Return pump
- Thread starter Sonny Logan
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mcarroll
10K Club member
Lots of great options for a typical installation. Sicce, Eheim, Mag, QuietOne....just to name a few.
How high will the return be? Will it be a simple return from the sump to the tank, with one or two outlets? We can help you pick a specific model if you want.
How high will the return be? Will it be a simple return from the sump to the tank, with one or two outlets? We can help you pick a specific model if you want.
MaiReef
Valuable Member
Which eshopps? A drilled or hangon back? A DCT6000 on the lowest setting might be too much depending upon which one and might no be enough for another and you may need a valve between the pump and the return(which isn't a bad idea anyway).
Brew12
Electrical Gru
The most important information is how much flow you want through your sump. Have you decided that yet? Once you get that piece of information, sizing a pump becomes easy.
familiar1985
Active Member
Price/cost/efficiency wise I like the quite one 4000. 1000gph at 58watts for $50 is a deal and comparable to pumps that are a much more expensive. However I don't know how accurate the claimed specs are and you will lose some gph depending on your head and plumbing.
At this price point it's also nice that it doesn't break the bank to get 2 and always have a backup on hand.
If you are trying to run 2 returns I would also consider having 2 pumps setup separately in case of failure you will always have one going.
At this price point it's also nice that it doesn't break the bank to get 2 and always have a backup on hand.
If you are trying to run 2 returns I would also consider having 2 pumps setup separately in case of failure you will always have one going.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I'm a big fan of Sicce. They are one of the few motors you can get at a reasonable price that aren't made in China.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sicce-syncra-pro-1500-gph.html
theblackpearl
Active Member
You can run a manifold on your return pump and have it send water to a refugium or a media reactor or even a skimmer.
I recomend a DC return pump, im using a jebao. DC pumps use a controller so they dont need to be ran at 100% if its not needed
Finding the right pump is all about calculating how much flow you want and how much head height you will have (5 feet). Head height pressure will lower your flow.
Then you can calculate how much flow you will need for the other stuff (refugium, media reactor)
Add it together and pick out the right pump for your application
I recomend a DC return pump, im using a jebao. DC pumps use a controller so they dont need to be ran at 100% if its not needed
Finding the right pump is all about calculating how much flow you want and how much head height you will have (5 feet). Head height pressure will lower your flow.
Then you can calculate how much flow you will need for the other stuff (refugium, media reactor)
Add it together and pick out the right pump for your application
jsker
Reefing is all about the adventure
Every one has suggestions, on top I like a DC pump and get a little bigger than you need. Then if need be one can dial the pump back. I like the waveland pumps or the ecotech DC pumps
Brew12
Electrical Gru
Yup, its all a matter of personal preference. I don't like the idea of DC pump for my return. I don't run any reactors off my return so I find the reliability of an AC pump to be more important than the controllability of a DC pump.
mcarroll
10K Club member
For flow you'd like somwhere around 2x and 4x your display size.
This means anything between 300 GPH and 600 GPH will be fine.
At 5' height and two outlets, I'm assuming about 15' of plumbing to do the job, including six 90º elbows, and one Tee fitting. (One foot up from the pump. Two feet to the back of the tank. Tee. Three feet to either side (+6ft). Three feet to the top of the tank on each side (+6'). Add nothing for the entrance to the tank assuming these calc's are conservative. Add another foot or two if you plan anything elaborate here. 1+2+6+6=15
1" plumbing will add another 2' of head pressure from friction loss for a total of 5' + 2' = 7'.
(@Brew12 is this right even on a split return? Meaning it's just vertical + friction loss (which accounts for the total length)? Or does the second return leg add additional head so it's really something more like 8' + 2' = 9'?)
Pressure Loss (psi): 0.88 Head Loss (ft): 2
Line Number:
Date: 1/27/2017
Nominal Pipe Size: 1
Pipe Schedule: SCH 40
Flow Rate (gpm): 10
Viscosity (cP): 1
Specific Gravity (water=1): 1.025
Temperature (F): 79
Pipe Roughness (ft): 0.000016
Actual Pipe ID (in.): 1.049
Fluid Velocity (ft/sec): 3.71
Reynolds Number: 30902
Flow Region: Turbulent
Friction Factor: 0.024
Overall K: 9.31
Line Number:
Date: 1/27/2017
Nominal Pipe Size: 1
Pipe Schedule: SCH 40
Flow Rate (gpm): 10
Viscosity (cP): 1
Specific Gravity (water=1): 1.025
Temperature (F): 79
Pipe Roughness (ft): 0.000016
Actual Pipe ID (in.): 1.049
Fluid Velocity (ft/sec): 3.71
Reynolds Number: 30902
Flow Region: Turbulent
Friction Factor: 0.024
Overall K: 9.31
If you upgrade to 1.5" plumbing, friction losses become insignificant. You might be able to downgrade the pump selections below by upgrading the plumbing.
Pressure Loss (psi): 0.13 Head Loss (ft): 0.3
Line Number:
Date: 1/27/2017
Nominal Pipe Size: 1.5
Pipe Schedule: SCH 40
Flow Rate (gpm): 10
Viscosity (cP): 1
Specific Gravity (water=1): 1.025
Temperature (F): 79
Pipe Roughness (ft): 0.000016
Actual Pipe ID (in.): 1.61
Fluid Velocity (ft/sec): 1.58
Reynolds Number: 20134
Flow Region: Turbulent
Friction Factor: 0.026
Overall K: 7.86
Piping Length (ft): 15
Short Radius Elbows: 6
Tee Flow Through: 1
Pipe Exit : 2
Line Number:
Date: 1/27/2017
Nominal Pipe Size: 1.5
Pipe Schedule: SCH 40
Flow Rate (gpm): 10
Viscosity (cP): 1
Specific Gravity (water=1): 1.025
Temperature (F): 79
Pipe Roughness (ft): 0.000016
Actual Pipe ID (in.): 1.61
Fluid Velocity (ft/sec): 1.58
Reynolds Number: 20134
Flow Region: Turbulent
Friction Factor: 0.026
Overall K: 7.86
Piping Length (ft): 15
Short Radius Elbows: 6
Tee Flow Through: 1
Pipe Exit : 2
Calculations from http://www.freecalc.com/fric.htm
- So from the Sicce line, I think the Syncra 4 appears to be the best fit. About $175.
- From Danner/Supreme, it looks like a Mag 9.5 would do it. About $115.
- At about $100, the Quiet One 5000 is a decent option (and a Sicce design taken to China) and the cheapest one too. Plenty of flow.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
A split return doesn't double the head. I normally model it as an extra 90deg bend moving to 50% larger pipe. Very conservative that way.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Non-whoops...nevermind...read on....
90's don't seem to have much effect at typical 2x-4x flow rates and typical PVC diameters....at least from playing around with the calculator I posted.
Higher flows and smaller plumbing both definitely seem to magnify their effect though.
So you think the effect of a second branch is also similarly minimal (not zero though) under typical flow rates?
(Making sure I read you right...tell me if I'm wrong.)
90's don't seem to have much effect at typical 2x-4x flow rates and typical PVC diameters....at least from playing around with the calculator I posted.
Higher flows and smaller plumbing both definitely seem to magnify their effect though.
So you think the effect of a second branch is also similarly minimal (not zero though) under typical flow rates?
(Making sure I read you right...tell me if I'm wrong.)
