Return from Sump, adequate as powerheads?

[scotty37]

I have just purchased a new tank, 120 gallon 4 foot. The return from the sump comes straight up the overflow, and has this black piece attached to it. The black piece makes a V and is fully adjustable. It goes out about halfway into the tank. Will this have enough water force on each end to take the place of the work of a powerhead?

 

[reefkprz]

I think you will still need a power head or two to get appropriate flow for a reef.

 

[scotty37]

I planned on 2 or 3. Im just hoping this will have enough power so that I only have to have one more powerhead in the tank. Ive never had a sump before, so I have no idea what I am looking at for water pressure here.

 

[reefkprz]

totally depends on your return pump, but for good turn over and flow through out the tank I would guess you'll need at least two. maybe only one if you have a kick a$$ return pump. but I think that'll leave you at the bottom end of the required turnover rate.

 

[scotty37]

So im better off to just get a regular return pump and 2 powerheads? Just out of curiousity, how well does a regular return pump push water out a double ended deal like this?

 

[reefkprz]

depends on the pump. there is no exact answer, but they all lose serious GPH with every inch vertyicle they have to pump water also every turn seriously impedes flow, a 1200 GPH pump can be reduced to 500 just by pushing up 4 feet and taking two turns. (thats not exact but you get the idea) splits also reduce flow rate. so logic says the closer you can have your sump to the same height as your tank the better for return flow rate.

 

[scotty37]

Thats really gonna burn me. Id say the Turn on the vertical is at about 6 foot off the ground. The stand is 40 inches, and its about another 2 foot to the turn, then the V thing is about 15 inches. Is that a standard item, the V, what is it called?

 

[triga22]

I would use a mag. I love mine and it dosent seem to loose much. What my dad did is he put a converter on it so it uses a bigger tube, that makes it pump better.

 

[scotty37]

whats a mag? Sorry completely new to this part of the world lol

 

[reefkprz]

the v stuff is called loc line. mag is a brand of pump they are nice units thay are built for what you want I would look into them.

 

[scotty37]

Im learning

 

[trainfever]

It all depends on the size of your drain pipe. A 1" drain pipe can handle 600 gph, so anything over that on a return pipe will cause a flood. Find out what size your drain is and make sure the pump is less than that. Dont forget to calculate the head pressure and subtract that. Also for every 45 degree bend, you add another foot of head pressure.That size tank has a 5' of head alone. Add to that another 2 foot of head for the 45 out of the return pipe and the "Y" connected to the loc line tubing(the black thing). So if your drain is 1", then you would need a pump that would give you less that 600 gph at 7 foot of head.

 

[triga22]

How can I hook up a Loc Line with a pvc return? I use an elbow but I want to direct the flow.. How can I make this possible? (Sorry to hijack,I already have enough threads out there)

 

[scotty37]

Not hijacking... I think I got all my questions answered, minus the exact specifics which is up to me.

 

[trainfever]

Originally Posted by TriGa22
How can I hook up a Loc Line with a pvc return? I use an elbow but I want to direct the flow.. How can I make this possible? (Sorry to hijack,I already have enough threads out there)
You would need a 45 with one end with a female thread and a slip fit on the other end. This would slip on the top of your return pipe. You would then need a loc line adapter which has a male thread on one end and the ball on the other end. This would screw into the 45. You would then install a "Y" onto the adapter and finally a section of loc line tubing onto each leg of the "Y".