Is an Ehiem 1262 enough return for my 180?

MarineGirl411

New member
I have an Ehiem 1262. Will this be an acceptable pump to use for my return? I have a reef ready 180 AGA. It has 2 overflows. If this pump will not be enough, what would? I have been told a couple of different things. Please let me know. TY:wave:
 
I think they tated at 3000L right, well it will work. Eheim silent, compact and very powerful pumps that will give you years of service. Go for it Girl.
 
Depends what you want that pump to do.

If that is the sole means of moving water in that that tank, I would say no (unless it's specifically set up for low flow creatures, seahorses, etc).

If its simply to move water from the sump to the main tank so it can be skimmed, warmed, etc, then absolutely. The amount of water that needs to move between the two areas was (still is?) often over done. I've heard rules of thumb of 10x your volume and nearly want to choke. IMO your most efficient use of moving water should be in the tank itself anyways.

If its to have some meaningful flow from your returns... well maybe. Depends how far it needs to go, how many bends and twists in your pipe, that sort of thing.

So there yeah go, no, yes maybe. In all seriousness it really depends on what you want to do. Just remember a submersible pump will put roughly the same amount of energy into your tank as a heater of that same wattage. Some people go with really large submersible pumps because they actually want the heat, I mean why not get some useful water movement out of that heating anyways.
 
Depends what you want that pump to do.

If that is the sole means of moving water in that that tank, I would say no (unless it's specifically set up for low flow creatures, seahorses, etc).

If its simply to move water from the sump to the main tank so it can be skimmed, warmed, etc, then absolutely. The amount of water that needs to move between the two areas was (still is?) often over done. I've heard rules of thumb of 10x your volume and nearly want to choke. IMO your most efficient use of moving water should be in the tank itself anyways.

If its to have some meaningful flow from your returns... well maybe. Depends how far it needs to go, how many bends and twists in your pipe, that sort of thing.

So there yeah go, no, yes maybe. In all seriousness it really depends on what you want to do. Just remember a submersible pump will put roughly the same amount of energy into your tank as a heater of that same wattage. Some people go with really large submersible pumps because they actually want the heat, I mean why not get some useful water movement out of that heating anyways.

Couldnt have said it better myself...
I have a 1262 for my 225g, it works perfect. I have 2 Tunze 6200's for the inner tank flow.
 
I will have 2 vortechs for flow in the tank. I wanted to put 2 3/4 in SeaSwirls for the returns. If that would have no benefit at all, then I will skip those and sell them. I will not run a chiller etc, so I hope the pump will be fine. =) Do you think 2 vortechs are enough flow for the 180? Or would I need more? TY
 
I will have 2 vortechs for flow in the tank. I wanted to put 2 3/4 in SeaSwirls for the returns. If that would have no benefit at all, then I will skip those and sell them. I will not run a chiller etc, so I hope the pump will be fine. =) Do you think 2 vortechs are enough flow for the 180? Or would I need more? TY

Depends on what you plan on keeping. I will have only 2 Tunze 6100's in my 180 as I will be mostly LPS and softies whith an occasional stick here and there.

Jeff
 
Mixed reef. SPS, LPS, some zoanthids. Should I run a closed loop as well? That was my initial plan. I scrapped it due to the noise.
 
Mixed reef. SPS, LPS, some zoanthids. Should I run a closed loop as well? That was my initial plan. I scrapped it due to the noise.

I didnt want to run a closed loop due to the extra pump and plumbing. You can always start out with 2 Vortechs if this is going to be a tank started from scratch, otherwise I would add at least 1 more if not 2 if you are going to transfer from another tank or tanks.

Hope that helps you!
 
Wow. Another vortech or two? I am going to go broke. =( I will be transferring my other corals from my other tank. I don't have many SPS right now. Just montipora's. Mostly caps and digi's. I also didn't want to run the closed loop due to the power consumption.Since I already have everything for it, should I just hook it up as well? I have never set up a tank this big before. I don't want dead spots.
 
Mike said it perfectly above.

I use a 1262 on my ~180 gal, and it feeds my chiller before entering the display. Additional supplemental flow is in the tank via PHs.
 
Okay. I will just use the 1262 for a return. That sounds good to me. Less money. Do you all think I should run a closed loop as well? I have the upgrade impeller for my sequence snapper to make it a super dart. Or I could just use the snapper.
 
Yup more holes, means more place it eventually will leak. Plus the downside of the external pump is that they are all super power hungry but because they're not in the tank you don't get the benefit of a free heater :D

I'd sell the snapper if possible, and get another vortech
 
I would use it on one of your overflows and add another for the other over flow... To clarify.... Have two pumps in your sump and have each one return through individual returns.... When you tee off the return you'll loose quite a bit of the pumps effectiveness.... Straight flow on that pump will give you a full throttle approach to circulation. A cls is always a great idea! If you need to feel safer regarding leaks then use schedule 80 bulk heads or drill the back panel of glass instead of the bottom using sch.40 bulk heads... Keep in mind that sch.80 vs. Sch40 the hole size is almost dbl the size for the higher pressure bulk heads.... The cls will allow you to run 10 times or more flow rate through the tank than you can run through your sump.... Don't over titen your bulkheads or they will leak and definitely don't silicone them instead of installing the gaskets..... You can add silicone around the edges after you tighten them but let the gaskets do their job. ;-)
 
I think the 1262 is more than enough. I use one as a return on my 180 and also feed my overhead fuge with it.

Additionally I have a closed loop (1300gph) thru a 1" SS and recently added my fourth MP40 (but I have alot of rock).
I actually thinking of running the return thru my SS and killing the closed loop. The external pump is loud.
I do love the way the sea swirl "crosses paths" with the vortech currents. With each change of direction of the ss, the in-tank flow reverses.
I'm happy with the setup!
 
Wow. 4 vortechs? I already have 2. Waldomas what external pump are you running for your closed loop? I love the seaswirls as well. I kind of hate to get rid of them, but my pump is too loud for me. I was thinking of running them on the return, but when I talked to the Sea Swirl company they said I would not notice anything if I use the ehiem 1262. They suggested I get a return pump of 1200+ gph. Do you have pictures of your 180 Waldomas?

Atlantic I have thought of that before.

Zaheda, I have thought about tunzes before. I was thinking of the 6025's and then possibly modding them.

SF I may have to do that.

Stunreefer, do you have pictures of your setup?
 
My CL pump is a corolife? I beleive its about 1300 gph and its thru the 1" SS.

It is kinda loud so thats why I'm thinking about just running my return thru the SS and killing the CL. I should probably downsize the SS if I use the 1262. I don't want too much flow thru my sump.

I love my vor-techs. I have one on each end and one on each side of my sea-swirl on the back center. It seems to create alot of random flow.

Sorry no pics.
 
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