help me choose the proper gph pump

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A

arowfan

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 12, 2008
883
9
48
North Jersey
www.stickam.com
Hey guys, I'm planning on making a nursery setup consisting of either (3) 20 gallon setups, or (2) 20 gallons and a 30 gallon and a 10 gallon sump-all on a shelving system, one on top of the other with the sump tank on the bottom. I'm planning on sending a pvc pipe up to the the top tank and having a bulkhead (not sure what size) set to a certain height on the tank to overflow to the tank below and so on until the last tank drains into the sump. not 100% sure on how tall the top tank will be-probably guesstimating at 6ft...
So what gph pump do you guys think I will need, and the size of the bulkheads...I was guessing 1.5in maybe...
thanks for any advice
john
nurserysetup.jpg

let me know if you guys can see the pic
 
I can see your pic only if I click on it...Takes me to another page to view it....Now i've never run a nursery before.. But is this a nursery for sick fish or a hatching nursery... If it is a hatching nursery I would think the small pinhead babies would be sucked into the overflow unless you had a fine screen or sponge for the input but then you have to watch it doesn't get clogged... I would think you wouldn't want to strong of a gph overflow/Pump.... lol the little babies would be thrashed about.... But like I said I never run a nursery.... but i did help with answering about your pic.... LOL :)
 
lol thanks ruddy...yes this will be for a hatching nursery-and I am going to put sponges on the overflows (also planning on using sponge filters as well)

come on guys, can someone point me in the right direction, I looked at one of the stickys but I'm confused for a setup like mine and don't know what to make of it... i'd like to start this project asap as my peacock bass have been spawning a lot lately...

thanks in advance
john
 
Ok I'll throw in my 2 cents....If the tanks are going to be 6 foot high you need a pump that can push some water that high... Water pumps loose pressure the higher the hose is. I have a 750 gph pump with a 4 foot hose so it pushes 350 to 400gph.. At a 6 foot hose and it will push about 250 to 300gph... All pumps have a flow chart on the back of the box... In my opinion get a pump that will push 300gph at a 6foot high hose check the back of each box and see the flow for each pump for Hose/Heidth... Put a ball valve on the output/pump so you can slow it down if you have to much water pushing around the fry.....put one ball valve on your top tank overflow to adjust output if you have to....One ball valve at the top overflow will adjust the other two overflows flowing into the other tanks and sump ...... :)
 
Yes 3/4 will work great for your overflow......Make sure that all 3 tanks have the same flow size pvc... Aquatic Water pumps are made so you can adjust them without over pressurizing them. My pump has an automatic flow adjuster built into it... They are not sealed blades that do the pumping so water flows past the blades so it doesn't over pressurize when it spins. Not all pumps come with flow adjusters built in so make sure you get a ball valve for pump and overflow. .... Good Luck with your project... :)
 
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