help with gph turnover ratio
- Thread starter king kole
- Start date
fraggle rock
Member
this is an article I found on GPH and pump sizing edit this to fit im not the author
•Flow rate. All of our pumps have the flow rate listed in gph (gallons per hour). The flow rate will be affected by the amount of head pressure. Consult the Head Pressure and Pump Performance section below for information on determining how much head pressure you will have. Once you've determined the head pressure, you can use the performance charts listed for most of pumps to determine how much output in gph you will have.
All our pumps can be used as salt water aquarium fish tank pumps, reef tank pumps, fresh water planted tank pumps or fish tank pumps.
Aquarium Water Pump Desired Flow Rate
The optimum tank "turnover rate" is approximately 6 to 7 times per hour for saltwater fish-only tanks, 10 to 12 times per hour for saltwater reef tanks and 4 to 5 times for freshwater tanks. For example, the pumps on a 50 gallon reef tank should be a total of 500 to 600 gph (after head pressure is taken into account). When determining which pumps you needs to achieve your desired flow rate you should include all the pumps in your system. This includes the powerheads in the tank and any pumps running power filters and canister filters. Although your protein skimmer pump may have significant flow, since protein skimmers have a great deal of head pressure you will not get much flow from your protein skimmer pump.
To determine how much flow you will get from any given pump, you can calculate the head pressure (the calculation is provided below) and refer to the performance charts provided for most pumps. To see an example of how head pressure effects gph view the Performance Chart for the Rio Aqua Pumps. Head pressure is listed as "MAX. HEAD".
Aquarium Water Pump Head Pressure and Pump Performance
As the head pressure increases the gph will decrease. Use the following guide to determine the amount of head pressure in your application in order to determine how much flow you will get from any pump.
•Each 90-degree bend in the plumbing will add about one foot of head due to friction. Each 45-degree bend will add 1/2 foot head pressure. This includes any bends in filters, chillers and uv sterilizers.
•As a result of friction, each 10-foot horizontal run of pipe will add a foot of head pressure.
•In an open system (a system using a sump), each foot of vertical distance from the intake of the pump to the return into the aquarium will add one foot of head pressure. The vertical distance in a closed system does not affect head pressure. A closed system is one where the pump draws water directly from the aquarium and returns water directly to the aquarium.
Using the example of the Performance Chart for the Rio Aqua Pumps, if the distance from the inlet of the aquarium pump to the discharge point in the display tank were five feet and there were two 90 degree bends in the plumbing and five feet of horizontal pipe, then the head pressure would be approx. 7.5 feet.
"The best advice I can offer is this: Even if you are on a tight budget, do not scrimp on the pump. This is the most important component of the system, and its failure can spell disaster."
John H. Tullock, "Natural Reef Aquariums"
o is good
•Flow rate. All of our pumps have the flow rate listed in gph (gallons per hour). The flow rate will be affected by the amount of head pressure. Consult the Head Pressure and Pump Performance section below for information on determining how much head pressure you will have. Once you've determined the head pressure, you can use the performance charts listed for most of pumps to determine how much output in gph you will have.
All our pumps can be used as salt water aquarium fish tank pumps, reef tank pumps, fresh water planted tank pumps or fish tank pumps.
Aquarium Water Pump Desired Flow Rate
The optimum tank "turnover rate" is approximately 6 to 7 times per hour for saltwater fish-only tanks, 10 to 12 times per hour for saltwater reef tanks and 4 to 5 times for freshwater tanks. For example, the pumps on a 50 gallon reef tank should be a total of 500 to 600 gph (after head pressure is taken into account). When determining which pumps you needs to achieve your desired flow rate you should include all the pumps in your system. This includes the powerheads in the tank and any pumps running power filters and canister filters. Although your protein skimmer pump may have significant flow, since protein skimmers have a great deal of head pressure you will not get much flow from your protein skimmer pump.
To determine how much flow you will get from any given pump, you can calculate the head pressure (the calculation is provided below) and refer to the performance charts provided for most pumps. To see an example of how head pressure effects gph view the Performance Chart for the Rio Aqua Pumps. Head pressure is listed as "MAX. HEAD".
Aquarium Water Pump Head Pressure and Pump Performance
As the head pressure increases the gph will decrease. Use the following guide to determine the amount of head pressure in your application in order to determine how much flow you will get from any pump.
•Each 90-degree bend in the plumbing will add about one foot of head due to friction. Each 45-degree bend will add 1/2 foot head pressure. This includes any bends in filters, chillers and uv sterilizers.
•As a result of friction, each 10-foot horizontal run of pipe will add a foot of head pressure.
•In an open system (a system using a sump), each foot of vertical distance from the intake of the pump to the return into the aquarium will add one foot of head pressure. The vertical distance in a closed system does not affect head pressure. A closed system is one where the pump draws water directly from the aquarium and returns water directly to the aquarium.
Using the example of the Performance Chart for the Rio Aqua Pumps, if the distance from the inlet of the aquarium pump to the discharge point in the display tank were five feet and there were two 90 degree bends in the plumbing and five feet of horizontal pipe, then the head pressure would be approx. 7.5 feet.
"The best advice I can offer is this: Even if you are on a tight budget, do not scrimp on the pump. This is the most important component of the system, and its failure can spell disaster."
John H. Tullock, "Natural Reef Aquariums"
o is good
florida joe
Well-Known Member
IMO if you are getting 10X you are good to go. Considering you will be adding powerheads
king kole
Member
thanks for the article! now if i could only calculate it. lets see ;overflow 2@800 less two 45% bends plus sponge filter and screen for outflow. two max drive 9.5 for inflo less 2 90% bends less one chiller less 3 90% bends at the tank on the hook on head,plus? two #4 koralias eqauls i honestly have no clue!