Gph and pumps

[_salty_]

How do I figure out what size return pump I need?

Also, how do I figure out the gallons per hour leaving the tank through the overflow?

Does the return pump rate have to match the overflow rate? Probably depends on the skimmer. Can a overflow drain go directly into the skimmer?

 

[mcgyvr]

Typically people shoot for return pump flow of 3-10x display tank size in GPH.. (3-5x is typical with 10x being recommended for some unproven reason on Triton systems)
You would approximate the amount of head pressure and looking at the flow charts for the pumps choose one that delivers the flow you need..

So if your return pump is 5 ft below the top of the display tank you have around 5ft of head and with a 100G tank you want to find a pump rated to flow 300-500GPH with 5ft of head..

A properly setup overflow can only drain water at the exact speed as the water being pumped into the tank..
If it doesn't then you have a potential for a flood (due to the overflow being clogged or incorrectly sized).
A good method to prevent a flood is to ensure that the return pump chamber in your sump is small enough that the pump will run dry before you pump enough water to cause the display tank to overflow.. You don't want the return chamber too small though or it will cause issues with startup in that the pump will run dry again before the overflow is full/starts draining..

You typically put the skimmer in the drain chamber of the sump but don't plumb the skimmer directly into it.. In a perfect world a skimmer would process 100% of the water draining out of the tank but many cannot process water that fast..

 

[_salty_]

If one were to have dual overflows, could 1 be plumed directly to the skimmer and the other go into a sock?

I feel like I will have too many plugs and not enough outlets. I have 2 power heads, 2 heaters, the skimmer air pump, a light and a return pump as is.

 

[mcgyvr]

I would not recommend a skimmer directly fed from a drain..

I would recommend you simply purchase a power strip

 

[_salty_]

thanks mcgyvr. Maybe I should just hire you and pay you by the question? :spin1:

 

[mcgyvr]

thanks mcgyvr. Maybe I should just hire you and pay you by the question? :spin1:

I have actually been looking into oh... "Aquatic System Consulting" of sorts..
I've been asked to fly places to setup systems on more than one occasion..
People tend to change there minds when I even start to mention the "proper" ways to do stuff and the long term costs associated with what they were asking..
All have talked to me later and said they should have listened after they tried their way and failed..

I'm actually pretty cheap too.. A plane ticket, standard lodging and a few cases of good beer is typically all I require..