Best return pump for 180 gal. SPS tank

[reefez]

I'm building this thing from the ground up and really want to do it right the first time. How much flow do I need going through my return line? I have read that you don't want a ton of flow going through the sump. I have a large sump with a AquaC 240 skimmer. It is going to be a heavily stocked heavy bioload sps reef.

 

[reefez]

Anyone?

 

[jpitts101]

i've heard 850-2000 gph, but im not sure. i just started my 180 and bought a cheap pump thats going to do about 1000 per hour. i think that will do fine through the sump/fuge, but i do want alot of movement in my tank, so im going with good powerheads .

 

[jag1979]

for sps you will need over 5000 gph of flow. But you can't do that w/ a return from sump. I use 2x ehiem 1260's for my returns so that gives me about 1000 gph. So far I have another 2000 gph in powerheads and will add more as I add corals.

 

[Ah64av8tor]

Velocity T4 is the quietest pump @ 30db 1275 gph. I have used them for years and am going to use one for the return and one for the closed loop on my 150. They run hot but are dead silent. I would rather add a fan to keep the heat down than listen to a train in the living room.
You can get them at Champion or at Marine Depot

 

[reefez]

I was thinking a Poseidon or a Iwaki for the sump return, and a sequence dart on a closed loop. Still undecided.

 

[sjm817]

How large is the sump? You can put something pretty good size under a 180G. I'm using a Gen-X Mak4, but it is a basement sump setup. I wouldn't use it in a stand (noisy). If you wanted a submersible, I'd use am Eheim 1262. For external, Panworld 100PX.

 

[Craig Lambert]

Turn your 180 G tank through the sump 3-5 times per hour. 540-900gph.

 

[fish-freek-3000]

ya def. do a smaller pump. i run a velocity t4 on my 210. dead silent . you have to touch it to make sure it is running. and on such a big tank it is hard to heat up the water. i have teh t4, mag 9.5, sedra 3500, two sieos 1500s, and two 250 watt heaters, and is still took me a weak to raise my temperature to 82

 

[lawdog]

I second the Panworld I run a 100PX on my 250 as a return. It is quiet, doesn't run hot and seems to be extremely well made.

Check out the PW's and the Iwaki's... I would definately run an external pump.

 

[Ah64av8tor]

The Poseidon is the same as the Velocity, I have used the Iwaki's a 20, 55. and 70 and went back to the T4. (twice)

The Iwaki' 70 was in the fish room behind a wall and the noise was still un bearable.