Reefflo Hammer head DC repalcement

[JoshH]

The price I found for the Abyzz was $2200, stopped looking at that point

It's definitely a sticker shock, especially comparing to AC pumps, FWIW I'll be going with Red dragon on my next build, wish I had the need for a fish room like that lol

 

[DCR]

What is the line size of the 40 ft run? That will also have a strong effect on the pump head requirement. For 1600 gph, you need at least 1-1/2"

 

[mcarroll]

It’s under the 190 that I’m using for a refugium. Not enough room to raise it..

Move the pump up to the tabletop and work out a separate drain/return loop for the lower garage tank. You pick which tank is the "refugium" and which is the "sump"....doesn't matter.

That (minus 3ft head pressure.....total of 12') would give you at least a little more flexibility to consider some other pumps.

Technically you can put a basket and checkvalve on the Hammerhead's inlet and draw up from the lower sump....which can be reliable, but isn't ideal.

But either way would get the pump up off the floor, assuming that helps.

Maybe that's at least enough to give you some ideas. Let us know!

 

[mcarroll]

After looking at the photo some more, I think I'd run the top tank as the sump and have the pump draw straight from the tabletop through the sidewall of the sump....and the lower tank would be the refugium, with it's own gravity drain from the sump and a relatively small return pump to get water back up to the sump. YMMV

 

[zach_discus]

The plumbing for the main Tank has to go through the wall under the bench to enter the crawl space due to how the house is built (quad level). So even if the sump is on the bench, the plumbing will still have the same head height. If that makes sense.

 

[mcarroll]

Isn't there some plumbing roughed in there a couple feet over the top tank?

Doesn't necessarily matter...

From the level of the water being pumped up to the pipe exit is what you actually base head pressure on.

So a dip down in plumbing AFTER the pump is only a liability in terms of added friction loss (which is minor)....not direct head pressure.

To keep the example simple, lets assume you'll have equivalent water levels in the upper an lower tanks, regardless of function.

The table top appears to be 3' off the ground, so that means a 3' difference in head pressure in your favor.

Taking the return plumbing back down off the table to go under the house and back up to the display is not a big deal since it's only a few feet of pipe.

Make sense?

 

[Tenji]

Who is the retailer for the Red Dragon pumps. The Abyzz are just to much $$$ right now.

Hi Zach,

We retail Red Dragons, Abyzz, and a couple other options that would potentially work well for you. Our price points beat anywhere you can find online if you simply want to order a pump

Feel free to reach out via email [email protected] or give us a shout at the office 831-401-9551.

 

[zach_discus]

Isn't there some plumbing roughed in there a couple feet over the top tank?

Doesn't necessarily matter...

From the level of the water being pumped up to the pipe exit is what you actually base head pressure on.

So a dip down in plumbing AFTER the pump is only a liability in terms of added friction loss (which is minor)....not direct head pressure.

To keep the example simple, lets assume you'll have equivalent water levels in the upper an lower tanks, regardless of function.

The table top appears to be 3' off the ground, so that means a 3' difference in head pressure in your favor.

Taking the return plumbing back down off the table to go under the house and back up to the display is not a big deal since it's only a few feet of pipe.

Make sense?

Ahh yep perfect sence, that's why I post a lot of questions. Always helps to bounce ideas off others!! Thanks

 

[gcarroll]

The price I found for the Abyzz was $2200, stopped looking at that point

If the price you see for the Abyzz is $2200, then you are looking at the A400 which is a whole different beast than the Abyzz A200 and Red Dragon 230 which are comparable.

 

[Sleepydoc]

You might want to talk to @slief - he's the Royal Exclusiv support rep for the US.

 

[BillyP]

Did you try looking at pond pumps? They range up to around 20,000 gph for around $300. Which can definitely carry your load. Pond pumps are a great alternative to aquarium pumps when it comes to bigger aquariums.

 

[BillyP]

My bad, for around $200 actually

 

[TaylorPilot]

Why the need for a DC pump? An Iwaki would be perfect for this. Bullet proof motors, magnetically coupled so no shaft seals to wear out. It is not uncommon for them to run a decade or more with minimal maintenance. Plus, they are 1/6th the price of those high high end DC pumps. The only downside is that they are louder, but it looks like you have a fish room, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

 

[mcarroll]

An Iwaki would be perfect for this.

+1

Can you suggest which Iwaki model(s) would do ≥1600 GPH at 13' of head pressure?

(Iwaki has a DC line as well, tho last time I looked I couldn't find much info on it.....a call to Iwaki would be in order IMO if that's interesting.)

 

[TaylorPilot]

The MD-100RLT will be close. Check out page 3 on the link below.

https://www.iwakiamerica.com/Literature/MD_WMD/IALT00034_MDBrochure.pdf

@16' it is doing around 1680 GPH.