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So, I've now almost entirely completed my DIY sump/overflow. I have a 29 gallon main tank with a 10 gallon sump. Without getting into the dirty details, the two “sketches” depict the plumbing.

I am having trouble deciding which pump I should get.

Here are the totals:

45 Elbow: 8
90 Elbow: 1
180 “T”: 3
Exits: 4
True Union Ball Valve: 2
Swing Check Valve: 1
Horizontal Pipe:
Total: 72”
1” PVC: 20.5”
¾” PVC: 51.5”
Vert Pipe:
Total: 60”
Vert Up: 43”
Vert Down: 17”


I guess I really don’t know how to put in a head loss calculator, because I’m using two pipe diameters and “T’s”

Thanks for your help!

jmara attached this image:


Last edited by jmara at 19-Dec-2005 23:03[/font]

-Josh

sketch two:


jmara attached this image:


-Josh

shoot for 500gph and install a ball valve on the output side of the pump so you can control flow....always go bigger than you think you need on the pump so you can adjust the volume up with the ball valve as the impellor wears

I am glad that you responded because I was about to order a Mag 9.5 That would have been a little much, huh? Do you recommend that brand?

Last edited by jmara at 24-Dec-2005 14:41

-Josh

should I shoot for a gate valve instead of a ball value? I've heard they are more easy to "fine tune"

-Josh

the 9.5 would be fine since you can ball valve it down...and yes, the mag drive brand is an excellent choice.

As far as the ball valve vs gate valve.....ball valves work fine on things other than skimmers

Wow...I just thought of a question that I probably should have asked a long time ago (like before I had my plumbing set all up)....

The output of the pump is 3/4" and my plumbing is right now 1". Pumping into a larger diameter pump is not going to hurt anything, correct? I just need to put a reducer on the pump thread, correct?

-Josh

It will be fine..it will actually be better because you will get more flow with less velocity Just use a reducer bushing and you will be fine