Return pump selection

[John4710]

Curious for anyone’s thought on what return pump to bye for a 120 gallon reef ready tank that is located approximately 15 feet from the sump which is located in the garage. Total head is estimated to be 20 feet. Any suggestions what external pump to purchase.

 

[don_chuwish]

How are you figuring head pressure? Seems like a lot unless there is some significant vertical gain...

 

[Potatohead]

What is the budget?

 

[mfinn]

Curious for anyone’s thought on what return pump to bye for a 120 gallon reef ready tank that is located approximately 15 feet from the sump which is located in the garage. Total head is estimated to be 20 feet. Any suggestions what external pump to purchase.

Since the sump is in the garage and the distance is more than usual, I would suggest a Reeflo pump. Or similar type.
But I am also curious how you figured your head pressure.

 

[ScottB]

Here is my favorite head pressure calculator.

Note: horizontal run IS NOT a factor. Just vertical run, 90 degree, 45s, Ts, reducers etc.

Unless your garage is under the house (like mine) I am curious how you have that much HP.

Note, that flow input is gallons per MINUTE, not per hour.

Pump Calculator | Pentair AES

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pentairaes.com

 

[splitting_lanes]

Here is my favorite head pressure calculator.

Note: horizontal run IS NOT a factor. Just vertical run, 90 degree, 45s, Ts, reducers etc.

Unless your garage is under the house (like mine) I am curious how you have that much HP.

Note, that flow input is gallons per MINUTE, not per hour.

Pump Calculator | Pentair AES

Pentair is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of our business. Whether you need system design, technical service or unrivaled equipment-you can count on us.

pentairaes.com

It’s pretty far off, when you enter GPH. Lol

 

[ScottB]

It’s pretty far off, when you enter GPH. Lol

Yeah, I did that the first time. I think the answer was infinite. So I cut it in half the second time and the calculator recommended head pressure required much larger pump. Had my eyes on this one for a while:

 

[John4710]

How are you figuring head pressure? Seems like a lot unless there is some significant vertical gain...

Tank will be sitting on a stand five feet above the floor. The plumbing will then pass through the floor to the crawl space fo additional 1-2 feet. Then the piping will travel under the house to the garage for an additional 12-15 feet to the sump.

I have read the following;
10 feet of horizontal length is equal to 1 foot of head
90 degrees are 1 foot of head
1’ of vertical is 1’ of head.
But some are saying horizontal length is not used. I would assume you would have to include the friction of the 10 feet of pipe as head loss. Or I maybe wrong.

 

[John4710]

What is the budget?

I would like to keep it under $600 for the return pump.

 

[mfinn]

Tank will be sitting on a stand five feet above the floor. The plumbing will then pass through the floor to the crawl space fo additional 1-2 feet. Then the piping will travel under the house to the garage for an additional 12-15 feet to the sump.

I have read the following;
10 feet of horizontal length is equal to 1 foot of head
90 degrees are 1 foot of head
1’ of vertical is 1’ of head.
But some are saying horizontal length is not used. I would assume you would have to include the friction of the 10 feet of pipe as head loss. Or I maybe wrong.

I would think that a Reeflo pump ( under $600) , spa flex, and a gate valve would do the trick.

 

[ScottB]

Tank will be sitting on a stand five feet above the floor. The plumbing will then pass through the floor to the crawl space fo additional 1-2 feet. Then the piping will travel under the house to the garage for an additional 12-15 feet to the sump.

I have read the following;
10 feet of horizontal length is equal to 1 foot of head
90 degrees are 1 foot of head
1’ of vertical is 1’ of head.
But some are saying horizontal length is not used. I would assume you would have to include the friction of the 10 feet of pipe as head loss. Or I maybe wrong.

I misspoke. Lateral runs DO in fact have some loss. If I use that calculator with 1" pipe, 10gpm, 10 feet of run, all else zero, I get 0.6ft of head pressure.

 

[lapin]

I say Reeflow dart/snapper gold

 

[splitting_lanes]

Yeah, I did that the first time. I think the answer was infinite. So I cut it in half the second time and the calculator recommended head pressure required much larger pump. Had my eyes on this one for a while:

I did that in spite of reading your warning about GPM.

they should update that calculator for those of us with less than stellar reading comprehension.

 

[mfinn]

There is also the Iwaki MD-100 RLT.
These things are nearly bullet proof.
It's not uncommon to see these pumps lasting 10-15 years+.

 

[John4710]

I say Reeflow dart/snapper gold

This is awesome. Bulk Reef Supply is suggesting to use Reeflo Barracuda/ Hammerhead. It just seems like a lot of pump.

 

[John4710]

There is also the Iwaki MD-100 RLT.
These things are nearly bullet proof.
It's not uncommon to see these pumps lasting 10-15 years+.

Is the Iwaki MD-100 RLT noisy? I have read others who say this pump is noiser than most.

 

[Potatohead]

I would also go Iwaki. Its not as quiet as in sump pump but it's not really loud either, and it's in the garage.

 

[mfinn]

Is the Iwaki MD-100 RLT noisy? I have read others who say this pump is noiser than most.

It's not a quiet pump by todays standards. But since this would be out in a garage, I didn't think it mattered that much.
But it pushes water. Total head is 39'
The Japanese motor series is supposed to be quieter than the American version.

Some people say the new Reeflo pumps are fairly quiet, but when I first set up my 233, I bought a new Dart/Snapper Hybrid pump. It was located in my stand in my dining room. It was noisy, but it had a low end hum that I never got use to.
If it had been out in my garage, I wouldn't have heard it.

 

[lapin]

This is awesome. Bulk Reef Supply is suggesting to use Reeflo Barracuda/ Hammerhead. It just seems like a lot of pump.

FLOW CHART ALL PUMPS

 

[John4710]

It's not a quiet pump by todays standards. But since this would be out in a garage, I didn't think it mattered that much.
But it pushes water. Total head is 39'
The Japanese motor series is supposed to be quieter than the American version.

Some people say the new Reeflo pumps are fairly quiet, but when I first set up my 233, I bought a new Dart/Snapper Hybrid pump. It was located in my stand in my dining room. It was noisy, but it had a low end hum that I never got use to.
If it had been out in my garage, I wouldn't have heard it.

Perfect thank you! I will definitely look into this pump.