Basic Water Pump Q's

[IRoman]

So I have my first Tank, and first wet dry filter. The tank is a 125g and I was told the wet dry is set up to use an in-line water pump. I have been looking on-line at various places and I cant find anything very helpfull in understanding the basics to water pumps and the associated terms. I see some of them have numbers in the 1000's, and they also talk about gph. I obviously know what gph is but I dont know how it relates to aquariums and how much flow is needed for different sized tanks. Can someone please explain all this to a noob

 

[zennzzo]

So I have my first Tank, and first wet dry filter. The tank is a 125g and I was told the wet dry is set up to use an in-line water pump. I have been looking on-line at various places and I cant find anything very helpfull in understanding the basics to water pumps and the associated terms. I see some of them have numbers in the 1000's, and they also talk about gph. I obviously know what gph is but I dont know how it relates to aquariums and how much flow is needed for different sized tanks. Can someone please explain all this to a noob

Basically turning the tanks capacity over 3-5 times an hour will be OK for your wet/dry system...
So we are down to an inline pump that can deliver an avg gph of 500...
From there you need to give a little more info on the equipment you have.
It the tank drilled out for bulkheads?
return line(s)
Pictures of the sump and location are needed too.
I like the Pentair QUIET 1 series of pumps. I've use Hydor, Danners and little giants, my Favorite being the Pentair...
Here is a link to the pentairs' for comparison...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9849&N=2004+113041
model 3000 is about right and here it sells for under 40 bux.

 

[Dr Joe]

Did you get that?

Do remember that flow rate decreases with the increasing of head pressure (how high the pump has to push water up)

A little higher rating will help compensate for a dirty filter. (also any frictional losses from piping, connectors etc.)

You can always shunt part of the water back into the sump if pressure was to high. But you usually only have that problem with delicate fish that can't take swimming in a current.

Does your pump need to be self priming? (or will it be setting in water or below water level so pump stays charged?)

And you thought you could just get a pump huh...

 

[CHOMPERS]

...
You can always shunt part of the water back into the sump if pressure was to high...

Once again you beat me to the post! And the 'I agree' smilie guy is still not working. Here is a pic of my new system that has a valved bypass (shunt)...and I am going to have to rework the system again... I cooked my fish using a pump that was not intended to be used for what I am wanting it to do. (aluminum housing with a high power draw)

I seem to have lots of experience doing this...cooking my fish, not getting pump sizing right. Oh well, live and learn...I mean, live and do the same dang thing over again. I think Jeff Foxworthy had done a few jokes with me in mind

In the picture;
my pump is a submersible Little Giant in the black barrel. It pumps up thourgh the dirty looking hose to the red handle valve and then to the plumbing going back into the house. The extra water flows back to the sump filter in this picture, but I have changed that to flow back to the barrel. The 1 1/2 inch pipe didn't gravity flow enough water and it would come out the sump filter's overflow tube.

 

[IRoman]

Did you get that?

And you thought you could just get a pump huh...

lol, that about sums it up.

I thought I would be done painting my hood by now but it needs one more coat of paint. I was going to take a pic of it with the wet dry below it so everyone can see what Im working with, for now, I'll just try to show and explain what I have so far

Here is the original pic with my hood and tank


here is the pic of the my wet dry



The wet dry will be under the stand, Im not sure if it will be in the middle or to the left or right, I also dont know what way to point the end for the water pump, I'm assuming the middle

It looks like my pump will have to push water up about 4-5 feet, so I guess I need to make sure I get a pump that will handle the distance plus the size of the tank

I think Im beggining to understand

 

[Dr Joe]

By George I think you've got it! In the end you'll figure out the tricks...(it's all done with smoke and mirrors)

Meanwhile, sweet setup...you do good work.

Is your tank drilled?

with all the paper towels are you waiting for impending diaster or are you using them to ward off evil spirits?

Dr Joe

lol, that about sums it up.

I thought I would be done painting my hood by now but it needs one more coat of paint. I was going to take a pic of it with the wet dry below it so everyone can see what Im working with, for now, I'll just try to show and explain what I have so far

Here is the original pic with my hood and tank


here is the pic of the my wet dry



The wet dry will be under the stand, Im not sure if it will be in the middle or to the left or right, I also dont know what way to point the end for the water pump, I'm assuming the middle

It looks like my pump will have to push water up about 4-5 feet, so I guess I need to make sure I get a pump that will handle the distance plus the size of the tank

I think Im beggining to understand

 

[sxcsamman]

What is that spray bottle in the tank it looks like some sorta window cleaner could be dangeros to the fish :=}

 

[IRoman]

By George I think you've got it! In the end you'll figure out the tricks...(it's all done with smoke and mirrors)

Meanwhile, sweet setup...you do good work.

Is your tank drilled?

with all the paper towels are you waiting for impending diaster or are you using them to ward off evil spirits?

Dr Joe

lol Thanks Dr Joe (and of course everyone else who has given advice)
My tank isnt drilled, I almost wish it was because I think you dont have to have an overflow when its drilled, is that wrong?

oh and the paper towels, thats are actually Toilet paper, the door in the picture is a half bathroom in our living room. If you look at the tank you can see the reflection of our kitchen chairs, all that is out because our kitchen is being remolded. We had a pipe break and ruin all the cabinets including the one behind that door, so everything is a mess right now, I have been suprised the wife hasnt got on to me for working on the tank while doing all this

What is that spray bottle in the tank it looks like some sorta window cleaner could be dangeros to the fish :=}

Unfortunately, I didnt know any better and cleaned the inside of the tank with it, Ill be giving it a good cleaning today before I put my hood on

 

[zennzzo]

Looks like you got a nice filtration system started...
There are no holes in the bottom of the tank right? so, before you paint that top section you need to decide if you want to have the tank drilled for overflows or you want to run a hang-on type syphon overflow.

The difference being, the holes through the bottom are cleaner looking and quieter in most cases, the Syphon type overflow has to flow water over the top edge and down into your sump...

I'll post some pix of what I just described...shortly

29.00 plus shipping for this syphon hang-on type
http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=78

 

[IRoman]

29 dollars I was just going to build a PVC one today.

How hard is it to drill glass? That sounds like something I wouldnt want to do because I would be too worried to screw it up