How many GPH for return pump?

[AquaSeahorse]

I have a 75 gallon aquarium and am using a tidepool II sump. How many GPH should my return pump be? I am currently pushing a pump with 296 GPH and someone told me I need somewhere around 500. That seems to be a little overkill to me. Thoughts?

 

[badwrasse]

10x's the volume so if you have a 100gal tank you want a pump that will do 1000GPH but a little more would be best because you will have some head loss by the time water reaches the tank so in this case I would shoot for like a 1100-1200 Gph pump

 

[badwrasse]

seems ok to me.
I have 700GPH on a 90 after head loss. they have a head loss calculator on the main page of RC to figure up what you are really running

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

You have to consider how much gph your overflow is and what kind of head loss you have. http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php

 

[patsfan1130]

I dont buy into running insane amounts of water through my sump. I agree with sugar, you need to account for head loss and your drains. On my 75 I run a Mag 5 wide open with approx 4' of head loss.

 

[fishnub]

that calculator is awesome, helped me alot in picking my pump

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15436174#post15436174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by badwrasse
10x's the volume so if you have a 100gal tank you want a pump that will do 1000GPH but a little more would be best because you will have some head loss by the time water reaches the tank so in this case I would shoot for like a 1100-1200 Gph pump

IMO that is way too much flow through the sump/fuge. Should be closer to 3-4 times. Too fast of flow through the sump could cause micro-bubbles and shorten the contact time for your skimmer/fuge. If you want high turnover in the tank itself, either use powerheads or a closed loop.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I use an Eheim 1260 for the return pump on my 75g tank. Just make sure your overflows can handle whatever you decide on.

 

[agarza]

10x your water volume is correct and a good standard, however it does not have to come all from your return pump, part of a sump purpose is to catch detritus and if you have lots of flow there you won't achieve it. If you're happy with the flow in your sump with your actual pump compensate the extra flow in the display tank with power heads o a closed loop.

Cheers!

 

[REEF DOCG]

10x's the volume so if you have a 100gal tank you want a pump that will do 1000GPH but a little more would be best because you will have some head loss by the time water reaches the tank so in this case I would shoot for like a 1100-1200 Gph pump

Is this based on tanks with sumps? head pressure?
What if its a small tank AIO 25GALLON. Is 10x's still a good factor?

 

[GimpyFin]

I agree with the folks that say about 3-5x tank volume through the sump per hour. Don't need 10x or more especially with good flow in the tank.

 

[Bent]

I was always taught that it depends on the skimmer.

 

[davocean]

3-5x turnover is what most of us go with, but yes you do also need to know what your drain and overflow can handle.
I think you are fine right where you are.