return too large? URGENT

dirk_brijs

dirk_brijs

Member
wanting to install a new return pump
I have a 160Gl system with sump I was thinking on installing a 2600Gl return pump as I am using about 10+feet of plumbing now would this still be over kill or about right to use such a heavy pump? or maybe not even enough??
Please advise as I will be buying tomorrow
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I think that pump will be too much....for example I have a mag18 on my 225G....and my hoses run from the sump into the tank....not 10' , but still
 
rastaangel

rastaangel

Member
the return pump I use for my system is rated at double what is flowing into my sump... I bought large so I dont have to upgrade late, I just put a T in the return line that dumps back into the sump and adjusted with a valve so the pump is flowing at full rate but only allows so much to be returned
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
i have a pump thats rated for more than my overflow and i regret it.
I had ti set one time and it was good for weeks but little did i know it was a trickle too much. well that trickle eventually added up until the water got over the top of the teeth on my overflow box and allowed the turbo snails to get in there.
Turbo snails and overflow U-tubes are about the same size as I found out when one decided to eat the algae that was on the inside of the tube and plug it up. thus overflowing my tank.
Luckly I happen to be in the living room when the water started pouring voer the edge.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
The Mag 24 at 10' has a flow rate of 1100gph. Not sure what pump you have, but probably a marginally more efficient external pump? So figure about 1500gph at 10', and there's additional loss for any elbows or T's. So if your tank has two drain lines, they would be more then enough to handle that pump.
 
Just in case, just plumb in a ball or gate valve, and reduce the flow. There is no issues limiting the flow of a pump on the pump's return side.
 
S

saxman

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by rastaangel http:///forum/thread/379910/return-too-large-urgent#post_3304075
the return pump I use for my system is rated at double what is flowing into my sump... I bought large so I dont have to upgrade late, I just put a T in the return line that dumps back into the sump and adjusted with a valve so the pump is flowing at full rate but only allows so much to be returned
+1...this is also a good way to tune the tank to "max quiet" as you can match the in/out flows perfectly.
 

 
And FWIW, it depends on the type of pump you have as to whether or not restricting it is an issue.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I find max quiet (which isn't very quiet on my overflow) to be alot less than what the overflow can actually handle.
 
S

saxman

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/379910/return-too-large-urgent#post_3304497
I find max quiet (which isn't very quiet on my overflow) to be alot less than what the overflow can actually handle.
I'm not talking about dialing it down to a trickle...we use the valve in conjunction with properly tuned Durso-style standpipes, but the standpipes do most of the work in that respect.
 
 
 
Quote:
you could get a little giant .these pumps can be valved down if you need to.
 
We're running LG's on two of our systems, and I still "T" them off rather than restricting them...just my preference.
 
 
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Joe has spoken!
I wish he would have told that to the guy i bought the tank from (came with a quiet one 4000 and a 600 GPH overflow, ugh)
 
S

saxman

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/379910/return-too-large-urgent#post_3304831
You NEVER want your return gph pump to be higher then your overflow boxes gph
Good to see ya Joe!
 
The trouble is, one can calculate loss until they're blue in the face, but it will never be super accurate (I've tried, and it never works out exactly), so I tend to go a bit large on the pumps and add the bleed valve to the sump on the return. Sometimes that valve only trickles, and sometimes it's a little more, but that's OK with me and that's how we roll.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I'm going on the safe side on my next pump and just matching it to the overflow, then with head loss you know you're safe. it doesnt have to match, it just has to be less.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///forum/thread/379910/return-too-large-urgent#post_3304771
I'm not talking about dialing it down to a trickle...we use the valve in conjunction with properly tuned Durso-style standpipes, but the standpipes do most of the work in that respect.
 
 
 
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///forum/thread/379910/return-too-large-urgent#post_3304481
+1...this is also a good way to tune the tank to "max quiet" as you can match the in/out flows perfectly.
 

 
And FWIW, it depends on the type of pump you have as to whether or not restricting it is an issue.
I agree never had an issue with restricting pumps on the output side.....Some pumps can actually benefit from being throttled down...I always go larger than I need within reason, only for the fact you can build a manifold and run other equipment off of the pump without loosing what you actually want going back to the DT.
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Yea, not sure there is a commercial available pump, sold for aquarium use, where restricting the output side is an issue.
 
 
 
With a HOB style overflow, you have to go larger and throttle it down. As going low will cause air bubbles to build up and eventual loss of the siphon, because as sax pointed exactly calculations are impossible, and if you want to stick to a certain pump manufacture, they only offer so many models.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
I have mine necked down to almost nothing right now (due to noise) and I don't have any airbubbles at all. I have a clear tube adn can see whats going on in there.
and if you see bubbles building you can always just stick your siphone hose in there and delete them.
 
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