pump question

[Dargason]

I just ordered an ampmaster 3000 pump because of the rave reviews, but I am now having second thoughts about whether or not it will fit the bill for my application.

I am installing my 200 gallon tank on the first floor, and I intend to have my sumps in the basement. The AM 3000 performance curves say that it will pump 600 gph at a head pressure of 14' feet, which I thought would be OK.

Now I'm starting to think about the impact the bends and horizontal runs in the plumbing will have on the head pressure and I am concerned that this isn't enough pump.

I already have an Iwaki MD70RLT. Can I plumb the two pumps in series, or should I cancel my order and get a bigger pump? Can you recommend a better pump for this application?

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

The AmpMaster is NOT a pressure pump so it is a terrible choice for pumping up to a different floor (sorry

)

Your Iwaki is a good pump for this, why not get another one? Between the two you should get over 2000 gph.

 

[Speed]

If you go to dolphinpumps.com and leave them a message about which pump would be best they get in touch with you very quickly. If you wind up with the pump and it doesn't work for you let me know since I will need another one this winter.

 

[Dargason]

Ok, I changed my order from to an Iwaki MD100RLT which the guy at reeffanatics says will give me about 1400 gph at 20' of head pressure. I figure I can run both pumps together to get plenty of flow and even have some redundancy.

How do you recommend I plumb them? Do I now have to run two separate return lines upstairs, or is there another way?

 

[Anonymous]

They can be run in series. Have the smaller force-feed the larger.

However, you'll get more flow plumbing them seperate AND if one fails down the road you'll still have plenty of circulation to keep everything healthy. Redundancy is a really good thing in this hobby!

 

[Anonymous]

I think it would be an advantage! High flow coral on the left, low flow on the right...

 

[Dargason]

Ok, if I run two lines upstairs, the easiest thing to do would be to have 1 go to each of the returns... but this would give me lopsided return water flow, with more current on one side of the tank. That's not a problem, is it?