Submersible Pump Vs External Pump

[Poseidon]

I want to have one pump running my reactors and basement return pump.
I want to spend money on something good initially that's efficient and its going to cost me my first born every month on the power bill.

Any suggestions?

I also need to decide whether or not to go with submersible or external, personally, i dislike external, especially with all the water i am planning on having. i don't like the added risk of leakage lol

 

[reef keeper]

Well, if you have the pump in the basement, you need to answer this

HOW MUCH HEAD LOSS

HOW MANY REACTORS

HOW MANY GPH

 

[Poseidon]

2 -3 reactors tlf 150s
head loss- 12' vertical approx, lots of horizontal but that doesn't count per say.

gph is open to to interpretation.

Display will be between 90g- 150g, sump i am aiming for 60g+ 200g stock tank ( i do have my eye on steves 450g stock but thats undecided lol)

 

[reef keeper]

Nighthawk is running a reeflo hammer gold. Horizontal does matter in the equation, but not as much. Remember to include all the 90s, 45s and fittings.

You are probably going to want to use an external. The wattage difference really isn't a huge jump. You will need a pressure pump. I do have an iwaki 55rlt here I'd sell and it pushed a bunch of water for me with 14 ft head loss. It does pull a bunch of watts, but no matter what you do, watts will be higher than a mag 12

Also remember to calculate the water in the lines for your sump volume.....

And I'd forget about the TLF reactors if you are running them from a return. They are cheap, and prone to leak, and changing the media sucks. I just ordered a pair of deluxe reactors from BRS. Those are better to run off a pump manifold.

 

[Poseidon]

but i like the tlf reactors 0_0
haha

 

[Cliff]

I liked them too...
Until I tried the vertex reactors. Now I'll never go back

 

[reef keeper]

but i like the tlf reactors 0_0
haha

Terrible.

Lol.

 

[Nighthawk26]

For those that know men, I tend to research. A LOT. This part of my build was researched more than almost anything cause there is so much noise out there about long return runs, siphon breaks, head pressure, types of drains, etc, etc.

As Reefkeeper mentioned, I use a Reeflo. It's a hybrid hammerhead/barracuda. I'm using the barracuda impeller. I run a dual reactor, my 40G frag tank, and feed the refugium from it too. It's still throttled way back. Remember the more you throttle back the more efficient it becomes.

I'm not sure gph is open to interpretation. It's pretty black and white. What are you looking for?

Give us an idea of the tank size, layout of where tank is compared to sump, etc, etc. I posted a pic of my sump room in the January POTM thread. You can have a look. I have about 14.5" of head which was calculated by the owner of Reeflo after giving him all the details of 45 and 90 degree bends. As mentioned, size of pipe, size of system and how much flow you want matters. What skimmer are you using? What is it's flow rate? What other powerheads will you be using in the tank? All will play a factor.

 

[shamous113]

Here's a head loss calculator posted on Reef Central, http://reefcentral.com/index.php/head-loss-calculator

 

[Poseidon]

Here's a picture of what i am thinking


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nighthawk26]

Lots going on there. Lot's of pressure pumps will require or very strongly suggest a 1.5" return line. That said, I have a friend who is also on this board @mmckaig who has 1" return pipes and recently moved to the same pumps as me and just adapted it and thus far shows no issues. Also, you will want to VERY strongly consider an emergency drain. And put a check valve on that return as well. Personally, as I did, I'd also run a balanced manifold for those reactors. Lots of other things I see in this diagram, but I have no idea if it's an example you are drawing from, or your work, or if it's even final, and the "obvious" stuff you've left off. Also, all the other questions being answered will help further.

 

[Poseidon]

no its a rough draft for sure. all my drawing
The idea is that the entire system, ( whatever is drain-able) can drain into the stock tank without it overflowing.
therefor that is my emergency system lol

 

[Nighthawk26]

Ok, so IF that drain becomes clogged, how exactly do you stop the return from emptying that entire stock system tank, frag tank, and sump up in your living room with an overflowing tank?

I mean there would be ways I suppose by using an Apex or something and switches with floats to shut off the return pump if the water got too high in that stock tank. But then you'd also have whats left in the drain and the return (if you don't use a check valve coming back as well. Don't forget to calculate that water.

 

[Poseidon]

ahhhh i read your first post wrong.. emergency DRAIN lol
yea there will probally be two if not three drain lines. i like herbie style

 

[reef keeper]

Go bean animal

 

[Poseidon]

Go bean animal

i would if i had my own tank built, but im most likely going to have to find a used one and save up for a new one in a couple years.

 

[mmckaig]

I have a 1" return. The manufacturer told me that it wasnt enough volume of water but it is plenty as far as I am concerned... the powerheads move a ton of water in the tank so, as long as we have enough volume moving to take out detrius to skimmer all is good....

 

[Neopimp]

Reeflo Hammerhead Gold here - running Barracuda impellor.
3 - 1" drains as Bean SEtup... Pump pinched back. Did run 2 siphons with a single trickle for a while but for peace of mind went back to 1 siphon. Should have gone with 1.25 or 1.5"
Do not like how the pump requires seals.. Magnetically coupled pumps avoid that. Panworld/Iwaki styles etc.

 

[reef keeper]

i would if i had my own tank built, but im most likely going to have to find a used one and save up for a new one in a couple years.

He's an idea. Call concept in Calgary. The tanks are great and you can get them for around the price of a perfecto SHIPPED!

See if they have any cancelled ones. And do the same with miracles. I just don't like used displays. Some have had a hard life