Which pump do I need for my sump?

[Charlotte Kiely]

So my new tank is going on order tomorrow and I need to think about a pump to go in my sump.

The main tank is 500 litres and the sump is 215 litres and I am looking to buy a Eheim pump unless there is another people use that is better. But confused by which one I need to buy in terms of the power etc?

Help ;Nailbiting

 

[Dom]

The first thing to consider is the height from the pump location to the top of your tank. That is what is called the "head". It refers to the height that the pump must push water to get it back in the tank.

So when you select a pump, look at it's ratings. Usually the manufacturer will provide a chart that tells you how many gallons/liters per hour the pump will provide at different head heights.

So if your head height is 100 cm, and you want to turn over your tank volume 10 times an hour, then you would want a pump rated to do 5000 liters at a height of 100 cm. As your head height increases, the total water volume turnover decreases.

 

[Charlotte Kiely]

The first thing to consider is the height from the pump location to the top of your tank. That is what is called the "head". It refers to the height that the pump must push water to get it back in the tank.

So when you select a pump, look at it's ratings. Usually the manufacturer will provide a chart that tells you how many gallons/liters per hour the pump will provide at different head heights.

So if your head height is 100 cm, and you want to turn over your tank volume 10 times an hour, then you would want a pump rated to do 5000 liters at a height of 100 cm. As your head height increases, the total water volume turnover decreases.

I am totally confused Haha... this is the info on their site if this gives anything useful? The tank is 48"x 30"x 24"

 

[WVNed]

I would probably use a Sicce Syncra 4.o on that tank. I am not familiar with Eheim pumps.

 

[Captain Quint]

I would probably use a Sicce Syncra 4.o on that tank. I am not familiar with Eheim pumps.

I've used both and like both.

 

[garbled]

I am totally confused Haha... this is the info on their site if this gives anything useful? The tank is 48"x 30"x 24"

So what you posted said the stand was 30" high, and the tank is 24" high, so your head height for looking at pumps is going to be around 54" give or take. You are measuring how high the vertical lift is. When you look at pumps, there are little graphs (if there aren't, look at a different pump) that say "at this height, the gph will be X". So then you have to decide what you want your gph turnover through the sump to be.

Usually this is dependent upon what gph the overflow is rated for. The specs on your tank didn't say, but maybe elsewhere on the site you got it does? You don't want to exceed that number by too much.

My advice would be to get a DC controllable pump. Something that lets you adjust the power of the pump a bit, so you can modify the flow rate up or down to match the overflow setup. It will be a little more forgiving of calculation mistakes. You should also ask the tank mfg/seller what the recommended gph turnover through the sump would be.

 

[Charlotte Kiely]

So what you posted said the stand was 30" high, and the tank is 24" high, so your head height for looking at pumps is going to be around 54" give or take. You are measuring how high the vertical lift is. When you look at pumps, there are little graphs (if there aren't, look at a different pump) that say "at this height, the gph will be X". So then you have to decide what you want your gph turnover through the sump to be.

Usually this is dependent upon what gph the overflow is rated for. The specs on your tank didn't say, but maybe elsewhere on the site you got it does? You don't want to exceed that number by too much.

My advice would be to get a DC controllable pump. Something that lets you adjust the power of the pump a bit, so you can modify the flow rate up or down to match the overflow setup. It will be a little more forgiving of calculation mistakes. You should also ask the tank mfg/seller what the recommended gph turnover through the sump would be.

Thank you so much that’s really helpful! I’ll message them to see wha they advise

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I would look at Eheim 1262 pump. I will depends on how much room you have in your sump, a lot of sump that is where they scrimp on, they make them to small to be useful.