Yes it is alittle big for my setup but I run my BRS dual reactor, fuge, frag tank and recirc my sump. If I had to do it again I would get one smaller. There are 2 elbows on the way up. And various ball valves.
I'm thinking the impeller could be alittle out of round. When I put the impeller back in the housing I spun it and it seemed to be out of round by just a hair.