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In my last post, I asked a few questions about pumps based on my current setup. I actually may be changing my setup a little bit after visiting Dr. Mac. I had a pretty lengthy discussion with him about different ways to filter my aquarium and he has almost convinced me to not use the Tidepool (or Sump filter) that I currently have. He said that in his opinion the best type of filtration is biological. And the way he explained it was very convincing. Pretty much, if I understand correctly, if I spend the money for a good skimmer, I can use live sand, live rock, a protein skimmer and a sump or refugium.
That being said, I am trying to figure out what parts I am going to need. So, starting with the pump. I currently own a Lifegaurd Quiet One 2200 water pump. The specs for the pipe are at the bottom of this page http://www.webaquatics.com/Pentair-Quiet-One-2200-Water-Pump-p/rp440110.htm I have also attached two pictures of my tanks predrilled holes. One hole is 1-1/2" in diameter and the other is 1-3/4" in diameter. I am not real sure what the distance is between the pump and the aquarium. I know that the stand I purchased is Approx 30" in height from floor to tabletop, and that my aquarium is 21" tall to the very top. My assumption is that total height from the bottom of my sump to the top of the waterline in the aquarium is somewhere near 42-43" assuming that there is 8-9" of clearance from the ground to the bottom of the sump and the overflow in the tank is approximately 1" below the top of the tank. The kit that I got with the tank has a 1" and 3/4" bulkhead included. Knowing those specs, do you think the pump I have will be sufficient for what i want to do? or should I return the pump and get a larger one?
Go to reef central and find the calualator the determines what size pump you need based on the height and number of turns you have on the return, my guess is the lifeguard you is undersized
Lets assume the 1" will be a drain. Max drain is 600 gph with a 1" bulkhead but if we use the max it will sound like a toilet running. With head pressure (assuming 3 elbows,1 45 and 5.5 feet of height) the quiet one 2200 pump (581gph max) will be down around 250 gph. Either way the drain will support the pump and you could run the return through the 3/4 bulkhead which will look clean and use less elbows or leave the 3/4 as an emergency drain and go over the back with the return (safe).
At this point now, I do not want anything hanging off of my tank. I would like it all to be either in my sump, or using the pre-drilled holes. I will check out the reefcentral calculator right now to see what it says.
Ok, so I ran the calculator on Reef Central. Even though it does not have my specific pump in the calculator, I picked the next best pump by Lifeguard, the 3000. Here are the settings I chose:
With those settings, I assumed it only needed to know what the return pipe information is since this pump would be setting in a sump. As long as the pump I choose doesn’t exceed 600gph (the max for my 1" bulkhead), those pipes should not matter, I would guess. With the 3000, I showed a 6.13ft of head pressure, at a flow rate of 461gph. I will have to run the calc again once I get my stand set up, and actually fine tune where my sump will sit in the stand, and how my bends and pipe lengths will work. But it does sound like that pump is probably going to be a little bit small for my setup.
I will say this, all of this is making me realize just how much planning I still have left. I thought I had most of what i would need to at least get started, but it is starting to look like I do not. I better start buttering up the wife, she’s not gonna like it. haha
Trust me when I say that you don’t want the largest pump that your drain will accomodate. In a month when your diatoms come, that flow will be sustantially less, and your pump will still be pumping(Not to mention if you get a couple snails on the overflow). Less drain + same pump = wet floor. If your looking at 460ish gallons now, I’d say you’re good. What Al said about the flushing sound is also true. I’m trying to combat it in mine right now.
You should be fine with those calculations. Something to consider might be putting a ball valve and a union right above the pump. It would make working on it much easier, plus with the ball valve you could tune the pump down just a little and potientally reduce any slight gurgling that you have.
[quote=“icy1155, post:9, topic:567”]
You should be fine with those calculations. Something to consider might be putting a ball valve and a union right above the pump. It would make working on it much easier, plus with the ball valve you could tune the pump down just a little and potientally reduce any slight gurgling that you have.[/quote]
[quote=“ihuntinde, post:7, topic:567”]
Ok, so I ran the calculator on Reef Central. Even though it does not have my specific pump in the calculator, I picked the next best pump by Lifeguard, the 3000. Here are the settings I chose:
With those settings, I assumed it only needed to know what the return pipe information is since this pump would be setting in a sump. As long as the pump I choose doesn’t exceed 600gph (the max for my 1" bulkhead), those pipes should not matter, I would guess. With the 3000, I showed a 6.13ft of head pressure, at a flow rate of 461gph. I will have to run the calc again once I get my stand set up, and actually fine tune where my sump will sit in the stand, and how my bends and pipe lengths will work. But it does sound like that pump is probably going to be a little bit small for my setup.
I will say this, all of this is making me realize just how much planning I still have left. I thought I had most of what i would need to at least get started, but it is starting to look like I do not. I better start buttering up the wife, she’s not gonna like it. haha[/quote]
How is this close to the pump you originally selected?
The LG 3000 has a flow of 780 gph and the pump you mentioned is 580 gph ??200gph greater??
Also the head pressure rating from different pumps will affect the the gph achieved.
For the original pump mentioned I would figure about 250 gph
If you decide to use a large return pump I would run the return over the back as it will still look clean and you can attach it to the tank stand and make it look pretty good. The main reasons I would do this is redundancy and noise. If as Joe mentioned you get a small blockage the 3/4 bulkhead will work to allow extra water to drain. The additional 3/4 will allow water to drain slower so there will be less sucking which will be quieter
[quote=“a1amap, post:11, topic:567”]
How is this close to the pump you originally selected?
The LG 3000 has a flow of 780 gph and the pump you mentioned is 580 gph ??200gph greater??
Also the head pressure rating from different pumps will affect the the gph achieved.
For the original pump mentioned I would figure about 250 gph
If you decide to use a large return pump I would run the return over the back as it will still look clean and you can attach it to the tank stand and make it look pretty good. The main reasons I would do this is redundancy and noise. If as Joe mentioned you get a small blockage the 3/4 bulkhead will work to allow extra water to drain. The additional 3/4 will allow water to drain slower so there will be less sucking which will be quieter[/quote]
Sorry I wasn’t intending for that to mimic the pump I already purchased. The idea was to pick the pump 1 size larger and if it gave me the ideal situation, I would then know that the pump that I currently have would be too small. Which is what happened. The 3000 would be the ideal setup for my tank, therefore the 2200 would be too small, or not quite as efficient. If I am understanding what everyone else is saying that is.
Regardless, I am still against having anything hanging off of my tank on the outside. Thanks for the info, and I will consider it as I move forward and make a final decision, but at this point, I am still planning on leaving everything underneath and using 1 hole as a drain and the other as a return.
