Many, many circulation pumps in a large footprint tank. What's the best 1000g?

[guserto4]

I figured I'd crowd source this one both in equipment and also big tank forums, as this idea is a big tank problem. Basically, if I wanted to follow Ching's logic and do multiple sump return pumps (how about 12?!) for a 9'7" x 4' tank, what is the best ~1000g pump considering efficiency, power, longevity, price, etc. because using so many, those issues stack WAY up.

Full explanation:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2278966

Thanks!

 

[sfsuphysics]

Had me confused for a moment, thought the tank was 1000g, not the pump you want was 1000gph.

If you were dead set against using power heads in the tank (which IMO, is a bit silly since you have a tank with such a large footprint they're not going to be terribly noticeable) I'd probably go with the Waveline DC series of pumps, maybe wait out until the DC6000 becomes available since that can be controlled externally .. but at around $240/pump it's going to be a costly option with 12 of them. Maybe go with a bigger pump, and split the return to multiple outlets?

Also you mention efficiency, well no return pump is going to match the flow efficiency of an internal pump along the lines of Vortech, Tunze, etc.

 

[guserto4]

Thanks for the suggestions Mike. I want this tank as clean looking as possible and wires and powerheads will get in the way aesthetically- and considering this tank is only 15" tall, which with 3/4" acrylic really only means a 13.5" interior, then minus sand... I'm just going to blow the crap out of everything adjacent to any powerhead or return line with a lot of power behind it, hence the idea of breaking the tank into zones. If you think of a nearly 10' by 4' tank instead as 8x 40 gallon breeders, 1 pump each that is producing ~500gph flow starts to make a lot more sense for a reef tank (IMHO) hence my desire to do many, many smaller return sump pumps (submersible or not). Danners, eheims, Rios, Tunze (really like the idea of the variable speed silence line, but that's more in the DC6000 price range you're describing), etc. $100ish/ 700-1000gph pumps. I just don't know which.

Maybe I could combine specific feed lines and reduce it down from 12, but then I lose a little bit of the control-ability (though maybe not much).

I posted this in the equipment forum too and so far got railroaded back to MP60's and 1 or 2 big return pumps. I just don't think that will work for the odd dimensions of this tank; there isn't the water column to absorb 1 or 2 big gph units and do things "normally." Sure as a BB FOWLR, but this will be a reef tank- softies, zoas, and plenty of LR/sand dune aquascaping.
This tank requires finesse.

 

[guserto4]

hmmm I've been reading up on those DC6000's... NIIICE LOOKIN PUMPS. Maybe I do 6 of those and strategically feed each to 2 return spots- would end up about the same $$ as 12 lower end pumps AND the DC's are variable (controllable with the APEX, big plus). HHMMMM.
Thanks again!

 

[peppie]

Why not drill the tank and do a Closed Loop?

 

[sfsuphysics]

Another flow option since your tank is so flipping large is to build a false wall along one side, put some Tunze pumps behind it with holes just so the nozzle is peeking through. The idea is you have holes in the wall in addition to your outlet holes so water can get in, think of it like a Tunze wavebox just with holes to let water in. You'd probably only need to sacrifice a few inches of tank space and it keeps that clean look, hell you could work it so you don't even need to permanently attach the false wall, use something like magnets to hold it in place. Just a thought.

Also you can have a full blown reef tank without sand too ... In fact if you really only have 15.5" of water, I might do without sand, no sense in sucking up even more of that. That is unless you're going for a shallow reef biotope.

Either way, can't wait to see what you end up doing.

 

[guserto4]

I'm into the shallow reef biotope... I have some sketches but I'll come up with a few renderings too- I fear I'm not articulating the 'genius' (lol) of what I'm after and I totally get the conveyance of information a graphic can have over words. Plus I've only spoken about 1 side of the circulation, the feed lines in, and have said nothing of lines TO the sump so maybe this doesn't make sense unless it's complete system talk. My apologies for only talking this out (I go straight for pics when trolling RC myself).

I like the idea of drilling the tank (all 8 bottom feed lines) and doing closed loops, which is what I was thinking but just a little less traditional closed loop and more of a hybrid with a 'secondary' water volume. I also really like the idea of a false wall, may have to incorporate that somewhere somehow.
Let me provide a comprehensive explanation of the circulation I was contemplating, then judge it/me all ya like!
Stay tuned, graphics to follow...

 

[guserto4]

Ok, explained this out (hopefully) thoroughly in a prebuild thread. See:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2279241