BB Return flow rates

[tcollins]

I'm currently BB and am upgrading to a 75 RR tank. My H&S A150, which arrives this week, is rated to perform best at 200 gph flow through. I plan on tee'ing off the drain to control the flow to the skimmer and directing the rest to a sock in the sump. I understand that I should expect about 600 gph from the drain.

As I'm concerned with energy costs and heat transfer, what return flow is recommended?

I currently have about 20x flow in the tank and plan on increasing this with either the Vortec or Tunze's.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

3x-5x display tank volume per hour is a good rule of thumb.

 

[tcollins]

So if I valve directly off of the drain, prior to the tee, I have the option of a pump rated from 225 gph to 600 gph?

Also, BB requires high rate internal gph movement and not sump pass through gph?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Sump throughrate is lower to allow more contact time in the sump for filtration(i.e. the slow input flow of your H&S).

No matter how you plumb your drains you will only drain the exact gph you return.

If you are running a BB SPS tank, then yes you want at least 50x in tank turnover and up to whatever you need to eliminate dead spots to keep all particulate matter suspended to be able to be removed by filtration.

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

If I were you, I would run ~250gph-400gph return pump. I run ~550gph after head loss for my 110g BB SPS tank.(in tank is ~80x)

 

[tcollins]

Thanks, now it's a question of Eheim, Quietone or Iwaki? What do you run?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Oceanrunner....less expensive choice of Eheim. I personally would use either of those or the Iwaki if your sump is drilled. Big 'no' on the not Quiet One, lol.
-ime

 

[ITGUY]

TC I am running almost the same setup as you. I run an Iwaki. It's both quiet and efficient.

Barry

 

[tcollins]

ITGUY,

What model Iwaki are you running? I just looked and the smallest one I saw was the MD20RLT, 420 gph for $160. They don't give the watt consumption though.

 

[ITGUY]

I have the 40 something like 130W?
I am running closed loop via tee through 1" Sched 40 with a height of 48".

See links-
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/21891/cid/1927

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/popup.productImages/iid/21891

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Iwaki's are 'great' pumps, but since you don't need that much flow save the wattage and money and get a submersible if you have the room in sump.
-jmo

 

[tcollins]

If I went with the Eheim 1250 at 317 gph would I be a little underpowered? I'm also concerned about the in/out connections, 3/4" in and 1/2" out, or isn't this a concern?

The 1260 is a little overpowered but it'd give me a little more flexibility, of course the power consumption is 2X.

Would the 1250 be a good choice?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

317gph before head loss is not quite enough in my opinion. the 1260 is a great choice. The 3/4" in doesn't matter because it will be in the sump, so no plumbing on the input. The 1/2" out should be ramped to 3/4" or 1" for least flow restriction to work the pump less. A ball valve would let you tune flow to wherever you wanted as well.
An oceanrunner 3500 would also be a great choice for less. Also ball valved as that will push more than you need it to.

 

[tcollins]

Thanks guys, I'm going to order the Eheim 1260.