Need more flow

[foxhuntr]

Can anyone tell me how to increase my flow from my overflows ???? I have a 200 gallon DD cube with a corner overflow in both back corner....I have a 1 1/2 durso overflow pipe in each corner with 1" return pipes..... a mag 18 return pump..... now I need to run a chiller and got a mag24 to run everything but my overflow pipes wont keep up with the mag24..... I need to find a new way of getting more water volume from the overflows to feed to my sump..... do I need another style of standpipe other than the durso ?? can onyone help me out ??

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Fox,
Why would you need more flow in the sump? IMO, I prefer the sump to only run 4 to 6x an hour which allows the skimmer/reactors to have more contact with the sump water. If you are looking for more flow in the tank, look at some power heads like tunze or ecotech.

 

[Reefing Madness]

T off the Mag Drive return, going back to the sump, add a gate valve, you fine tune this so to match your overflows. Or you get a lower GPH pump.

 

[foxhuntr]

I have plenty of water movement in the tank with 2 mp40's and 2 karolia 1500's ..... I just need a flow rate for my chiller and return...... if I run both the chiller and returns with the one pump I barely have any water exiting the overflows......right now I have a mag 18 on my overflows and a mag 12 running thru my chiller..... I have to have a min of around 900 gph flowing thru my chiller and I don't think I have that...that's why I wanted to go with a mag 24 and the overflows cant keep up

 

[Reefing Madness]

Right, now add a T off that MAG 24, make that line go back to the Sump, add a Gate or Ball Valve, with this you can open and close off the water going back to the sump, and fine tune the water going back to the DT. The more you open the valve going back to the sump, the less water will return to the DT, and visa versa.


http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html
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To avoid too much flow to your tank, in case your pump is too powerful, you can put a "tee" in your return plumbing, and an elbow pointing straight back down into your sump. Then you put a ball valve on that. If the valve is wide open, the majority of your water will go straight back into your sump. The more you close the valve, the more water goes up to the tank. This is the best system, because your pump will never feel a restriction and it won't shorten the lifespan of your pump.

 

[AZDesertRat]

No.Teeing water back to the sump is not advised. It draws more power, creates more heat and is much noisier than simply installing a ball valve in the discharge line of the return pump. By restricting the return pump you reduce the work being done by the pump so it draws less power, creates less heat since it is not working as hard and it will last longer and run quieter. Centrifugal pumps are not harmed in any way by doing this and in many cases it makes the pump more efficient getting it closer to the sweet spot on its operating curve. Marc (melev) is a great resource and I link to that sump article often but he has the pump idea wrong. He needs to study Bernouli's Theory and The Laws of Affinity to understand why it is not the right thing to do. A simple Kill A Watt meter will show it is not correct.

 

[Reefing Madness]

No.Teeing water back to the sump is not advised. It draws more power, creates more heat and is much noisier than simply installing a ball valve in the discharge line of the return pump. By restricting the return pump you reduce the work being done by the pump so it draws less power, creates less heat since it is not working as hard and it will last longer and run quieter. Centrifugal pumps are not harmed in any way by doing this and in many cases it makes the pump more efficient getting it closer to the sweet spot on its operating curve. Marc (melev) is a great resource and I link to that sump article often but he has the pump idea wrong. He needs to study Bernouli's Theory and The Laws of Affinity to understand why it is not the right thing to do. A simple Kill A Watt meter will show it is not correct.

You can fight that one out with Melev. Its been done for years with no issues for most that I know.

 

[AZDesertRat]

It is an old method used before we started thinking about energy efficiency and power savings. Pumps and pumping systems are my profession and have been for 38 years now, I am not wrong on this one. Get a Kill A Watt meter and try it or I will loan you one if you want, we are close.