Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Alright, gotcha.
123 Watts
I can get DWV any size, and Schedule 40 any size, not sure what SW is.

SW = Stormwater

I'm just guessing but most pumps need ~300mm of coverage with about 200mm for the pump that means that you want a minimum depth in your sump of around 500mm. Below this and there is a risk that your pump will suck air or overheat.

From you diagram that gives a static head of 2m.

You have only 1 IBC FT? So 1000L/hr would be enough or do you want to turn your tank over more than once per hour?

Ah, you're right, the plan is once per hour, and with a static head of 2 meters, the model 4000 (rather than the 5000) would give me about 1700 Lph, which would be more than enough. My original idea was to oversize the pump and divert the excess back to the sump. But sounds like the 4000 would be over sized enough. I may still be able to get an exchange from the company I bought it from, I haven't used it yet.
BTW, nice flow & efficiency graph.

If you can exchange it is there another model that has a better efficiency. The Laguna range has an efficiency of over 30% rather than less than 15%. The extra electricity you use with a cheap pump can make it much more expensive in the long run.

Also remember we haven't answered your original question of what sized pipe to use. Until we do that we can't account for the dynamic head which combined with the static head gives the total dynamic head and will allow us to predict the flow.

The static head wont be 2.5m- as there will be water above the pump. How high is an IBC anyway?

As already stated:

Different IBCs have different configurations but generally 1 to 1.2m tall.

I can do an exchange, and the company I ordered from also carries Laguna Max Flo. Is there a specific model you'd recommend? I can't seem to find a flow diagram.
Mine is 1.2 meters.

http://www.creativepumps.com.au/

Have the laguna pump curves.

I could post a graph but I'm running out the door and won't be near my computer for a while.

Laguna 5000 seems to be the one that will pump at my head.
Here are my options http://www.columbiawatergardens.com/Lag ... pt8240.htm
The Laguna 1350 (USA) is the same as your 5000, per: http://www.lagunapondsshop.com/Max-Flo- ... -p-46.html
But your site says the 5000 runs at 65 watts, while that site says 75 (my first site is definitely wrong, the 1350 definitely doesn't run at 1500 gph. That's why I'm checking it's info against other sites).

According to Lifegard Aquatic's website, the Quiet One 3000 runs at 49 watts, it also would pump enough water at my head.http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/product ... ro-series/

Just a couple observations, what do you think?

It will depend on how big the friction losses are. Even moderate friction could add 300-500mm or more to your head.

Two ways you can approach this:

1 use a really big pipe and assume the fiction losses are 0 which they will be is the pipe is really big. How big is really big will depend on your flow. All fiction is a factor of pipe water velocity so the slower the water the less friction.

2 Do the calculations and size the pipe accordingly.

Thr advantage of 1 if that it is simple but potentially more expensive.

The advantage of 2 is that you won't be spending more money on unnecessarily large pipes.

Having said that 90mm SW is one of the cheapest pipe sizes you can buy and it will handle flows for most small systems with ease.

I can't seem to find SW pipe for sale, the only sites that have it are fillintheblank.com.au. Is it Australia-only? I can buy 3 inch (76mm) or 4 inch (101mm) pipe, not all that cheap, but probably cheaper than shipping SW.