Isaacs55
05/31/2015, 11:38 AM
I already posted this in a different thread but I feel like it should have its own thread so people who are new to the hobby are aware of how much gph they are really getting or what they should strive for. It's alot easier to check in the beginning when you start a build before you start throwing a ton of equipment in the sump.
Anyways here you go...
My tank isn't fully set up yet, (no sand or rock uet) but I have already tested and checked my water flow and I know exactly how much water I'm pushing an hour. I'm running a Rio 2500 which is rated for 700-750 gph. At my 3 feet of head loss im pushing exactly 450 gph. Now let me explain how I figured out the exact amount of gph my tank is getting.*
What I did, and what I think everyone should do, is measure exactly how many gph they are getting. A lot of people think they are getting a certain amount, but have never really checked. They read what everyone says they should be getting or they read it off the back of the return box....this isn't always the case, because it can be different for everyone.*
Now, to really be sure and check how many gph you are pushing, you need to measure by sticking a 2 or 5 gallon bucket in your sump, whichever fits, and stick it right under the water from your drain line flows so the water fills up the bucket. Now here's how you measure....however long it takes for the water to be filled up into the bucket from your drain line is how you are going to measure. Once you have calculated how many seconds it takes to fill up that bucket, all you have to do from there is simple math to get to the hour. So for my system I used a 2 gallon bucket, because that's all that fit in my sump. It took me between 16 seconds to fill up my bucket. Math part....
60/16= 3.75 x 2 (#gallon of bucket you used)*
3.75 x 2 = 7.5
7.5 x 60 = 450 gph
So if you're using a 2 gallon bucket and want at least 400 gph, then you should aim for at least 18 seconds to fill up a 2 gallon bucket, which will put you right at 400 gph.
Now we do this because we use gate valves for a herbie method at which we have to tune our systems to be ultra silent.*
I hope this helps and I hope this wasn't too long too read...
I'll try and make a video on my youtube channel to further explain if you guys would like to see how it's done.
Thanks guys.*
Anyways here you go...
My tank isn't fully set up yet, (no sand or rock uet) but I have already tested and checked my water flow and I know exactly how much water I'm pushing an hour. I'm running a Rio 2500 which is rated for 700-750 gph. At my 3 feet of head loss im pushing exactly 450 gph. Now let me explain how I figured out the exact amount of gph my tank is getting.*
What I did, and what I think everyone should do, is measure exactly how many gph they are getting. A lot of people think they are getting a certain amount, but have never really checked. They read what everyone says they should be getting or they read it off the back of the return box....this isn't always the case, because it can be different for everyone.*
Now, to really be sure and check how many gph you are pushing, you need to measure by sticking a 2 or 5 gallon bucket in your sump, whichever fits, and stick it right under the water from your drain line flows so the water fills up the bucket. Now here's how you measure....however long it takes for the water to be filled up into the bucket from your drain line is how you are going to measure. Once you have calculated how many seconds it takes to fill up that bucket, all you have to do from there is simple math to get to the hour. So for my system I used a 2 gallon bucket, because that's all that fit in my sump. It took me between 16 seconds to fill up my bucket. Math part....
60/16= 3.75 x 2 (#gallon of bucket you used)*
3.75 x 2 = 7.5
7.5 x 60 = 450 gph
So if you're using a 2 gallon bucket and want at least 400 gph, then you should aim for at least 18 seconds to fill up a 2 gallon bucket, which will put you right at 400 gph.
Now we do this because we use gate valves for a herbie method at which we have to tune our systems to be ultra silent.*
I hope this helps and I hope this wasn't too long too read...
I'll try and make a video on my youtube channel to further explain if you guys would like to see how it's done.
Thanks guys.*