FOWLR... how much flow needed?

[VictionOne]

How many gph's does my sump return pump need to flow for a 150g FOWLR? Will this be enough flow or would I need to add a powerhead or closed loop pump system for water circulation?

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

It all depends on what type of fish you want to keep. If you want Lionfish, you don't want to have much flow, if you want Tangs, you would want a fair amount flow, etc.

HTH

 

[JVITAL55]

You want to turn your water over 5 to 10 times per hour. So for a 125 your pump shoul be between 750 to 1500 gpm. I would go with the bigger one because you can always throddle it down. Just put a ball valve on the discharge side of the pump.

 

[stdreb27]

As a side note, you aren't going to want all your flow comming from your sump. You'll have bubble problems trying to get 1500 gph from the sump. I have a 180 with about 1000 gph comming from the fuge, and a couple large power heads providing the rest. My fish love it.

 

[VictionOne]

So about 5 to 10 times per hour turn over for the overall flow of the tank. I was under the impression that I needed about 25x turn over from what I have read on reefs so this sounds a lot better. How much flow should I have for the sump return and the closed loop system? Can I just run two return pumps and no closed loop system or will that still cause bubble problems?

My first will be a lion and I will choose the rest around it. Is 10x per hour ok for a lion?

Thanks for the help!

 

[WDWDen]

I'm not sure what my flow rate is, but I use 2 950gph's on my 180. I have them each throttled back a bit though. My lion fish absolutley loves the 1" return line. He gets right in the jet stream of water and stays there. His fins are all pushed back like he's flying. Its pretty funny to watch. We call it the E'A'C (from Finding Nemo). He'll get on there and stay for like 30 minutes at a time.

 

[stdreb27]

As far as the sump it has to do with the length of your sump. Mine is only 3 feel long, and with bubble traps, anything over 1100 gph created bubbles.
As far as total flow it depends on your fish, I have alot of flow 2 seio-1100 and a panworld 150 (if I remember right) That is 3000 gph of flow,.

 

[JVITAL55]

I am confused as to why you would have bubbles. My pump puts out 5000 gph. and I never see any bubbles. As long as the level in your sump is high enough, you shouldn't get any bubbles.

 

[stdreb27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11162668#post11162668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JVITAL55
I am confused as to why you would have bubbles. My pump puts out 5000 gph. and I never see any bubbles. As long as the level in your sump is high enough, you shouldn't get any bubbles.

How did you do it? I never could get the falling water to not bubble up in the first chamber, I went with a larger md-70 and it turned my tank into a giant skimmer. The problem was the bubbles produced from the falling water into the sump didn't have the time to dissapate before they got to the pump.

 

[VictionOne]

Now I understand... the bubbles are created from the water entering the sump.

So I should be aiming for about 1000 gph through the sump and the rest through powerheads or closed loop pumps correct?

I don't understand why there should be so many bubbles if the dump tube is below water level. Are these bubbles being created when water drops fown from a intake overflow?

 

[JVITAL55]

I put a micron bag in the sump. So the pipe that comes into the sump goes into the micron bag. It filters and contains the bubbles.

 

[stdreb27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11165032#post11165032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by VictionOne
Now I understand... the bubbles are created from the water entering the sump.

So I should be aiming for about 1000 gph through the sump and the rest through powerheads or closed loop pumps correct?

I don't understand why there should be so many bubbles if the dump tube is below water level. Are these bubbles being created when water drops fown from a intake overflow?

It will be created when the water falls the length of the tube. Even if the water enters the sump below water level.

 

[stdreb27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11165345#post11165345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JVITAL55
I put a micron bag in the sump. So the pipe that comes into the sump goes into the micron bag. It filters and contains the bubbles.

Just a plain ol simply micron bag? Without it you had bubbles? Can you send me pics? How long is your sump?

 

[JVITAL55]

You are right, I didn't think about that because with the micron bags, I never had that problem. Without the micron bags there would definately be bubbles. I will try to put up pictures, but it will probably have to be tomorrow.

 

[stdreb27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11166505#post11166505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JVITAL55
You are right, I didn't think about that because with the micron bags, I never had that problem. Without the micron bags there would definately be bubbles. I will try to put up pictures, but it will probably have to be tomorrow.

Please do, I've played with my sump about 8 times to alleviate bubbles and still have alot of flow and finally just gave up.

 

[JVITAL55]

Here is a picture of the sump with the bags in place and one with the bag off.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I don't have any bubbles in my sump as well, it is all how far away the pump is from the drain pipe, and your skimmer of course.

 

[stdreb27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11180742#post11180742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JVITAL55
Here is a picture of the sump with the bags in place and one with the bag off.

How long is it?

 

[JVITAL55]

I think its about 5' long. But as you see the length will help to dissapate any bubbles by the time it gets to the pump, but with the pipes going into the bags, there are almost NO bubbles. In the first picture the water is very calm. In the second pic. (without the bag) you can see the turbulance.

 

[stdreb27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11182386#post11182386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JVITAL55
I think its about 5' long. But as you see the length will help to dissapate any bubbles by the time it gets to the pump, but with the pipes going into the bags, there are almost NO bubbles. In the first picture the water is very calm. In the second pic. (without the bag) you can see the turbulance.

And you have 5000 gph going thru there! You don't even have any baffles!!! I'm excited. Your getting 5x the flow with 2 more feet.