Flow

[TimH07]

i asked in a previous thread but i was hoping the title would catch more readers for opinions.

my 75 RR has a 2" stand pipe and a 1 1/2 return, im looking at magdrive 7 or 9.5 for my return. i was told my tank could handle 700 gph but then i read this right here on these boards.

" Flow rates of different sized pipes can be calculated by using the formula for the area of a circle: A= π*r2. Using this formula, it can be determined that the opening of a two-inch pipe is about 3.14 square inches (3.14 x 1.0 (1x1) = 3.14). So, in theory, a single 2” pipe has exactly the same area as four 1" pipes (3.14 x 0.25 (0.5 x 0.5) = 0.78), and therefore could easily handle 3400 gallons of water per hour. In practice, the capacity of four 1” pipes is significantly lower than the capacity of one 2” pipe because the friction, i.e., water resistance, in the pipes with the smaller diameters is much higher. However, back to the basics; just make sure that your pump does not exceed the pipes’ capacity."

so i ask myself, should i get the magdrive 9.5 for a 75 gallon marineland RR cornerflow? or be safe with the mag7

as mentioned someone said my tank was good for 70 gph, i dont know how they got that number. but on this chart the mag 9.5 is 100 gph higher at 4ft of head.

maybe i just get the 9.5 and ball valve it?

http://www.mopsdirect.us/skus/wp/Danner_Flow_Chart.html

[Doodaa]

Personally, I'd get something bigger than a mag...unless you want to keep it submerged in the sump.

You can always slow down the flow on the output side of the pump, but you can't ever increase it...see where I'm coming from? Upgrades ;)

[TimH07]

it will be submerged.

another question i have is how much lighting is needed in the sump for macro algae to grow, cheato/calurpa?

i have some now growing under a compact fl. clip on light in a 8 inch deep hang on fuge. but what about a 55 gallon sump, could i use the 40 watt standard light fixture that came with that tank? i have a 24 inch nova extreme 4 bulb t5 i was going to use but i want to sell that.

[TimH07]

Charlie i was wrong, it is infact a 1 1/2 inch outflow, not 2, i measured the OD lol.

[charlie]

Charlie i was wrong, it is infact a 1 1/2 inch outflow, not 2, i measured the OD lol.

Darn you, you had me scratching things in public that I shouldn't scratch
So, I am beginning to think that the inlet is 1", just cuz. Both of the pumps are 3/4". It would be best to match the outlet of the pump with the pipe size!!!!!

[TimH07]

the pump outlet will be 3/4" problem is, im thinkning of soft tubing on that for ease of cleaning, how do you go from 3/4 to 1 1/2 threaded od lol?

i can figure it out but thats a gap to cover lol

[charlie]

I still think you need to be thinking inside diameter to find the correct fitting Tim. The outside diameter might be 1.5", but the inside diameter is what the flow is going thru. I might be wrong, but I have plumbed a few tanks in my reef life. You are gonna need one of these:
PVC Plumbing Parts/Fittings—Bushings, Caps/Plugs, Couplers & Adapters

In fact, if you look thru their whole plumbing department, you will probably figure out that if you go down to home depot or lowes, you can get exactly what you need, just take the part down with you.

[TimH07]

yea, i've plumbed that sealcoat rig a few times, i've just not sat down and put much thought into the tank yet

[charlie]

Well, hopefully we can help. Are you going to use black tubing to stop algae growth on the inside of the tubing?

[TimH07]

on the fence of pvc still, i had it in my hands today but home depot sells 2' and 10' sections and i need 3'

its not much but i dont need the other 7' of pvc

see my thread on sumps plz, i need help there a bit.

[charlie]

I believe the height of your highest baffle is going to be the height of the water in you sump. I had Kevinpo do the design on my sump, maybe you could PM him and ask his advice. I also think Mike, (Poseidon), has done his own sump too.

Get the 10' chunk, that way you will have some leftover for those special projects.

[metalhead]

maybe i just get the 9.5 and ball valve it?

That's what I would do and maybe even a 12 intead of the 9.5

[charlie]

That's what I would do and maybe even a 12 intead of the 9.5

That will still be 3/4" to at least 1", I think you will have aproblem unless you make 3/4" all the way in. JMHO

[TimH07]

well at least 3/4 up to the bulk head, the pipe that came with the tank for return is 1"

but the bulk head is 1 1/2" heh

[charlie]

Get a couple of reducers and make it 3/4 all the way Tim, in and out of the return bulkhead. I think you will be alot happier what ever 3/4 pump you use.

[TimH07]

hoping for a fast answer here, (mid plumbing right now lol) will just putting a ball valve on it mess up the pump? my original idea was to T it and let the restricted flow return back to the sump, but im 1 elbow short of finishing and dont feel like making another trip nor waiting till tommrow lol

[charlie]

Shouldn't hurt.

[TimH07]

hey charlie, glad to see im not the only one who sits here refreshing the pages lol!

so just making a solid connection with a ball shouldnt kill the pump with too much back pressure?

[charlie]

Just sitting here watching the race from Dover,

You should be alright Tim. You never know, you may not have to crank it back at all.

[TimH07]

i was a chef in the skybox in dover back in 99, i made lobster ravioli and cheese platters for the owners box (and other stuff)

we walked up to the roof of it, no railings at all at the time, you could walk off and fall like 200 feet
also the trash chute was 4 stories, we kept dropping 5gal buckets of water down when ppl were throwing trash in the dumpster, kaboom! water explosion (i was 19 lol)

ps how long should i let this pvc cement harden?