Return pump usage

[primo21]

Do any of you not run your return pump 24/7? Running a Reeflo Barracuda hybrid @ ~350w and was wondering if turning it off at night would cause any issues in the tank. will still have the powerheads running which do provide surface agitation for oxygen exchange. Looking for ways to reduce energy bill. House has central air/heat that i keep in the low 70s year round so temps stay pretty stable.

System - 300g basement sump jebao SCP-180 and PP-20 wavemakers

thanks.

 

[blaxsun]

Close to 24/7. I slow it for three feedings and stop or one coral feeding for about 30 minutes every day. And the occasional maintenance or water change.

 

[outhouse]

Do any of you not run your return pump 24/7?

I used to run an iwaki 24/7 for my basement pump. And electricity cost drove me to a Jebao dcp 10000 which has 18' of head pressure. I now run 50W for my 24/7 at like 45%. You need a new pump or you can use bricks to raise your sump higher to reduce head pressure. No way would I run that greedy pig 24/7. Im right at 300g as well

You do want to run 24/7 it makes for a more stable water parameters during the night day switch in chemistry.

 

[primo21]

had a dcp20000 and it did not give me enough flow so i switched to the barracuda

 

[outhouse]

Dang you must have the tank a few floors up, thats quite the rise if your not getting 400 to 700 gph

 

[jda]

PanWorld 150/Blueline 55 or PanWorld 200/BlueLine 70 will save you some watts. The PW150/BL55 is 28 feet of head, at 170 watts, but at your head, probably more like 140/150 watts when slowed down by the head. Barracudda is a horrible pump for head, IMO... works with brute force only, IMO.

The 200/70 will use a more watts, I would not use it unless you have to. I would estimate that you can get 600/700 GPH up one story with the 150/55, but a lot depends on elbows and stuff. I use these, so I know. Getting your sump up to chest height on some cinder blocks can help a lot... plus easier to work on.

I also used a Laguna 2900, or something like that, for a submersible that worked well from basement sump to main floor - sump was elevated and it was a straight shot with 3/4 or 1" (I forget) flexible hose (no elbows). I got more head out of it than the box said. Fluval SP6 also worked for me on the same application.

 

[outhouse]

Getting your sump up to chest height on some cinder blocks can help a lot

Exactly where I went, and suggested. And another tip is when running DC pumps, use 1 1/4 pvc which increases flow. I had to turn my dcp 10000 down to 45% in the basement. Lucky I have the top of sump 3' from joices. He could also use 2 DC pumps a floor up. thats 160W max if he had to run 100%. the electricity savings pay for the pump in a single year. Im 30 years in, im so happy i ditched the Iwaki

 

[primo21]

that is only 2x through the sump. i have a 300g system. I have 17' of head with a couple elbows and a T to split the return to 2 loc lines. i am set with the pump and pretty happy with the flow i am getting. really just looking for opinions on running it 24/7 or if i can shut it down overnight. thanks.

 

[jda]

Shutting off the return pump is the last thing that I would do. I am not willing to risk gas exchange, pH issues with different levels of ambient co2 on the two levels, potential heating/cooling problems and my CaRx and other stuff dumps into the sump.

I am sure that you know about the reliability issues with ReeFlo pumps. I would keep any pump running for a return, but if you turn this one off, it might not come back on one day.

 

[nereefpat]

Never would I ever shut my return pump off. That is the heart of the system.

Have you measured the actual consumption of the pump with a clamp-type amp meter or something like a kill-a-watt? As earlier stated, centrifugal pumps use less power under more dynamic head.

I have cheap public power here, but running a 350 watt pump at full power would only cost me about 84 cents a day.

 

[ying yang]

I at the moment wouldn't turny return pump off at night,reason being heaters and protein skimmer are in sump also so stops these being connected to dt at night and sump water would go stagnant every night unless put a power head in every section of sump which some wont fit one in so i personally wouldn't