600 Gallon Upgrade Build

Hey Wayne, so glad to see your procedure was successful and that you're on the road to recovery!


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Flow charts have always baffled me and I have always ended up buying pumps that were too big. However, I like the idea of splitting up the 4 returns and using 2 return pumps. I would then look at using the DC internal pumps. I have read that RLSS pumps will have a variable speed controller that can be controlled by an external controller like an apex. You could have one set of sea swirls that has a constant continuous flow and the other set you could run with the controllable variable speed pump to break things up a little bit. Only concern with using the controlable variable speed pump is what kind of impact would it have on the water levels in your sump and would it cause your ato to go crazy as the power increases and decreases causing the water level to go up and down.

I will agree with the above posts that you will need atleast a 5k gph pump to achieve this with one pump and with that I think the power consumption will be pretty high. I would suggest emailing your diagram to Reeflo and Dolphin pumps, explain to them what you are trying to and ask them for a suggestion. I did this when I was building my tank.
 
Flow charts have always baffled me and I have always ended up buying pumps that were too big. However, I like the idea of splitting up the 4 returns and using 2 return pumps. I would then look at using the DC internal pumps. I have read that RLSS pumps will have a variable speed controller that can be controlled by an external controller like an apex. You could have one set of sea swirls that has a constant continuous flow and the other set you could run with the controllable variable speed pump to break things up a little bit. Only concern with using the controlable variable speed pump is what kind of impact would it have on the water levels in your sump and would it cause your ato to go crazy as the power increases and decreases causing the water level to go up and down.

I will agree with the above posts that you will need atleast a 5k gph pump to achieve this with one pump and with that I think the power consumption will be pretty high. I would suggest emailing your diagram to Reeflo and Dolphin pumps, explain to them what you are trying to and ask them for a suggestion. I did this when I was building my tank.

Thanks again Steve for your input. It is greatly appreciated.
 

Phone hit send before I finished. 7000gph

But that's just my guess based on my head loss. I lose around 40% due to head loss (going from pump to return lines). I am not sure if a Mag is good/bad or average in regards to head loss but the more 90 degree angles you have the worse the head loss becomes.

Glad the procedure went well.

Oh snap. I forgot when I had this much flow I had these two loc line spray returns. A 7k pump would be too strong unless you use spray bars to spread the flow.

Here is what I was using:
http://www.modularhose.com/Loc-Line-14-System/14-kits/Loc-Line-41479
 
Only concern with using the controllable variable speed pump is what kind of impact would it have on the water levels in your sump and would it cause your ato to go crazy as the power increases and decreases causing the water level to go up and down.

you are correct about the ATO going crazy with variable speed pumps. I run the Waveline DC 10k with 6 different settings and i need to manually adjust my float valve depending on the pump setting. For the most part i just leave it on 3 and at night down to 2 when i have the least amount of evap. I have spoken with APEX support and they confirmed their controller paired with a LAB grade salinity probe will add logic and will not engage the ATO if salinity is constant while water level is not. Now i just need to save up for it...
 
you are correct about the ATO going crazy with variable speed pumps. I run the Waveline DC 10k with 6 different settings and i need to manually adjust my float valve depending on the pump setting. For the most part i just leave it on 3 and at night down to 2 when i have the least amount of evap. I have spoken with APEX support and they confirmed their controller paired with a LAB grade salinity probe will add logic and will not engage the ATO if salinity is constant while water level is not. Now i just need to save up for it...

I think I'm going to change my mind on those pumps. I love the energy savings but not trying to blow my ATO up. Thanks Sonic.
 
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