How do I know how much water is going thru my overflows?

[falcam7]

My tank is a 135 gallons 72" x 18.5" x 25". The overflows are 23" x 5" x 5" each side has 8 opening, each opening is 1/4" apart and they 1" deep cut. It drains into a 1" bulkhead. But to the bulkhead right now I have the Durso pipes at 1.5 PVC plumbing. From the overflow it goes back to a 1" pipe into the 29" sump.

How do I figure out how much water is going thru my overflows? 600gph, 800gph, 1000gph, I do not have any clue. Maybe once I figure that out I can figure out what kind of pump I need. :cry: :(

Thanks,
Carlos
The reef rookie

[falcam7]

Sorry my overflows are at the back corners of the tank one on each corner. Like I said each side of the overflow is 5” x 5” and each top side where the water enter the overflow chamber has 8 opening grooves.

Thanks, just wanted to clarify.
Carlos
The reef rookie :?

[don-n-sa]

If I read you question correctly you are asking how much water is going through your overflows? Well...that depends on the return pump you use.

I believe the question that you want to know is how much water flow can YOUR overflows handle. For example: If you have a return pump the moves 1200gph, then your overflows need to be able to handle 600gph each. Now there are other factors that you need to consider...like head pressure, which is flow loss due to moving water up and through elbows.

Who made your tank/overflows?...if you can find out what your overflows are rated at in GPH that would be heplful in determining what return pump you should get.

I recommend the circulation rated Pan World/Blueline pumps for returns, they are external, and they are super quiet.

Hope this helps!

Donny

[CD]

I believe the question that you want to know is how much water flow can YOUR overflows handle. For example: If you have a return pump the moves 1200gph, then your overflows need to be able to handle 600gph each. Now there are other factors that you need to consider...like head pressure, which is flow loss due to moving water up and through elbows.

Who made your tank/overflows?...if you can find out what your overflows are rated at in GPH that would be heplful in determining what return pump you should get.

Donny

Donny,

The question that Carlos is asking is how much flow can his overflows handle.
There is 1- 1" or 1.25" bulkhead in each corner inside the overflows.

Carlos- can you confirm this bulkhead diameter?

I believe that these may have been installed after the fact due to 3 bulkheads in bottom of tank outside of the overflows. I didn't pay super close attention to the overflows so I cannot say whether they were actually factory installed.

Chris

[falcam7]

don-n-sa ,

You are right on the money. Right now I am using an external old quite one pump. As far as I can tell it is rated for 1100 gallons, but I do not know for sure.

The sump that I have under the tank right now is about a 29 gallon size. My new sump(which is not under the tank yet, until I figure out the pump and plumbing issue).

Is the one I am try to buy the new pump for(internal or external) is almost 50 gallons(remember I am redoing all my plumbing before the new sump goes in. I am looking at 1.5" PVC return to the sump and maybe 3/4" or 1" back to the tank)

Since the tank was giving to me, I do not think that the person whom gave it to me, even rememebrs any of the questions you are asking.

Maybe CD will chime in, since he saw my setup last night. Let me give you a brief description of what I have right now.

don-n-sa: I hope you and everyone out there is ready for this long description of my return plumbing to the tank :lol:

From the sump 1” bulkhead to the external quiet one pump. From the pump it comes out and it gets reduce to ¾ from there it goes to an ¾ 90 elbow straight to another ¾ 90 elbow, then down to the UV light ¾ threaded in to the UV light.

Then it comes out the other side of the UV light ¾ up to a ¾ tee, from the ¾ tee it reduces to ½. Then the ½ goes left and right (2 ½ straight pipe) to a ½ 90-degree elbow at the middle bottom of the tank. Then since the return bulkheads are in the middle of the tank (do not ask why, because I do not know) from there it comes into the (middle, left and right sides) tank, to a ½ 90 degree elbow to the back of the tank to another ½ 90 degree elbow, not it s going up to the top of the tank to another ½ 90 degree elbow and into the tank.

I am exhausted after explaining all that. It is better to look at it. CD chime in when you can, since you saw what I am trying to explaining. :cry: :? :(

Is ther any hope for my setup........ :( :( :(

don-n-sa thanks for trying to explain thing to me. With all of you fellow club members, I knw I can figure it out.

Hope to hear from anyone soon... :( :( :( :(

Thanks

[falcam7]

CD,

thanks for jumping into help. The return bulkheads in the overflow are 1" (which they were bigger)

[falcam7]

Wished*