pdiehm
Valuable Member
I'm looking to upgrade my return pump from the Sicce 5.0. Main reason is I'm adding a Frag tank to be fed off the return line.
Right now, feeding my refugium housed in the sump, I'm getting roughly 750 gph to the display tank. Now, that seems perfectly fine, however my beananimal overflow drain piping is 1.5" and my gate valve on the siphon drain is literally 1/2 turn from being fully closed. If I add a frag tank to this, that siphon gate valve will probably be closed completely.
The design of the return plumbing probably isn't the most efficient as there's a few 90's in there, but it is what it is. the frag tank return line would be about a 4' run to the planned output.
So I figure there's 3 options for me:
1) Change the drain piping to 1" and rebuild that from 1.5" (not really a big fan of this option)
2) Add a stand alone pump for the frag tank
3) Buy a stronger pump that can feed the refugium, the frag tank and at least keep the gate valve on the drain as open as it is now.
Was looking at the waveline pumps, and still may, but I have some questions about long term reliability. Looking at the Ecotech M1, however, I wonder if at the end of the day the net gain is 0 because if my math is right, just the return (not feeding the fuge and the frag tank isn't built just yet), at about 5' head, the gph is 1500. add in the fuge and it probably is in the 1100-1200 range. Adding in the Frag tank with the run and T, takes the flow to the display at about 700-800?
Or since the M1 has a higher head pressure threshhold, is my estimations too conservative?
Right now, feeding my refugium housed in the sump, I'm getting roughly 750 gph to the display tank. Now, that seems perfectly fine, however my beananimal overflow drain piping is 1.5" and my gate valve on the siphon drain is literally 1/2 turn from being fully closed. If I add a frag tank to this, that siphon gate valve will probably be closed completely.
The design of the return plumbing probably isn't the most efficient as there's a few 90's in there, but it is what it is. the frag tank return line would be about a 4' run to the planned output.
So I figure there's 3 options for me:
1) Change the drain piping to 1" and rebuild that from 1.5" (not really a big fan of this option)
2) Add a stand alone pump for the frag tank
3) Buy a stronger pump that can feed the refugium, the frag tank and at least keep the gate valve on the drain as open as it is now.
Was looking at the waveline pumps, and still may, but I have some questions about long term reliability. Looking at the Ecotech M1, however, I wonder if at the end of the day the net gain is 0 because if my math is right, just the return (not feeding the fuge and the frag tank isn't built just yet), at about 5' head, the gph is 1500. add in the fuge and it probably is in the 1100-1200 range. Adding in the Frag tank with the run and T, takes the flow to the display at about 700-800?
Or since the M1 has a higher head pressure threshhold, is my estimations too conservative?
