Pluming questions

H

hoopsdaddy

Premium Member
When trying to decide which return pump to purchase I came across a question that I needed some answers to.

While using a head loss calc I have been playing around with some different layouts for my plumbing and wondered when I get this type of answer....
"Total losses are 15.24 feet of head pressure, or 6.58 PSI. with a flow rate of 3520 GPH. Process took 350 iterations. "

Do I now take the 3520 number and divide that by the number of "water exits" to determine expected flow through each exit. I realize that each exit will be slightly different dependent upon the proximity to the return pump, that is why I would put valves for each exit.

Am I figuring this correctly???
 
You need to look at the pump curve to see what your pump delivers at that total head loss. Your pump may be rated at 3520 but that is usually at no head to pump against. If you want to deliver 3520 gph at your 15.24 feet of head loss you will need a pump that will meet that flow rate at that head loss and the difference is the elevation of the sump water surface and the discharge point elevation. Say your sump in setting under you display tank and the difference in the water surface in the tanks if 6 feet. Your pump will have to provide the 3520 gph at 15.24 + 6 = 21.24 feet of total head. I am assuming that the 15.24 did not include the lift component.
 
So you are saying that after I enter everything in a head loss calculator that the number that I am getting..."Total losses are 15.24 feet of head pressure, or 6.58 PSI. with a flow rate of 3520 GPH. Process took 350 iterations." is actually the starting point even though I have already entered the vertical run on the caluclator and all other parameters.???
Using the calculator I included all the parameters that it requests and then I put in a pump that was the closest to the gph on the Reeflo Barracuda/Hammerhead. This was the number that I was given. 3520gph. The pump will sit 5ft below the returns on the tank. Hope this helps you answer my original question.
Does this make sense? If not, I will try to explain it another way.
Thanks for trying to answer.
 
You are using the reefcentral headloss calculator I assume. The 3520 is the estimated outcome of your design. If you are loosing 3x headloss (5 feet vs 15 ft) you need to rework your design. I guess the issue is pipe diameter try to use different sizes and try to improve the outcome.

The calculator will give you estimated headloss with all variables input. The pump does make a significant difference try and find the headloss chart on the reeflo model and you will get a more accurate number than guessing with a similar pump like you did. IMO 3520 is too much flow through a sump go for max of 2,000 include a CL and save some $$$.

The second part you are correct, if your line ends in valve that one will have higher flow than the rest but you get the concept.
 
Thanks SGT York. I agree that I may need to rework my plumbing plans. May talk to Pete and see what he thinks is the best plan for what I am trying to accomplish.

I found the charts online for the head loss on the two Reeflo pumps I am considering.

Thanks for answering my original question.
 
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