Do I have enough flow?

[ahullsb]

I have a rio 2500 as my return placed down in my sump. I have also got two powerheads on either end of the tank for added current. I have a 55 gallon tank and a 20 gallon sump...(filled only halfway.) The rio on it's own is rated at 675 gph. I believe my other two pumps are about the same. Any opinions?

 

[frederickk]

I would say your ok. What kind of powerhead is it?

 

[zoomfish1]

I doubt you're getting 675gph from the rio with headloss. What size are the powerheads? As an example, a maxi-jet 1200 is about 270gph. You would need in the range of about 1400gph total flow, from all sources. More is better, less is, well, less.

 

[reefnetworth]

10X's to 20X's volume is normal. you loose head pressure the farther the water has to travel from the sump. if you had two PH in a 55 pushing 675 ea? that would be 2,025 GPH between all 3.
JDM...

 

[papagimp]

fwiw, nobody here has mentioned yet that the flow is all going to depend on the life you keep in the tank. I have a 55g myself and tried a maxijet1200 modded to 1500gph. Too much flow. I went to a seio (1500gph) and turned it down a smidge. Still have a smidge too much , but okay.

 

[zoomfish1]

True. With fish only, they don't like so much flow. SPS like a ton of flow. 40-50x wouldn't be too much. Depends on what's in there.

 

[ahullsb]

I will have to check when I get home in a few hours. The RIO is rated at 675 but you are right, it is pumping vertically 3 feet or so. The other two powerheads are covered in coraline and I bought them used. I will try and get specs when I get home. I guess I'm wondering if two decent sized powerheads in the display would be enough to supplement my small return pump?