Is 700GPH too much?

[Camel413]

Well I purchased the large pump because in the near future I plan on using all 2800 gph when I add my large tank. So if I am using a bit more energy right now thats ok, this way I wont have to upgrade pumps in a few months.

 

[LPS_Blasto]

I will just through this out there to stur things up.

The convention for sump/return flow is 3-5 times display volume. That would mean 90-150gph for a 30g display. 500gph on a 30g equates to 16 times.....I my opinion this is way too much. I only run around 300gph for return on my 90g with a 29g sump

I am setting up an ADA 30g with an eshopps sump (new refugium version) and I am only planning on around 150-200gph.

just my 2 cents............the flow rates listed above are after head loss

Agreed.

For a 30g tank you only want to run about 90 - 150gph through the sump. A Mag 3 would be just about right after 4 feet of head loss and pipe friction. Might even be a little too much, in which case I'd put a Tee in the line and dump the excess back into the skimmer compartment. Regulate with a gate valve.

Glass Holes is EXPENSIVE. You can buy your own hole saw online for about $3 and the bulk head for about $6. Have an internal overflow box built for about $35. Whats Glass Holes get for a 700gph overflow kit? $75 or $80? :hmm3:

You don't want to push all the water through the sump and try to get all the tank circulation like that. Run the sump 3x - 5x like arc eye said and use some power heads or even a closed loop for turnover in the tank. Use that Mag 7 for a closed loop and drill (4) 3/4" holes in the back of the tank for the returns. Drop the Mag 7 in the sump to keep it cool. Head pressure doesn't matter because it's all enclosed, so you're still gonna get about 600-650gph out of it. There's your 20X turnover in the tank.

 

[RokleM]

Well I purchased the large pump because in the near future I plan on using all 2800 gph when I add my large tank. So if I am using a bit more energy right now thats ok, this way I wont have to upgrade pumps in a few months.

:thumbsup: Can't disagree with that at all. You know you're going bigger and could get the pump to work now instead of having to buy twice. It's a good call.