Is 1400 GPH too Much?

asilefx · 02-06-2006, 11:05 AM

I just ordered a water pump for my return pipe. I've been reading about high currents being very a good thing, is 1400 GPH too much for a 75 Gallon. The water will be exiting two pipes, so 700 shooting to each end of the tank, from the center out.

I currently have a 700 GPH but it does not look like it's enough, I'm going to throw my 700 in my water change bin.

I bought a new pump yesterday just for water changes. I went to my LFS and they sold me one that they said would be perfect for that. The box didn't say how many GPH it was, turns out it was only 100, what a joke, it couldn't even push the water through the tube more than 1 foot vertical. Using my 700 should do the trick.

Covey · 02-06-2006, 12:08 PM

It is not to much for the corals as long as it is not balsting them directly but it is likely too much for you overflow. You could keep using the 700GPH for a return and set up the 1400GPH on a closed loop. Then you would have some sweet flow.

RAVEN · 02-06-2006, 12:49 PM

It shouldnt be too much as 1400gph will not be the flow coming out of your return pipes. You have to take into account the head pressure, any bends in the return lines and diameter of your return lines. As a general rule, any 90 degree bend in a return line will approxiamately decrease flow by 10-15% if I remember the figures correctly from what I've read.

asilefx · 02-06-2006, 01:03 PM

Sounds good. The return bends 90 at the top and about 50 out of the sump.

I just found this information on the website for the makers of my overflow tank.

Aquariums up to 110 gallons are fitted with one MegaFlow™ Overflow and are rated for a maximum flow through of 600 G.P.H. (Using a rated 2,400 G.P.H. pump at a 5 foot head).

Do you know what they mean by five foot head?

Diver_1298 · 02-06-2006, 01:23 PM

Yes, that is what Raven was talking about. 5 foot head means it has to pump up 5 feet before it goes into your tank. The higher it has to pump up the lower the gph will be.

Jim

asilefx · 02-06-2006, 01:43 PM

That's what I thought, just wanted to be sure.

Phil5613 · 02-07-2006, 06:57 PM

What pump are you actually using to get 1400 gph? What size return line? these numbers plus the 90 deg and the 45 deg elbows and 5 feet of height plus about 1 foot vertical run can help you determine what your trye flow rate is

asilefx · 02-07-2006, 07:23 PM

I've got it all sorted out now, it's in the sump.

The flow seems perfect, exactly what I wanted. I had to add a little water to the sump, but all is good now.

The pump I bought is way better than I expected for $45. The GPH is actually 1321, so not quite 1400. It's made by ViaAqua, very very quiet. Much better than the 700 I had.

If any one is interested in a good pump:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113041

To figure out the actual GPH here is the setup.

2 rounded 90 Degree turns in 2 feet of tubing, then a two foot vertical shot, then a 90 degree elbow, then about 4 inches straight shot, and then it breaks up into two ball joint tubes about 8 inches each. One rotated 90 degrees.

corebond · 02-07-2006, 07:34 PM

If it ends up being too much flow you could also use a gate valve in the line to slow it down.

asilefx · 02-07-2006, 07:39 PM

Do you know where I could get one? Could I cut off the water completely with it too?

If my power ever goes out I'll need to close it off.