Sequence DART as a return pump/ Little pressure

[hipertec]

Hello, I finally hooked up my Dart as a return pump but not sure that its working correctly.
First off....I have a sump that the Dart pulls from. From there it goes up about 4ft and exits to "Y" loclines that is 3/4" on one side and the other side goes about 2-3Ft to "Y" loclines that is 3/4" - BOTH are hooked up to a SQWD.
The pressure is really weak. I removed one SQWD and "Y" it without the SQWD. Its still pretty weak. I closed one hole on the "Y" and its stronger but not that strong still.
What can I do to get the pressure going? The sump is getting alot of water to keep up with the pump but every low pressure.

I know that the DART is a closed loop pump but how could it be different than this setup? The pump will still set on the floor and have to be plumbed up. Actually I was thinking it would be worse since on a CL you have to plumb the enter water from the middle of the tank to the pump on the floor.

 

[Mchava]

your plumbing might be to small for the pump and cuasing backpreasure and not letting the pump flow that well

 

[Mchava]

try using this and see what your flow is
http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

 

[hipertec]

sorry...the 4ft going up from the pump is 1.5" piping then it goes to the 3/4"

 

[bennyinca]

The darts are not pressure rated pumps, they are labeled low speed.
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium...merhead_manta_ray_tiger_shark_information.asp

How is the pump connected to the sump? Like Mario said, you might need larger diameter plumbing. I think that pump has a 2 inch intake port, and a 1.5 inch out.

 

[hipertec]

the pump is 2" in and 1.5" out. I used 1.5" in and 1.5" out until about 1.5ft to the exit of the tank (3/4")
I called Sequence and they said that would be ok, but the pressure is not there. I wonder if I need to reduce to 1/2"

 

[JenDub]

don't reduce it, if you wanted a pressure rated pump an Iwaki or mak4 would have been a better choice. How many 90 degree elbows are in the return line? What size of ball valve is on the return line?

It's best to run it 1.5" pvc all the way to where the return locline screws in. The pumps are built for flow, not for pressure so you need to give it a nice clear path to flow through.

~Charles~

 

[hipertec]

1.5 ball valve..2-45 degree, 1 T, 2-90degree..cant use 1.5 to the exits since my bulkhead in the tank is 3/4"
what is the defference from presurre and flow pump?

 

[marcrothschild]

Pressure pumps have high rpm motors, and they maintain flow against back pressure. I think your locline is the problem. Check out the oceansmotion omni flex nozzle. Its 1" diameter, totally flexible, and you save space because it can be screwed directly into a 1" bulkhead without any adaptor fittings. I am using them on a dart, and it flows bigtime.

 

[golfish]

Reducing the intake and output reduces flow..Even tho MDM says you "can" reduce the intake to 1.5", its going to reduce the flow, maybe cause cavitating and reduce the life of the pump. If it we're me I'd change the intake pipe and bulkhead to 2"..the output is going to be reduce because of all the head pressure your throwing at it by reducing the pipe...using 3/4" pipe probably reduces the flow 70% or more...