:
What do you mean here? Your overflow box is emptying? If so, you would need to close the gate valve more. It might help to describe your overflow a little more, or get a picture

Troylee · Jan 4, 2023

fancy_fish101 said:
I use 3/4 pipe.

It wouldn’t take much to run the drain full sphion
But you’d have to throttle it back quiet a bit with a gate valve unless you up the flow to 800gph or so..

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

nereefpat said:
What do you mean here? Your overflow box is emptying? If so, you would need to close the gate valve more. It might help to describe your overflow a little more, or get a picture.

Yeh I’ll probably up the flow because I’m almost having to close it all the way.

Troylee said:
It wouldn’t take much to run the drain full sphion
But you’d have to throttle it back quiet a bit with a gate valve unless you up the flow to 800gph or so.

Troylee said:
It wouldn’t take much to run the drain full sphion
But you’d have to throttle it back quiet a bit with a gate valve unless you up the flow to 800gph or

nereefpat · Jan 4, 2023

fancy_fish101 said:
When the siphon kicks in on main it sucks all the water out of the chamber. Not leveling, I been adjusting it so 2 can take some put 1 still takes it all. After a while it like pulls more water. Sorry not the best at explaining

Do you have a gate valve on the main (siphon) drain? You'll have to close it until the water level in the overflow is where you want it. Likely have to have the valve almost closed all the way.

fancy_fish101 · Jan 4, 2023

nereefpat said:
Do you have a gate valve on the main (siphon) drain? You'll have to close it until the water level in the overflow is where you want it. Likely have to have the valve almost closed all the way.

Yes, I’m using a ball valve for now. Gonna change it out later.

KStatefan · Jan 4, 2023

150 gph will not take a very big opening. At a three foot drop it is about a 1/4" diameter hole. A 3/4" ball vave might be very hard to get adjusted correctly.

pledosophy · Jan 4, 2023

fancy_fish101 said:
Yes, I’m using a ball valve for now. Gonna change it out later.

I have done what you are doing. The gate valve really is necessary for it to work IME

The amount of water going into the tank won't have to increase, and probably shouldn't.