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mcgyvr · 12/04/2017, 11:51 AM

Don't complicate it..The "recommended" rates are so generic anyways there is absolutely no reason to get so "fancy" with your calculations....

I have never calculated any elbows,etc.. into any "ballpark".. (now I "might" throw in a fudge factor if my pipe work is going to be "complex" due to some reason)
I just go.. "Ok this pump says it will do 300GPH at 5ft of head.. My tank is about 5 ft above my sump.. My display tank is 80 gallons... So 3 x 80G = 240GPH.. close enough.."

If one were to really be "fancy" about it they would look at the uptake/processing speed of whats in the sump as thats what really matters.. No point in pumping water through it at 300GPH if all the equipment can only process 50GPH.. And there are just way to many variables to even calculate that..
Ballpark it and go..

12/04/2017, 11:51 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Don't complicate it..The "recommended" rates are so generic anyways there is absolutely no reason to get so "fancy" with your calculations.... I have never calculated any elbows,etc.. into any "ballpark".. (now I "might" throw in a fudge factor if my pipe work is going to be "complex" due to some reason) I just go.. "Ok this pump says it will do 300GPH at 5ft of head.. My tank is about 5 ft above my sump.. My display tank is 80 gallons... So 3 x 80G = 240GPH.. close enough.." If one were to really be "fancy" about it they would look at the uptake/processing speed of whats in the sump as thats what really matters.. No point in pumping water through it at 300GPH if all the equipment can only process 50GPH.. And there are just way to many variables to even calculate that.. Ballpark it and go.. __________________ Who me?