[Nitelife]

I am Starting this next week looking for sum input..My sump is gonna load a 1600gph blueline pump with a 1 inch dia.inlet/outlet....I was gonna go with seaswirls but they are just way to much $'s for me to nab on.So i was gonna run a 1inch pvc up thru the floor and to the top of the tank split it(= T's so all water dipurses even)Run 2 outlets pointing toward the front of the tank [email protected]/3 of tank lenth the other at 2/3 lenth.The other 2 at the ends pointing to center of tank.I am shooting for the best flow rate for SPS and total tank movement.....if ya got Any better set up,feel free to let me know.I just thoght this(4 outlets) would do the trick so i wouldn't have to use powerheads scattered here and there.

 

[hjmtv]

Sounds like a good concept. Where are your overfows? It pointless to discharge close to an overflow, you keep cleaning clean water. What size tank is this going on???

 

[Will C]

you might want a bigger pump for that as after it gets to a head of 12'-14' it wont be much then split in four well need i say more.

 

[Nitelife]

quote

Originally posted by hjmtv

Sounds like a good concept. Where are your overfows? It pointless to discharge close to an overflow, you keep cleaning clean water. What size tank is this going on???

</blockquote id="quote"> It is a 125 AGA not drilled but i have a big box over flow 2 syphin in and 2 down tubes to sump on 1 side..Flow was not the only reason for the 4 outlets from the pump,i had the samething in my head your talking about to.

 

[Nitelife]

quote

Originally posted by Will C

you might want a bigger pump for that as after it gets to a head of 12'-14' it wont be much then split in four well need i say more.

</blockquote id="quote">YES please do Will,125 gal tank cut down in gallons cuz of 4 inch DSB and 100+ LBS. in live rock,also the pump i have is a blueline [email protected]@0ft.Max. total head @39FT.So at 12.5 Ft from head at 16.5gpM as12.5 feet is what i will be traveling i will have 990GPH...As with sand and rock mentioned above,i figure i have 80 to 90GAL. Tank. water moveing at 11 to 10 X turn over.I know head loss also comes from elbows so i will be using soft pvc tube with soft bends and mounted 90's only at the tank...1 T to split right and left.With this added input Will C do ya think this will do?Or do ya think 2 Seaswirls 3/4in. would be better? Thanx for the time to read and a reply.Nitelife

 

[Will C]

ok so 900 gph estimated at that height. i think it might be a little less that that as they try to market it to make it look better i would gess it will be more like 800 after the bends and all. so 800 divided by 4 outlets so 200 gph coming out of each one isnt much for flow. and the 10x the volume inst a good measure of flow dont bother using it for calculating as you need more depending on what you will be keeping. also your overflow box will restrict how big your return pump can be. so what is the diameter of piping in the box it self? if its the 1 or 1 1/4" stuff your pump is probably as big as it can be. so i would suggest cutting it down to only 2 or 1 return and placing a closed loop or adding power heads in the tank for more flow.

 

[Nitelife]

Thanx for your input Will C

 

[marinehabitats]

Nitelife-

I agree with Will C, what is the point of having 4 returns? If you want high velocity water flow, cut it down to one return. The return should be aimed either lenthwise (longest run of tank) or banked against the glass to create a more natural water flow.

A closed loop will also avoid powerheads, but will have flow patterns similiar to your sump pump. You could put this pump on a timer (not a wave-maker device) for more random flow, turning it off and on a few times a day.

Save your money for a tunze stream system, rather than wasting them on the sea-swirl, if you feel you have to have the latest and greatest...

 

[Guest]

I have a 6060 and a 6080. These are great pumps. I only use the 6080 in my 180 during the day and have it off at night. I have a surge tank that dumps 4.5 gallons every 75 seconds via a 2.5 inch outlet. this creates a rolling wave that breaks over the surface. This ends in multiple vorticies. Very random indeed.

 

[djmacd]

I am in the middle of the same project. I just built a custon stand inthe basement as well as an acrylic sump. I have a 120 gl tank upstairs and a 60 gl sump in the basement. I just bought a Dolphin 4700 which is going to run my skimmer as well as be the return. It's been a huge project but well worth it in the end. I should be done this weekend. [D]

 

[Fignewton]

Here's a version of the basement sump set-up.

http//reefdoctor.tripod.com/premier/id20.html

It works amazingly!

 

[greenb]

I don't think splitting it such a bad idea. Maybe not 4 times but 2 maybe 3 times. I don't think the idea is to have this jet stream of water moving 800gph through tank. IMHO it's better to have 800gph moving at a slower pace. Does that make sense???

If you split it twice you'll roughly have 400gph coming out at 2 points. Still moving the same amount of water but you don't have the jet stream moving along the same path.

Then you can still add the closed loop(s) for different flow patterns.

Oh I don't know if this is very acurate but it sounds like a good rule to follow. Every 90degree elbow in your plumging = 1ft head.
Just my 2 cents.
bob