Flow through sump and Refug?

Envy07 · #1 10/15/2007, 10:25 PM

How much flow should go through the sump and the refugium? I plan on tee-ing off the return to control flow through the refug, but I don't know what pump to get. The return will be hard plumbed at 3/4" diameter reaching a height of 4.5" with two 45 degree elbows and one 90 degree. Water will exit from one opening.

The sump is a 10g AGA and my drain hole is 1.5". I heard that if the flow is too slow, then such a big drain hole will create loud noise.

Is 10-20X through the sump and 3-5x through the refug the rule?

Any inputs will be appreciated...

vader88 · #2 10/15/2007, 11:13 PM

I'm running 5x through my sump/refuge and 25 x turnover in the display. I have on drain coming into the protein skimmer section, water then flows into the fuge, then flows into the return area. I'm going to run a mag 9.5 which will give me right about 600 gph which is also what my overflow handles.

Playa-1 · #3 10/15/2007, 11:42 PM

I would go for 3 to 5 times flow through the sump and something similiar through the fuge. High flow through the sump often causes drain noise and micro bubbles.

Envy07 · #4 10/16/2007, 11:30 AM

But is it true that slow flow can also create noise from the drain if the drain is big enough? My is 1.5" in diameter

Thank you for the replies

Envy07 · #5 10/16/2007, 08:45 PM

Anymore advice

Playa-1 · #6 10/16/2007, 09:01 PM

I would think that low volume would make less noise regardless of you drain line size but i could be wrong.

masher09 · #7 10/16/2007, 09:20 PM

go to melevsreef.com

75% through your protein skimmer and 25% through your fuge.

Envy07 · #8 10/16/2007, 10:06 PM

So what pump should I get for my 29g DT and 10g sump with 4.5" height, (2) 45 elbows and (1) 90 elbow? Also should I go with a sump design where the return pump is tee-ed off to the refug or should I put the refug between the drain/skimmer chamber and return chamber?

The pump i was thinking is the via aqua 1300 rated at 400gph

Playa-1 · #9 10/16/2007, 10:26 PM

I think it would be nice to be able to control the flow thru the fuge seperate from the flow thru the sump so my vote would be to tee off of the return line or maybe the drain line.

Envy07 · #10 10/16/2007, 10:35 PM

yee playa i guess ill stick with my teeing of the return plan. I was thinking of teeing of the drain but then there will be flow control issues.

What pump should I get?

Playa-1 · #11 10/16/2007, 10:47 PM

I would plug in your information on the headloss calculator on the main page to determine what size pump you need. You might go a little larger if your going to be teeing off of the return line. I like eheim pumps myself but i'm sure there are other ones out there worth having.

realest · #12 10/16/2007, 11:49 PM

I have to agree on the less flow more noise. I have a 55 gal tank and a overflow box rated at 700gph. I have a rio 2500 pump rated at 780gph.

I ran all flex hose for drain and return. Everything was running great and never bother me.

I recently added a check valve on the return hose and it restricted alot of flow on the return.

In which case, it slowed my drain. Now it is making alot of noise.

It sounds alot like the drain like is sucking a whole lot of air!!

Playa-1 · #13 10/17/2007, 01:33 AM

I've worked with check valves for years and they have a real bad habit of failing. I wouldn't trust a check valve in a SW system.

It's interesting on the noise created when you slowed your return volume down. I guess they are all a little different and that is why so many people have trouble with drain noise.