sizing up the pump size for a w/d

[b-man]

if i have mutiple drains coming in, how i a propoerly size up the pump. i thinking about doing a monster to handle 3-4 tanks

i mean i can always add a valve to regulate it, but its seems counterproductive.......

are there any general rules of thumb? how do i properly size up the a pump size in this senerio? is there a way to figure out / balance the flow rates?

 

[sma]

find out how much water is flowing into the tank

 

[b-man]

each tank will have a seperate return line and pump.

how would the head pressure calculated in this situation?

 

[Sturgeon]

It all depends on how many times you want the water to circulate per hour. general rule of thumb says you want atleast 2 times per hour, with a multi tank setup I would go even higher though. Another thing worth noting is that when using a common sump with multiple tanks, you run the risk of spreading diseases, parasites. Plus, different species need different water parameters, with a common sump/wetdry system you will be running the same water parameters to all the tanks.
Best of luck with your project, keep us updated!

 

[Dr Joe]

each tank will have a seperate return line and pump.

how would the head pressure calculated in this situation?

Have you read http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47105 ?

So your wanting to have one sump and individual return pumps? Any reason for this complication? (tanks in different areas etc?)

Head pressure on a single pump is dictated by the manufacturer and the height, size and amount of bends in the return plumbing )ie restrictions).

Dr Joe

.

 

[Sturgeon]

to greatly simplify setup, Have all your tanks run an individual overflow/line in to the sump, and place a large pump inside that can handle all your tanks. plumb one pressurized line out according to where your tanks are located, and put a ball valve before each spraybar/nozzle to keep water exchange even.

 

[b-man]

Have you read http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47105 ?

So your wanting to have one sump and individual return pumps? Any reason for this complication? (tanks in different areas etc?)

Head pressure on a single pump is dictated by the manufacturer and the height, size and amount of bends in the return plumbing )ie restrictions).

Dr Joe

.

yes tanks will be in a different areas and will house similar fish (so water parameters isn't not my certain), i will have to think about disease and parasites though (add a UV in the line?), i also figured that if one of the pumps failed, than only one tank is up the creek. i figure i could always keep a spare pump so i can basicly swap it out without messing with the bio system. if the single monster pump fails, than all tanks in the system would be up the creek.

re: headpressure, can i just combine the loads and divide them equally? what if they are different sized tanks with different runs (distance)?

 

[beachman22]

Sounds like you are trying to make it more complicated than it has to be. Running long tubes for returns will greatly reduce to amount of flow your pump will produce. I know just going up only five feet with my mag-drive pump will cut the flow in half.

 

[Dr Joe]

yes tanks will be in a different areas and will house similar fish (so water parameters isn't not my certain), i will have to think about disease and parasites though (add a UV in the line?), i also figured that if one of the pumps failed, than only one tank is up the creek. i figure i could always keep a spare pump so i can basicly swap it out without messing with the bio system. if the single monster pump fails, than all tanks in the system would be up the creek.

re: headpressure, can i just combine the loads and divide them equally? what if they are different sized tanks with different runs (distance)?

Calculate each one by its individual height since it is basically a separate system just a common sump, use the spec.s for the specific pump (ie larger tank larger pump). Same with the overflows (drains).

A note before I forget... Make sure you put a anti-syphon hole just under the waterline of all overflow and returns.

Dr Joe

.