Sump Question!

[garybuk]

What sort flow shud be going thur my sump???its a pain in the bum!! you get it all right... then you wana add somethink so all the flows are diffrent


So does the flow in the sump have to be fast? or slow? or can it be really slow?

 

[SkiFletch]

Usually slower. 5 times display tank volume is a good max to go for. going as low as 2 or 3 times probably would work well too. Remember, that flowrate is AFTER pressure drop

 

[garybuk]

I dont get this flow rate thing all i no is i got a 350l corner tank with a 4000pump

 

[Colin_T]

Most pumps will have a rating for the amount of water they can pump out. This rating is usually at ground level (or zero head). This means a pump will push out X amount of water at the top of the pump. As you push the water higher up the flow decreases. Good pumps will have a line graph or scale on the box showing how the water flow decreases as the height increases.
You want a pump that can turn the tank's volume over about 5 times an hour at a particular height. The height being the top of the display aquarium. To get this height you need to measure from the bottom of the sump to the top of the display tank. That will be the lift height. It is usually about 3-4ft.
If your tank is 350litres then 5 times 350litres equals 1750litres. You want a pump that can push 1750litres of water per hour up the lift height, (probably about 4ft).

 

[garybuk]

Most pumps will have a rating for the amount of water they can pump out. This rating is usually at ground level (or zero head). This means a pump will push out X amount of water at the top of the pump. As you push the water higher up the flow decreases. Good pumps will have a line graph or scale on the box showing how the water flow decreases as the height increases.
You want a pump that can turn the tank's volume over about 5 times an hour at a particular height. The height being the top of the display aquarium. To get this height you need to measure from the bottom of the sump to the top of the display tank. That will be the lift height. It is usually about 3-4ft.
If your tank is 350litres then 5 times 350litres equals 1750litres. You want a pump that can push 1750litres of water per hour up the lift height, (probably about 4ft).

WOW I understand that! off to find my graph!

 

[garybuk]

Colin-t i found this!

http/www.fountainsdirect.com/neptun

mine is the Neptun ECO 4000


Would you be able to work somethink out for me?

because i also am powering a skimmer off it ... so i got flow adjusters so how do i know what its pushing out???

 

[SkiFletch]

Well have a look see at the graph. Figure about 1.5m of head pressure, go to that point on the graph for the ECO 4000 and you've got around 60L/min otherwise known as 3600L/hr which is 10 times your tank volume in turnover per hour. I'm assuming your sump is a typical undertank variety.

And now the practical question: why does your sump flowrate concern you? Are you having problems with running it or are you trying to design one? There are some bad things that can happen from pushing that much water through the sump, but if your system is setup right, it can handle the flow.

 

[garybuk]

Well have a look see at the graph. Figure about 1.5m of head pressure, go to that point on the graph for the ECO 4000 and you've got around 60L/min otherwise known as 3600L/hr which is 10 times your tank volume in turnover per hour. I'm assuming your sump is a typical undertank variety.

And now the practical question: why does your sump flowrate concern you? Are you having problems with running it or are you trying to design one? There are some bad things that can happen from pushing that much water through the sump, but if your system is setup right, it can handle the flow.

Its running! just i find the water level(seems to be larst chamber) goes up and down! almost down to ware it cant get any more water??


at the top of my return pump its a 3way valve system! one goes off to the skimmer ones goes to the return and the other wil be for my uv once i get that far!


So am i right in saying? its alot of playing about with the valves to get the right flow to what i need?

Cos at the min if i open the return line too far it will fill the tank up faster then it can drain???


Its just sooo confuseing!

 

[SkiFletch]

Ahhh, I get it, what size drain bulkhead do you have? I'm guessing something smaller... So yes, you're right, you'll have to play with valves to get it right, but at least you have the valves you need

 

[garybuk]

Ahhh, I get it, what size drain bulkhead do you have? I'm guessing something smaller... So yes, you're right, you'll have to play with valves to get it right, but at least you have the valves you need

Iv got a pvc pipe with like a line down it so it skimms the top of the water as it goes down??


I just want it to be right!!!

 

[SkiFletch]

Anyway we can get a pic of your drain setup?

 

[garybuk]

Anyway we can get a pic of your drain setup?

Sure ill get a pic tonight

 

[waterwatereverywhere]

If you have real problems getting the flow adjusted from that 3-way, you could always get small powerheads in the sump, one just to feed the skimmer and one to feed the UV, that's how I've got mine set up, and you can then get powerheads rated for the right amount of flow you need for each unit.

 

[garybuk]

If you have real problems getting the flow adjusted from that 3-way, you could always get small powerheads in the sump, one just to feed the skimmer and one to feed the UV, that's how I've got mine set up, and you can then get powerheads rated for the right amount of flow you need for each unit.

can you post a pic? or send me a message with one?

pic as wanted!

 

[SkiFletch]

Wow, that's a unique overflow... For this to work, you'll have to angle the end of that horizontal piece down, not up. You'll also have to make sure there's a hole drilled in the top of the white Tee fitting (which I assume has a cap on it). That way your drain only sucks air through the hole in the cap and water through that long horizontal.