Sump Return

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 13, 2018

I've been looking all over for information on this, but how is everyone running their sump return? I mean, what size and type of bulkhead are you using, and what plumbing are you using in the tank to direct flow and the such? I'm using 1 1/4 inch pipe from the DT to the sump in a Bean Animal setup, but from the return pump to the DC I don't have much to go on. I was hoping to use 1 inch or 3/4 inch on the return. This will be used on a 90 gallon tank, and I was shooting for about 800-950 gph in turnover.

jda · Sep 13, 2018

I use 3/4" ID soft vinyl tube (less elbows) with either a a bulkhead or sometimes even an over-the-back nozzle.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 13, 2018

jda said:
I use 3/4" ID soft vinyl tube (less elbows) with either a a bulkhead or sometimes even an over-the-back nozzle.

That inside plumbing, what do you use? I can't do an over the edge nozzle, i have to drill because the tank is the weird custom thing. I'm mostly confused about which bulkhead, and how the nozzle pieces fit into things.

jda · Sep 13, 2018

A 3/4 inch bulkhead with the appropriate fittings (loc line on the tank side and just Home Depot fittings on the back) should be fine for that kind of GPH. The smaller the bulkhead and pipe, the more velocity from the return.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 13, 2018

jda said:
A 3/4 inch bulkhead with the appropriate fittings (loc line on the tank side and just Home Depot fittings on the back) should be fine for that kind of GPH. The smaller the bulkhead and pipe, the more velocity from the return.

Great! Thanks. I'm going to use dual returns, as in, one on each side of the tank, and run 1 inch from the pump to a Y fitting, and 3/4 from the Y to the bulkheads to the lockline stuff. Should be good. I was having a hard time getting the sizing information.

jda · Sep 13, 2018

You cannot really screw this up unless the pump that you choose is a super-low wattage DC flow pump that will puke with even a little bit of head. If you are using a decent pump in the 1200-1500 GPH range, then it should be able to power around 900 GPH after all of that.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 13, 2018

Going with a Jebao DCP-5000. I should be good.

mcarroll · Sep 13, 2018

Curious why not select an AC pump with a solid warranty?

They are ideal return pumps.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 13, 2018

mcarroll said:
Curious why not select an AC pump with a solid warranty?

They are ideal return pumps.

DC pumps are quieter, and vibrate less. Figured id give this one a go. Everyone who has one seems quite pleased with them.

George Lopez · Sep 13, 2018

5000 won't give you what you are looking for after 2 meters of head there is only about 528 gph of flow, i'm using ing the 10,000 and get about 1000gph in my 90 at 100% so if you want around there the the DCP-10000 is more of what you want.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 13, 2018

George Lopez said:
5000 won't give you what you are looking for after 6ft of head there is only about half of the flow, i'm thinking the 10,000 and get about 1000gph in my 90 at 100% so if you want around there the the DCP-10000 is more of what you want.

Not sure i can return it at this point, but we'll see.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 14, 2018

George Lopez said:
5000 won't give you what you are looking for after 2 meters of head there is only about 528 gph of flow, i'm using ing the 10,000 and get about 1000gph in my 90 at 100% so if you want around there the the DCP-10000 is more of what you want.

I was able to return the pump yesterday, with no time to spare. I also cut the weir just now. I thought the slots were 1/4 inch, but they weren't. No bother, it'll be just fine.

mcarroll · Sep 17, 2018

DirtDiggler2823 said:
DC pumps are quieter, and vibrate less. Figured id give this one a go. Everyone who has one seems quite pleased with them.

It would be interesting to know how true that really is. IME noisy pumps are either installed wrong or defective. Doesn't matter if they're AC or DC. (Which are BOTH really very much the same AC pumps, just with slightly different power circuitry for control.)

You really don't have to look too far to find folks less than pleased with any widely-used pump, BTW. If you didn't find those folks for your brand, you didn't look hard enough.

I missed it if these facts were already posted:

What's the vertical height the pump will have to cover?
Can you guess what the total length of plumbing will be?
You're trying to flow the sump for a 90 gallon display, correct?

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 17, 2018

mcarroll said:
It would be interesting to know how true that really is. IME noisy pumps are either installed wrong or defective. Doesn't matter if they're AC or DC. (Which are BOTH really very much the same AC pumps, just with slightly different power circuitry for control.)

You really don't have to look too far to find folks less than pleased with any widely-used pump, BTW. If you didn't find those folks for your brand, you didn't look hard enough.

I missed it if these facts were already posted:

What's the vertical height the pump will have to cover?

Can you guess what the total length of plumbing will be?

You're trying to flow the sump for a 90 gallon display, correct?

The plan is to go from 1-1/4 inch to a Y to two 3/4 inch pipes. Total length should be between 6-8 feet, the vertical rise is about 5 feet. This is for a 90 gallon tank. I'm debating incorporating a check valve before the Y, though.

KStatefan · Sep 17, 2018

If you have not yet you might want to calculate the flow of your overflow. Just looking at it might have trouble flowing 950 gallons per hour.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 17, 2018

KStatefan said:
If you have not yet you might want to calculate the flow of your overflow. Just looking at it might have trouble flowing 950 gallons per hour.

Running a bean animal setup, with dual herbie standpipes at 1-1/4. Hopefully that is enough. I just drilled 4 holes for that last night, so that particular bridge has already been crossed.

KStatefan · Sep 17, 2018

DirtDiggler2823 said:
Running a bean animal setup, with dual herbie standpipes at 1-1/4. Hopefully that is enough. I just drilled 4 holes for that last night, so that particular bridge has already been crossed.

That is good, just looking there did not seem to be enough area to flow that much.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 17, 2018

KStatefan said:
That is good, just looking there did not seem to be enough area to flow that much.

The slots are 1/4 wide. I figure that would be enough for what i was doing with this tank.

DirtDiggler2823 · Sep 17, 2018

@KStatefan @mcarroll @George Lopez

So I've been thinking about the return plumbing, and since I believe that there will be significantly more pressure on the return pipes, than there will be on the drainage pipes. I was planning on going with SCH 40 PVC, but now I'm thinking SCH 80 is more appropriate. I also know that a lot of people use the threaded hose and clamps for their returns as well. What are your opinions on this? If I were to go with SCH 80, would I need a SCH 80 bulkhead, or would the ABS bulkhead still work? Planning on going from 1-1/2 inch pipe to two 3/4 inch pipes using a T-joint, or a Y-joint if I can find t he proper one.

mcarroll · Sep 17, 2018

DirtDiggler2823 said:
The plan is to go from 1-1/4 inch to a Y to two 3/4 inch pipes. Total length should be between 6-8 feet, the vertical rise is about 5 feet. This is for a 90 gallon tank. I'm debating incorporating a check valve before the Y, though.

A 90 shouldn't take more than one of these Quiet One pumps to get around 500 gph:

If you really need 1000 gph for some reason bump up to a 5000:

You get an even better warranty with Mag pumps:
https://www.dannermfg.com/supreme-aqua-mag-magnetic-drive-water-pumps

A Mag 7 should get you around 500 or for around 1000 you'd want a Mag 12 or better.