ReefFlo Dart Pump Plumbing

[tanglovers]

Hi All,

I am working on plumbing in a ReefFlo Dart to a 100 gallon rubbermaid bin. The bulkhead that comes in the rubbermaid is only 1" so what I did was plug this and run 2" PVC up and over the side of the rubbermaid and down with a screw in plug that I can remove to dump water down into the feed inlet of the pump so I can prime the pump.

My issue I am having is the Dart does not seem to be getting adequately primed, it pulses water through the pumps.

My question is basically is there a way to plumb in a external pump in this manor or do you have to have the feed bulkhead below the water level in the sump? Or is there a way to plumb it over the side....much like a hang on back filter is done.

Let me know you thoughts,
Scott

 

[Jasen Hicks]

Scott, i have a rubbermaid stock tank as well, mine is 1 1/4" though... just upconvert the 1" bulkhead to the 2" piping. The amount of water in that tank will be more than enough to provide the Net Postive Suction Head for the dart pump. By doing the siphon closed loop idea your just not getting enough head that way.

Jasen

 

[tanglovers]

Hi Jasen -

Thanks for the responce. By doing the 1" (maybe 1.25") upsizing that to a 2" pipe, isn't that restricting the flow on the inlet which is not recommended? Or by having 50 gallons of water int he tub pushing out does that make up for the restricting of the smaller size hole in the tub?

I do not want to restrict the flow at all as I am going to need all of what this dart can supply.

 

[Jasen Hicks]

No, you wont be restricting flow. Pumps need a Net Positive Suciton Head to work, this is the volume of water and pressure of the water that the suction of the pump sees. With the inlet as low as it is in the tank, and the pump being on the same plane as the bulkhead you have all of that volume wanting to go out of that hole... its just fluid flow dynamics at work. You will be ok, and the dart will work great.

Jasen