Turn Over rate

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Yeah, sorry.....meant input into the tank.

If you use more inputs (to the tank from the pump), the flow rate per input will decrease, so current coming out of each individual input (to the tank) will decrease (fish won't get blown around as bad from each individual input).

However, there is no way to decrease the total flow in the tank without directing flow elsewhere. It's just going to change how strong the jets into the tank are. You are still going to have 3600 gph (minus head losses) flowing into the tank, and the same amount exiting the tank via overflow. It's just going to be a decent amount of current no matter how you look at it unless you divert some of that flow somewhere else.

But since you are basing this off of a 3600 GPH pump and not taking into act. head losses, your 16.5 turn over rate will decrease, and I doubt it will be all that bad. Personally, I'd just hook it up and see how it is. You can always modify it if need be.
 
Ok thanks I think it will be alright. Sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring your advice about the recirculation loop, but it just wouldn't work for me. :)
 
np. I think you'll be fine as long as you aren't raising fry in yours.

I've sucked small fish into my overflow.....And they are crazy hard to get out of my sump. That's no fun at all.

And if all else fails, you can get a smaller pump, or go through the hassle of plumbing in a recirculation loop.
 
Any updates? In my opinion, this pump is way oversized for the tank and you will be throwing money down the drain if you decide to use it.

A 1HP pump will typically draw around 1,000 watts. Depending on how much you pay for electricity, buying a more efficient and appropriately sized pump could pay for itself pretty quickly. Ex- a Reeflo Snapper will put out 1,900GPH at 4' head and only draw 110 watts. That will give you just over 8.5 times turnover per hour which should be plenty...and the biggest benefit is that your electricity usage will drop by roughly 90%. If your 1HP pump draws 1,000 watts, going with the Snapper would pay for itself in approximately 4 months (assuming the national average for electricty at $0.11Kwh).

Cost to run 1,000W pump at $0.11Kwh = $79.20 per month
Cost to run 110W pump at $0.11Kwh = $8.71 per month

The recirculation loop is a great idea to stop food from flowing into overflows during feeding and to keep the bio media from drying out in a wet/dry application during water changes but if you are using it to reduce flow into the tank, you are paying money to push all that extra water for no reason. In other words, it's just a waste.
 
Well I am still working on the plumbing for the tank so its not up and running yet. And about the pump, see I got the pump for $50 so I wasn't going to pass it up. From what I read its a professional grade pump and is very energy effiecent, 30% more effiecent than normal. I atleast think its a 1 hp pump from what Ive read but there isn't much on the internet. On the pump its self it says 120 volts, 60 hertz, and 0.48 or something amps. I am not to much of an electricity guy but to me that does seem like that much. The pump is huge and ways over 15 pounds (its a submersible pump) so its huge! I think the reason it has such a high horse power is its meant for a pond/waterfall/fountain so it needs to have a high max head. Thanks for all the statistics, but I assure you I didn/t buy this pump for like $500 when I could have gotten one like you were saying for much cheaper. If I didn't find this specific pump I would have went the route you suggested, maybe even a tad less. I super-jolted my entire filration system so handle such a large pump. The 2 wet/dry towers if combined would be over 6 feet tall and 12"x 12" in size. If anyone knows anything about the electrical stats that I gave feel free to chime in. Ill give updates when its all up!
 
Can you check your pump again to confirm those numbers? I'm no electrician, but the amperage of that pump can't possibly be 0.48.

Amps x Volts = Watts

0.48 x 120 = 57.6 watts? (no way that is possible for a pump that puts out 3600GPH)

If this is somehow correct, let me know where you got this pump cuz I'd want one!
 
Opps sorry I just rechecked my numbers the correct ones are: 120 volts, 60 Hz, and 1.75 amps. Thanks to your equation I figured out it is 210 watts. And just guessing from your other figures it seems it will cosat around $15- $16 a month to run, which isn't that bad when you consider its close to being twice the gph of the other pump you listed. Again my bad on the numbers, I was trying to remember to many haha. Are most 1 hp pumps really that expensive to run? Good thing I didint get one of those you really scared me there for a second.
 
aldiaz33 said:
Any updates? In my opinion, this pump is way oversized for the tank and you will be throwing money down the drain if you decide to use it.

A 1HP pump will typically draw around 1,000 watts. Depending on how much you pay for electricity, buying a more efficient and appropriately sized pump could pay for itself pretty quickly. Ex- a Reeflo Snapper will put out 1,900GPH at 4' head and only draw 110 watts. That will give you just over 8.5 times turnover per hour which should be plenty...and the biggest benefit is that your electricity usage will drop by roughly 90%. If your 1HP pump draws 1,000 watts, going with the Snapper would pay for itself in approximately 4 months (assuming the national average for electricty at $0.11Kwh).

Cost to run 1,000W pump at $0.11Kwh = $79.20 per month
Cost to run 110W pump at $0.11Kwh = $8.71 per month

The recirculation loop is a great idea to stop food from flowing into overflows during feeding and to keep the bio media from drying out in a wet/dry application during water changes but if you are using it to reduce flow into the tank, you are paying money to push all that extra water for no reason. In other words, it's just a waste.
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I agree. There are much more efficient pumps. For instance, a Hammerhead pump is only 1/3 hp and had 5800 gph at 0 head. Maximum wattage 360. I'm afraid your pump is not very efficient. A smaller Reeflo pump like the Snapper would work well for you.

To lessen the flow, you can neck the plumbing down. For instance, many pumps have 1.5" ports, but you can neck the PVC down to 1" or smaller at the tank. You can also place valves on the PVC at the tank and at the sump, which is another way to reduce the flow.
 
See my last post the pump will actually draw only 210 watts, not the estimated 1,000. For a 1 hp pump thats pretty darn good :)
 
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