Return pump options

[iplumbsome]

Some of you may know this from my build thread, but I bought pretty much a complete system from a guy getting out of the hobby.

It's a 260 gallon DT. He had it set up with a 50 gallon sump and a separate stand alone refugium which I'd say is about 35 gallons, so I am dealing with a little more than 300 gallons total volume.

My question is in regards to the return pumps he was using. They seem to be in great shape and would prefer to use them at the moment to save money on buying more equipment. I have 2 Pan-world/Blueline 70 HD. They are 1750 gph each. He had them both plumbed into the system which I am assuming was for redundancy.

From the research I have done on here that is way over kill for tank turn over. I was going to plan on around 5x turnover. I have a ASM G-4XX skimmer being run by a 900 gph pump.

Should I just run one of these pumps and plug the extra hole in my sump? My initial thought was to use one pump for the 2 returns in my DT than supply my refugium and future manifold with the other.

Will that be way too much flow going through refugium? Water from refugium returns back to return pump area currently in my sump.

 

[mfinn]

Not sure what the headloss is but just one of the pumps you have might not be up to the 5x the display volume goal you want.
I would look at using both, but plumb one so that it goes to a manifold. Then run a line to the refugium.
With valves you can cut the flow down to a manageable flow rate with both pumps.

 

[iplumbsome]

Not sure what the headloss is but just one of the pumps you have might not be up to the 5x the display volume goal you want.
I would look at using both, but plumb one so that it goes to a manifold. Then run a line to the refugium.
With valves you can cut the flow down to a manageable flow rate with both pumps.

I didn't look at the head loss chart yet but it won't be much as I am only pumping 5'

 

[Breadman03]

I didn't look at the head loss chart yet but it won't be much as I am only pumping 5'

Head loss chart for the BL70.

At 5 feet of head, you'd be looking at about 1,700 gph, or about 6.67 times your display volume per hour. It seems like that would be a good option for a standalone return pump for your goals.

 

[mfinn]

Head loss chart for the BL70.

At 5 feet of head, you'd be looking at about 1,700 gph, or about 6.67 times your display volume per hour. It seems like that would be a good option for a standalone return pump for your goals.

The op said the pumps operate at 1750 gph, so only losing 50 gph with 5' of head seems a little light, IMO.
But if that is actually the case, then I agree that a single pump would work.

 

[iplumbsome]

Head loss chart for the BL70.

At 5 feet of head, you'd be looking at about 1,700 gph, or about 6.67 times your display volume per hour. It seems like that would be a good option for a standalone return pump for your goals.

So I would still have plenty if I branched off for the stand alone refugium and a manifold with the single pump?

 

[mfinn]

I didn't look at the head loss chart yet but it won't be much as I am only pumping 5'

how many fittings?

 

[JoshH]

So I would still have plenty if I branched off for the stand alone refugium and a manifold with the single pump?

I would use your second pump for the manifold and fuge.

 

[iplumbsome]

how many fittings?

I don't have it laid out yet, but just drawing it on paper if I ran everything on one pump probably 12-15 elbows and 2 tees. Not counting manifold.

 

[mfinn]

I don't have it laid out yet, but just drawing it on paper if I ran everything on one pump probably 12-15 elbows and 2 tees. Not counting manifold.

You need to figure fittings in the head loss equation.
I think I read somewhere that a pvc 90 would add as much as a foot in head loss. I could be wrong, (and I'm sure I'll be corrected).
This also may help.
http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/head-loss-calculator