Help with drain capacity please

[JMorris271]

Your thoughts please. I want to set up my tank using a Sicci Sincra 5 pump that is suppose to deliver 1350 GPH at zero head . l total I have a little over 7 ft of head loss so this brings the delivered rate down to 650 gph or so and my pump is wide open. I would like to get a higher flow rate for a 120 gal tank.
I have the drain opened about 75% That seems wrong to me. Why am I only using 75% of my drain capacity here? I want to us my full capacity.
AM I going to be stuck with a turnover of 5x or can I get better flow by doing something else?
Thanks

 

[rfurst]

Well, ya, you can get more flow with a larger return pump. But remember, all the flow doesn't need to go through your sump, it can be accomplished with powerheads in the DT as well. Why is your drain only open 75%? Is it simple gravity drain or are you using full syphon drain? Either way, the flow through your sump is much more a factor of pump capacity than drain capacity.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I agree, you need to use Powerheads to get your DT turnover where you want it, not relying on the return pump. It's not designed for that purpose. Whenever you hear someone running high rates of turnover in their tanks its from powerheads.

 

[JMorris271]

The drains are balanced with the max capacity of the pump. Well, what I am trying to figure out is do I want to invest in a new larger pump or what. I was thinking that the recommended volume of the pump should be 5-8 X the tanks size.

 

[JMorris271]

Ok. That is good. I don't want to have to buy another pump right now anyway.
Thanks

 

[JMorris271]

I agree, you need to use Powerheads to get your DT turnover where you want it, not relying on the return pump. It's not designed for that purpose. Whenever you hear someone running high rates of turnover in their tanks its from powerheads.

Appreciate that information.