Is my return pump going to be too powerful?

[Harris3005]

Hi everyone,

I've kind of asked this question within another thread but I'd like to get more eyes on it if possible.

My tank is bottom drilled with a 1inch drain and 1.5 inch emergency drain set up using the herbie method and I have a Jebao DC9000 controllable return pump which does 1400 gallons per hour on its lowest setting, is the pump going to be too strong for a 1 inch drain?

The return is plumbed in on the opposite side of the tank from the overflow.

If it's too big what flow rate will I get through the 1 inch drain and what size return pump should I be looking for?

Thanks!

 

[Jimbo662]

That's the good thing about a DC pump...you can control the amount of flow.

 

[Harris3005]

That's the good thing about a DC pump...you can control the amount of flow.

Yeah but even at its lowest setting I still think it will be pushing too much back into the tank for the drain to handle? From what I can tell I can only turn it down to 60% of its total power which is still about 5,000 litres (1400 gallons) per hour. Will a 1 inch drain handle that amount of water?

 

[Xclusive Reef]

What is the tank size? you also have to factor in the amount of bends, pipe length, and if you setting up a manifold. your 1400 flow can turn into 800-900 when all said and done or less.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Yeah but even at its lowest setting I still think it will be pushing too much back into the tank for the drain to handle? From what I can tell I can only turn it down to 60% of its total power which is still about 5,000 litres (1400 gallons) per hour. Will a 1 inch drain handle that amount of water?

you can always put a gate valve on your return and tune it down.

 

[Harris3005]

What is the tank size? you also have to factor in the amount of bends, pipe length, and if you setting up a manifold. your 1400 flow can turn into 800-900 when all said and done or less.

It's a 6ft x 20" x 20" tank. The return is plumbed straight up through flexible pvc. The drain has one 90° turn. I'd rather get a better rated pump than put a gate on the return.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

It's a 6ft x 20" x 20" tank. The return is plumbed straight up through flexible pvc. The drain has one 90° turn. I'd rather get a better rated pump than put a gate on the return.

i don't think the pump is the issue for that size tank , what is it like a 150 gal tank? i would even go with a dc15000 myself. you doing the return over the tank or is it drilled on the back of the tank? If i understand you, you doing over the tank? If this is the case I do not suggest using flexible pvc, I would go hard plumbed all the way, this way if you did want to add a union or gate valve you can..

 

[Harris3005]

i don't think the pump is the issue for that size tank , what is it like a 150 gal tank? i would even go with a dc15000 myself. you doing the return over the tank or is it drilled on the back of the tank? If i understand you, you doing over the tank? If this is the case I do not suggest using flexible pvc, I would go hard plumbed all the way, this way if you did want to add a union or gate valve you can..

Even though I only have one 1 inch drain? I'm sure I'm missing something as I can't get my head around it. In my head, if the drain can handle 1000 litres per hour but my pump is pushing 5000 back up will the tank not overflow? Apologies if I'm being stupid and missing something!

 

[McArcher]

What is the tank size? you also have to factor in the amount of bends, pipe length, and if you setting up a manifold. your 1400 flow can turn into 800-900 when all said and done or less.

+1
If you already have the pump, just design your return manifold to give you necessary head to get the flow you want/need. Even with a manifold designed to minimize head, you are probably going to have 5-6' of head. I use a pump with a very similar pump curve to the dc9000 on my 10 gallon and have never had any issues. I just plumbed it with a 1/2" manifold and have it turned down to about 1/2 flow on the controller. Even with the pump turned up to full power, it doesn't overflow with a 3/4" overflow.

 

[Harris3005]

+1
If you already have the pump, just design your return manifold to give you necessary head to get the flow you want/need. Even with a manifold designed to minimize head, you are probably going to have 5-6' of head. I use a pump with a very similar pump curve to the dc9000 on my 10 gallon and have never had any issues. I just plumbed it with a 1/2" manifold and have it turned down to about 1/2 flow on the controller. Even with the pump turned up to full power, it doesn't overflow with a 3/4" overflow.

Thanks but I don't have a manifold and don't plan to install one. My reactors and skimmer run off their own pumps so I don't think I'll need one? I don't really have any experience with plumbing so I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible. The return is flexible PVC which comes over the top and is drilled into the glass brace at the top left corner of the tank.

 

[Forsaken77]

Your emergency drain will get plenty of use, lol. Just kidding.

See if Marine Depot sells your pump because they usually have a graph with every pump that shows how many gallons/liters per hour the pump will achieve after whatever head height you have. A 90 degree bend adds 1 foot of head height, fyi. Plus the other 5 or so feet or meters you have it going up.

 

[Mr_Banana_Pants]

Why don't you use the 1" drain for the emergency overflow and the 1 1/2" drain for your main overflow

 

[pirate2876]

Why don't you use the 1" drain for the emergency overflow and the 1 1/2" drain for your main overflow

This.

 

[masssnapz]

Well your 1" drain is going to be running 900 gph or so you should be fine if you take into account head pressure. Even at 3-4 feet your going to see a lot less than 1400 gph coming out of the returns.

 

[Harris3005]

Thanks for all the replies, on the question of the 1.5 being the main drain I asked on here a wee while ago and was told the larger pipe should be the emergency drain. I guess I'll just get everything set up and test the pump and see how I get on!

 

[Harris3005]

Apologies for bumping my own thread, just wondered if I could get more opinions on whether it would be a better idea to use the 1.5 inch as my main drain and using the 1inch for the emergency. Both my drains have fate valves on them if that makes any difference?

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Even though I only have one 1 inch drain? I'm sure I'm missing something as I can't get my head around it. In my head, if the drain can handle 1000 litres per hour but my pump is pushing 5000 back up will the tank not overflow? Apologies if I'm being stupid and missing something!

Can you post a pic of the return from the sump? I don't have it with me now but there is a calculator online to measure your flow. I am sure someone soon wi

Apologies for bumping my own thread, just wondered if I could get more opinions on whether it would be a better idea to use the 1.5 inch as my main drain and using the 1inch for the emergency. Both my drains have fate valves on them if that makes any difference?

OK I am confused as hell .. on your 6th post i said to put a gate valve to control flow and you said you you would rather not get a gate valve? did you recently install the gate valve? I would 100% sure use the 1.5 inch drain and 1 inch return. IF you already have everything plumbed WITH a gate valve I would use that and use the gate valve to lower your flow.

 

[Fishfinder]

Use the 1.5 for the main and the 1 inch for a backup

A 1.5 drain will flow a couple thousand gallons an hour with gravity

 

[Harris3005]

Can you post a pic of the return from the sump? I don't have it with me now but there is a calculator online to measure your flow. I am sure someone soon wi

OK I am confused as hell .. on your 6th post i said to put a gate valve to control flow and you said you you would rather not get a gate valve? did you recently install the gate valve? I would 100% sure use the 1.5 inch drain and 1 inch return. IF you already have everything plumbed WITH a gate valve I would use that and use the gate valve to lower your flow.

I thought you meant to put a gate valve on my return? There are gate valves on both the drains but the return is on the opposite side of the tank and comes back up and over the top, sorry for any confusion I've caused, I've never had a sump on any of my tanks before so I'm just trying to work it all out.

Here's the return:

 

[Harris3005]

Use the 1.5 for the main and the 1 inch for a backup

A 1.5 drain will flow a couple thousand gallons an hour with gravity

Ok cool, will it be just as as safe using the smaller one for the emergency drain.