Question about Water Flow Rate

[One Salty Dog]

I will soon be upgrading my pump to a volicity T4 with 1 inch input and outputs. I was wondering if I would in effect create a lot of addition head if I split the output in to 2 - 1/2 inch feeds and use these universal jointed return tubes.
Rob

[mouse6196]

Reducing the opening basically creates greater current. Maintaining the outlets at the largest possible size creates greater waterflow. A lot of people confuse or think that current adn waterflow are the same. Think of it as current is the speed the water is moving at, adn waterflow is the amount of water that is circulating.

Answer to your question....by reducing your output from 1 inch to two 1/2 inch outlets...you will maintain the same waterflow, and increase your water curent...therefore, it's a good idea. I hope this makes sense....

:D

[ReefVan]

Yes and that gismo he wants to use has at least (3) x 90° bends, thereby increasing the effective head the pump has to work against...

[One Salty Dog]

Yes Reefvan I was more concerned about the 90 degree turns then the change in size. I am sure I read somewhere that every 90 degree turn in a water line is = to 1 foot of head? If this is the case I will have at least 7 additional feet of head because there will have to be a "T" reducer used as will. What I really want is the universal joints at the ends. I may just cut them off at the top just above the movable joints and use a loop in the supply line. If I do that I will add about 1 foot of tubing at each one and lose 4 90 degree corners. No matter how I do it the water line has to go up, over and down into the tank.

[mouse6196]

Yes...I left that part out not to complicate things...to avoid 90 degree turns I use the loc tite fittings....I find the flow much better with these...

:)

[ReefVan]

Here is the RDO pump reference document. In this document you will find the link to "Engineering the Plumbing System", which is an Excel spreadsheet.

http://reefs.org/library/pumps/

This downloadable spreadsheet is an excellent tool for doing all your flow calcs and de-bunking plumbing myth and fiction.... ;)

Enjoy :thumb:

[One Salty Dog]

Hi Mouse
I just did a flow rate calculation at RC and they say I will be left with just over 1000 GPH if I can keep the hose size to 1 inch right up to the very end. I will also run only one supply line up to the top edge of the tank and the rest will be horizontal flow. I think if I can get about 1000 GPH with the slightly increased pressure I will be OK. Where can I look at theses loc-tite connection?

[One Salty Dog]

Hi ReefVan ... was there supposed to be a link there ? I would like to check that out.
Rob

[ReefVan]

O.K,

My bad :eek: it's done...

[One Salty Dog]

Thanks

[Toutouche]

Mouse,
When you're talkig about the water current increase or decrease in the sense that you mean, it's called the " velocity". Current is yet ANOTHER thing.

[mouse6196]

True....I just like to keep everything on the KISS theory...

I'm not sure where the LOCKTIGHT connectors are found anymore. There are like snakes of tubing connected by ball type joints...I can't even find a pic on the net of them as I forget how you spell the name...mayne someone else can get s pic up and help out where to find them????

:)

[One Salty Dog]

Yes I have seen them is a few of the posted tank PICS. My real concern is total water delivered to the tank from the sump and filter system. It looks like I should be able to get somewhere between 1000 and 1100 GPH even with the U tubes. The tank is 100 Gallons so that should be more then enough circulation given that there are also 4 power heads in it. ReefVan posted a link to a very good site but I must admit there is a lot of math to be done to come up with the actual flow rate. I have already got the pump at this point and can avoid using those U tubes if I am not happy with the flow rate. I will use this velocity T4 pump strictly to lift water from the sump to the tank and use my existing pump to run all the in sump equipment.

[Toutouche]

This is 1 place that I know many people use for it. The product you are looking for is called " Loc-line".

http://www.savko.com/

[One Salty Dog]

Great link Toutouche .. Lots of nice for neat and tidy plumbing Stuff
Thanks
Rob

[mouse6196]

That's it...Loc line....I love the stuff. lets you easily direct flow (until corraline algae sets in) and you lose less flow than placing 90 degree turns in your piping.

:)