The right, cost effective, energy efficient, pump

[stephencraig]

I will be moving my sump and other filtration equipment for my tank thru the wall and into my garage. There are two possibilities I am considering, one where everything will essentially sit on just the other side of the wall from the tank, and another where I would need to ove the water acorss the garage to a different area.

The second option would not only involve moving the water a little distance (20 - 30 feet if following the wall), but also up about 8 feet. With that in mine, are there any website, or recommendations for cost effective pumps? Would it be better to have one pump to move the water the lateral distance, and another one for the head pressure (vertical movement)? Just trying to consider all possibilities.

When I say "cost efficient", I mean both from a energy saving perspective, and initial cost. In other words, I don't see value in paying say $500 more for one pump over another to save 10 watts of poswer usage. However, I don't want an energy hog either. I'm trying to make the best decision from all aspects.

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Stephen

 

[woz9683]

How much water are you talking about moving? Definitely only 1 pump is necessary, the horizontal distance does not add too much work to a pump that can handle that type of head while moving a considerable volume of water. Basically you just add a little friction resistance. Off the top of my head, I'd say look at all the Sequence pumps, but of course this depends on how much water you want to move.

 

[scaryperson27]

I would use an enlarger on the vertical piping to make sure the small pipe doesn't cause any head pressure or resistance on the pump.

 

[woz9683]

Head pressure is caused by height, it's the weight of the water, not the diameter of the pipe that causes it. If you go up, you have head pressure, no getting around it.

 

[scaryperson27]

You are right, sorry. When pump manufacturers list the head pressure, they are referring to the vertical discharge pressure head. "Head" may be simply defined as any resistance to the flow of a pump. The reason I made my suggestion was to lower the resistance in the tubing recycling the energy that would have been wasted so that the pump can use it towards battling the head pressure.

 

[NeveSSL]

The Reeflo Gold Series sounds like just the pump for you. They are a bit more expensive, but not anywhere near $500 more. Probably $200 more.

For example, the Reeflo Barracuda Gold does 4,680GPH at only 237 watts. Not too shabby! At an estimated 12 ft of head (from the vertical run and 8ft horizontal, strictly estimated) you would be at 3200 GPH.

Brandon

 

[james3370]

if doing the 2nd option, can you mount it higher than it's destination?? thereby letting gravity help move it along to aleviate some of the stress the pump would have to overcome

 

[stephencraig]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'll definitely check out the ReefFlo. As far as how much water, it would be the turnover for processing water out of a 200 gal display tank. I also plan to add eventually about another 150 - 200 gal propogation system, and some additional biological filtration (such as Tyree's cyrtic zone - sponge filter) among other things.

James had asked about height. Everything is on the same level. I could mount the pump higher than the tank, but something would have to push the water up to it. My plan is once the water gets to the "processing stations", to bring it in at its highest level and let gravity do most of the work from there.

I think that answered all the questions.

I think Red Dragon is out of the question (too much up front expense). Anyone have any thoughts on the Tunze external pump? Any other brands known for energy efficiency?

Stephen

 

[das75]

RC Headloss calculator needs a little updating for some of the new pumps but is a good start. For Reeflo use Sequence. It will also give you an idea of you systems head loss and you can use the number generated to check against manufacturers charts not in the calculator.

see here

 

[woz9683]

For a display that size, I think you're going to want more turnover than what Tunze has to offer, especially after you consider the head loss. The Reeflo pumps really are looking like your best bet.

 

[pjf]

I also have an aquarium against a garage wall and had considered placing a cooling fan through my garage wall. Unfortunately, my building codes prohibit ducting through the firewall separating the garage from the rest of the house. Is there an issue with water pipes running through the firewall?

 

[tkeracer619]

You are looking at a reeflo dart or snapper in the first instance and maybe a hammerhead on the second option. I think a hammerhead might be a bit much if its just for a return pump but since you are adding other things it might be just right.

Don't raise the pump above the sump, you want it to self prime.

Head loss comes from all pipes and vertical elevation changes. If you pump up 8 feet over 20 then back down 8 feet the vertical change is eliminated (other then frictional losses, once the plumbing is full of water and air tight)

If you can avoid that long run you will save some power by going with the snapper or dart. Since plumbing in reef tanks gets coated with life and tubeworms you tend to gain some head pressure over a couple years so flow will be reduced.

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14811546#post14811546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
I also have an aquarium against a garage wall and had considered placing a cooling fan through my garage wall. Unfortunately, my building codes prohibit ducting through the firewall separating the garage from the rest of the house. Is there an issue with water pipes running through the firewall?

when i worked for the phone company, we weere told that if we penetrated a firewall, it had to be sealed afterwards w/ sealant rated for fire prevention....since we didn't have it, we didn't go thru them.

i'm sure as long as the proper resealing of the firewall is done, it should pass code

 

[stephencraig]

It's a new house (finished about a year ago). Before we moved in, I had my stepson cut in two cut-thru's. So I might be "out of code", but was not aware that might be an issue.

About how much turnover should I be looking at for the 200 gal? I would assume that would be the "net" I'm looking for after subtracing out the losses for runs and vertical lift? I just realized that if I make the long run option, I would just need to figure what I need for the tank, not all the other propogation tanks and biological filters too. Those could be run off a seperate pump, since it would be "right there" where the processing would be taking place in the garage. Seems that would be better instead oof trying to get a single pump to do it all.

Stephen

 

[stephencraig]

Does Reeflo make Hammerhead? I found the Snapper on Marine Depot (says it uses 35% less wattage than the Dart), but didn't turn up anything for the Hammerhead.

Stephen

 

[tkeracer619]

You are looking for about 5x-10x turnover.

Reeflo makes the hammerhead. Go to www.marinedepot.com, click pumps (external), then Reeflo water pumps, then Reeflo external pumps, and right above the price where it says "size" you will see all the available pumps in a drop down list. The hammerhead is on the list =]


I tried to post a link but it isnt working.

 

[woz9683]

Ditto, the turnover tkeracer suggested. I think that's a pretty good number to be shooting for, which puts you in the 1500-2000gph range.

I think you can do this with just one pump, the most efficient way would be to feed the prop tank with the drain from the display. If you're talking about 8 feet of head, that means you've got 8 feet of drop coming back to the return pump, so if you can stagger your tank heights on the way back there's no reason not to do it with just the one pump. Think of it as a waterfall with a few little pools on the way down. Display tank - drop - prop tank - drop - sump - return pump

 

[stephencraig]

Thanks everyone. This is all great info. Gives me a place to start, which is what I wanted.

Stephen