Any Advice

[BLEEDSALT]

I am thinking of getting a 125 with 55 gallon sump. What size pump should I return my water with? I know it has a lot to do with plumbing size also. With that said, what size should it be drilled for with what pump, if that makes sense, I think I confused myself and I'm typing it . TIA
Chris

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I have a Mag Drive 12 for my 120. I could use a smaller pump probably and use more powerheads to make up for the total turnover rate that I need. The turnover depends on the type of corals you want to keep. If you want to keep SPS's primarily, you need the tank volume x20 at least (125 x 20 or more.) For LPS's or softies tank, you only need about x10. You don't want too big of a return pump because you will end up with too many bubbles in your sump which tend to get into your display as micro bubbles. It is noisier, too.

Tomoko

 

[gflat65]

I run (2)-Hagen 901's (don't think they sell these any more-the new ones are crap) on roughly the same set up. I like redundancy, though. I figure I probably get about 8X turnover through the sump (40X+ total in the tank)..

 

[Mariner]

I have a Mag 7 and a Mag 5 on my 135g, which has a dual center overflow and dual returns. I really don't know how good or bad this is, but it works, and I like the redundancy -- if one pump freezes up, I've still got circulation.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[8BALL_99]

I use a Eheim 1260 on my 300 and another 1260 that feeds my 92 and a 40 gallon frag tank. Doesn't take much for a return. Just enough to keep your skimmer and Heaters doing their job. I use to try and max out my overflows, But this really doesn't help you. Not only does it take more power to get flow against the head pressure. It also just adds noise and like Tomoko pointed out it might also cause Micro bubble issues in the displays. A pump around 600Gph to a Max of around 1000Gph would be my choice. As far as what pump thats really just up to you. I like either Eheims or Ocean runners Myself. Mag pumps aren't bad but their GPH is very over rated and they also use more power and generate more heat then other similar sized pumps.
If your talking about what size drains should you have it drilled for. 1" bulkheads or sort of the standard drain size for small-Med sized tanks. I'd drill it for atleast 2 drains and just run the returns over the back wall.

 

[swearint]

I am using an OceanRunner 3500 (900 gph) on my 125g as my main pump. I also have another pump, Poseidon PS4 (1250 gph), on a closed loop. You can also slightly oversize the main pump and throttle it or tee a line off and feed another device.

Todd

 

[BLEEDSALT]

Good deal. The set-up I am looking at has a 125 main, with a 55 sump, and a I wanna say mag 12. Never really done the whole overflow, and sump and all. Guess you can't get to the ocean without walking through the sand though. Just get ready when I start going nuts on how everything needs to be to get a better running system, well at least opinions on what everyone thinks anyway. TIA
Chris