Can I split my Reeflo Dart 4 ways?

What would be the desire for lower flow? Just curious ...

 

Typically the flow rates suggested for sumps are under 10x turnover...often more in the 3x-5x range. The theory is the sump is more "efficient" at lower flow rates. Assuming you're running a skimmer in your sump, one part of the equation is the lower flow rate allows the skimmer to work more efficiently (ie it processes more waste vs. just more water). Also, a lower flow rate can allow more settling of "fines" in the sump where they can be cleaned out easily. It's one of those topics that people will argue both sides, LOL! I've personally found a slower flow in my sumps works best. In short let the sump do the job it's designed to do and let powerheads, closed loops, etc. provide the flow they are designed for.

 

i concur as well.. i have found powerheads in display and lower flow rate thru sump works better.. tried a few setups in my 8 years of reefing lol.

i have a mag 24 on my 270 which is around 1450 gph at my 6 foot of head... so im doing around 5-7 times turn over... running koralias in my display...


a friend of mine rand a dart on a 150 that tank never ran right.. he tried it the way your talking about and it was always a headache... especially since he maxed out his overflows... he had no room for error.. if a snail or something gets in his overflow.. he was cooked.

he ended up with tunzes and throttling back his return..

not wanting to be a party pooper :-/ but when ive seen the destruction of certain methods i always chime in ... hopefully to save someone some headache and time lol

sometime running a tank like tim the toolman (not saying thats what your doing by no means ) it ends up biting you in the end...

my 270 is my favorite tank yet.. i have the room to work in it.. i can add a tang if i want.. the stability of over 300 gallons for error of margin... and its setup very simple... you probably wouldnt belive it if you saw it lol...

i mainly run softies and lps but they are thriving lol... i have no redslime algae and i clean my acrylic maybe once a week if that...

 

You can put a SCWD before the Tee at the top of the tank to make a wave maker effect.

 

I am not trying to disagree or throw a wrench in anything I just have a question.
If a skimmer or other equipment I'd designed with a pump that pumps ??gph through it, doesn't the same amount if water still go through the skimmer or other form of equipment? I don't see the flow through the sump as being detrimental to how effective a piece of equipment is.
I might just need a little education if I am wrong, or is this where the 2 sided argument comes in?

 

IMO in a closed system flow through the sump is not that important.While the main benefit of running less flow through the sump is less power usage, as far as the benefits of using more or less flow in the sump I don't think you would notice a difference in how the sump is performing either way within reason.Before there were PH's we used the RP for ALL our flow and skimmers still worked just fine.
Lets say you are running 400 gph through the sump.Your skimmer is rated at 400 gph. You are in theory getting 400 gph of totally clean water.
Run 800 gph and you are still getting 400 gph of clean water.

 

I'm in agreement here. Sump flow shouldn't matter, altho slower flow thru a fuge may be beneficial. That being said, I actually don't worry much about the flow beneath the tank...I set the system up, and it runs how it runs. As long as I get what I'm looking for in the DT, I'm fine (I'm a huge fan of CL's tho).

I'm also a big fan of SCWD's. :thumbs_up

 

Thanks Vinny. That answered my ? My thoughts were on the right track.