Is there a way to tell how many gph is running through my sump?

[MarineGirl411]

Hi,
I have a question. I just set up my 40 breeder finally. I have a 1 in BH with an internal overflow over it to keep fish out. I was having trouble with noise and bubbles. Well, I turned my return pump down and now there is no noise trouble or bubbles. I have noticed that the sump looks pretty calm though and I am not sure how much water is running through it, being circulated etc. I am going to have a refugium in there as well. The skimmer is in the first chamber. The ref is in the second chamber. Is there a way for me to make sure I am getting enough skimming done and enough circulation through my sump/refugium? When I put my hand over the return line into the tank, I can't feel much coming out. Please let me know. Thank you.

 

[aquaman67]

You could take the line off that goes from the sump back to the tank, after you cut the pump off of course.

I would use an empty five gallon bucket and an empty gallon milk jug. Put the empty milk jug in the empty five gallon bucket. Put the return line in the milk jug and turn on the pump. Time how long it takes the pump to fill the jug.

This could happen rather fast, that's what the five gallon bucket is for, to catch the overflow if you're slow cutting the pump off after the milk jug is full.

Let's say it takes 15 seconds to fill the jug.

that's four gallons a minute (60 seconds / 15 seconds)

4 gallons a minute X 60 minutes an hour is 240 gallons an hour.

If it takes 5 seconds to fill the jug, that's 12 gallons a minute or 720 gallons an hour.

This is probably way too complicated, but it's pretty accurate.

There may be easier ways...

 

[MarineGirl411]

Thank you. I am going to have my boyfriend try this. Or at least read this. I can't really understand. Are you saying to keep the sump full and the tank empty then drain the return line into the jug? I'm also trying to determine how much is coming from my overflow to my sump.

 

[DocApoc]

most situations the flow is very dependent on water levels. So if you divert some water into a bucket or something, you will change the value you are trying to measure.

I would do this: Find a place where all the water goes into a large volume through a single (or two) outlets that you can easily reach. Then get a large plastic bag and squeeze all the air out. set the bag into the water (still empty) and squeeze the opening of the bag around the outlet. (if you have to use two outlets, you need a helper)

Have someone time 5 or 10 seconds or something, then quickly lift the opening of the bag out of the water.

now you measure the water and multiply.

The advantage is that you haven't change any water levels anywhere, becuase the water in the bag is still also in the tank.

Just a thought.

 

[aquaman67]

I'm saying to keep the tank and sump full of water, just shut off the pump.

Then take the line loose that goes from the pump and carries water back into the tank from the sump. Measue how much water is going back into the tank from the pump.

I agree that there is a slight difference based on water level, but this will get you in the ball park.

The volume of water that your overflow is moving will be the exact same amount that the pump is moving, unless the sump or tank is gaining or loosing water.

For example if your pump is moving 1 gallon per hour and your overflow is only returning 3/4 gallons an hour, your sump will loose 1/4 gallon an hour. Eventually it will run dry.

Do you see what I'm saying?

If the tank level and sump level stay constant (other than evaporation) then the two volumes of water match each other.

If one volume of water is higher or lower than the other either the sump or tank will overflow or run empty. If the tank gains the sump will empty. If the sump gains, the tank water level will lower.

If both water levels stay about the same, then the volume of water being returned to ther tank by the pump matches the volume of water being sent to the sump by the overflow.