Return pump & flow

[Steve Maxwell]

Hello,

I'm trying to get a 75g set up. Is a Sicce Syncra 5.0 Aquarium Pump, 1321 gph too powerful? I'm going to put it in my sump/refugium that I'm wanting about 500gph flow (is that too high?) I will have it in my sump/refug below my DT. I'm looking at about a 4' vertical return (so that would be about a 400 gph loss) to a siphon stopper (no idea what gph loss that would be, but I estimated about 180 gph loss). So I would have a total loss of around 600 gph. So if the pump is adjustable I can get it to put out around 1100 gph...that would be a 600 gph loss in return for about 500 gph being pushed out my overflow and down to the sump/refugium...correct? I'll get some extra powerheads for movement in the DT, but just wanted to see if my return pump math is correct or way off.

 

[oscarinw]

I think 500gph is about correct but that pump will deliver about 1,100 at 5ft. (Just a guesstimation) so definitely too much. I would also advice against having a check valve on your return line. First reason is the undetermined flow loss and second because you should not count on a check valve to avoid overflowing your sump. Best way to go instead is to have room for all your backflow to be accomodated in your sump. To mimimize backflow volume put the return terminals very close to the working surface level of your display and perhaps drill a small hole under the spigot.
I think the best pump for your function would be an Eheim 1260.
Best

 

[Steve Maxwell]

Thanks! I've got a 16" synergy reef overflow that I'll be using and I'm using a siphon stopper for the upper portion of the water return so no need for a check valve. Question though...how do you figure the pump will deliver approx 1,100 at 5 ft? I thought the flow loss was approx 100 flow loss per foot. So 4 foot would be 400 loss, which would mean the pump is delivering about 921 gph (not taking into consideration the flow loss of the siphon stopper). Right? Sorry for all the questions, I really new to this and very paranoid on my first time around!

 

[mfinn]

I would go with the sicce syncra 3 over the 5

 

[Steve Maxwell]

I would go with the sicce syncra 3 over the 5

Why? The 3 only puts out 714 gph...after the 400 loss, that leaves only 314 gph...not taking into consideration the flow loss from the siphon stopper. I must be missing something!

 

[oscarinw]

Look over at this page http://sicceus.com/aquarium.html
If I read it correctly, it says that at a bit under 1.5 mts (about 4ft), it will deliver about 4200 liters, which equates to about 1100 gallons.

 

[Steve Maxwell]

Ahhhh...so the 2 would put out slightly more than 1,000 which could be enough...depending on the flow loss of the siphon stopper. I've emailed them to see if they have calculated this or not...hopefully they have.

 

[chessplayer86]

ah I wish there would be an easier way to calculate all this things. Like a database of pumps with calculators, I also need to check this, I have not gotten to this point on my buildup though.

 

[Steve Maxwell]

ah I wish there would be an easier way to calculate all this things. Like a database of pumps with calculators, I also need to check this, I have not gotten to this point on my buildup though.

Right! You think there would be a calculator for this...plug in your desired flow, return line length, number of 45 degree elbows, etc...and it give you the size pump you need as well as some recommendations. That would be great for us newbs!

 

[mfinn]

Why? The 3 only puts out 714 gph...after the 400 loss, that leaves only 314 gph...not taking into consideration the flow loss from the siphon stopper. I must be missing something!

I prefer a slower flow. Usually between 3x to 5x the tank volume. Cut down on noise, likely hood of micro bubbles back in the display, cheaper pump and less energy used are some of my reasons.
I'm curious where the headloss of 400 gph comes from.
Plus, this really isn't a exact science.
There is no right way or wrong way for the most part.

There is a headloss calculator on reef central, but it hasn't been updated with newer pumps in years.

 

[Steve Maxwell]

I prefer a slower flow. Usually between 3x to 5x the tank volume. Cut down on noise, likely hood of micro bubbles back in the display, cheaper pump and less energy used are some of my reasons.
I'm curious where the headloss of 400 gph comes from.
Plus, this really isn't a exact science.
There is no right way or wrong way for the most part.

There is a headloss calculator on reef central, but it hasn't been updated with newer pumps in years.

I was going by this thread: http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/aquarium-plumbing-basics/
But I don't know how accurate it really is. I was just estimating 100 gph loss per vertical foot...didn't know the better pumps have charts showing loss per vertical foot. Through my sump I'm only aiming for about 500 gph, which is roughly 6.5x my DT volume...will likely try to adjust the flow lower through the sump/refug as my skimmer only has a max flow of ~198 gph.

I'm still trying to figure what I want the flow in my DT to be, hopefully I can decide tonight so I can look to see if there are any good powerheads on sale.

I wish this was an exact science...us programmers like things exact

 

[mfinn]

I was going by this thread: http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/aquarium-plumbing-basics/
But I don't know how accurate it really is. I was just estimating 100 gph loss per vertical foot...didn't know the better pumps have charts showing loss per vertical foot. Through my sump I'm only aiming for about 500 gph, which is roughly 6.5x my DT volume...will likely try to adjust the flow lower through the sump/refug as my skimmer only has a max flow of ~198 gph.

I'm still trying to figure what I want the flow in my DT to be, hopefully I can decide tonight so I can look to see if there are any good powerheads on sale.

I wish this was an exact science...us programmers like things exact

There are many ways to do things in this hobby. That's the beauty of it.

 

[Steve Maxwell]

There are many ways to do things in this hobby. That's the beauty of it.

True...but I wish some of the basics were a little more cut-and-dry for us newbs.

 

[chessplayer86]

as I always tell my colleagues at work. a complicated process should be made easy enough to understand for the operator not to make mistakes. BTW I am the quality guy haha

 

[vince17]

5.0 works just fine on my 65 gallon tank imho