Planning My Basement Sump

[Cod Fish]

I have a storage room right below my tank and I cleared it all out today in preparation for a basement sump. I've been searching a lot for discussions on return pumps and I thought I would ask everyone here although I'm sure the topic has been beaten to death. Should be between 9-11 feet to the top of the outlet. I'm running power heads in the tank and an internal skimmer so I just need water turn over.

 

[Cod Fish]

Anyone?

 

[sjm817]

90G with 25G sump in the basement? Do you want internal or external?

 

[Forfend]

What are you asking?

 

[sjm817]

I've been searching a lot for discussions on return pumps and I thought I would ask everyone here.

I think he wants a basement return pump recommendation.

 

[Forfend]

How much flow? Gph requirement? Turn over rate? Size of current.

 

[sjm817]

From what I can see from the post and his sig...90G display, 25G sump, not a lot of return flow.

For an external I would use a Panworld 100PX

 

[snorvich]

I use a Reeflo barracuda gold on all of my tanks (with basement sumps)

 

[Cod Fish]

Sorry most post was poorly worded. The display is a 90, the planned new sump is going to be a 55g. I'm wondering what external return pump I should get to push the water up 9 feet with the focus being on reliability and energey savings. Noise won't be much of an issue down there.

 

[Forfend]

RC has a calculator for headloss. Play around with the numbers and pump choices till you have a few that will provide what you want. Then research those models, making a model work for you will never happen. Will quietness really matter if the pump is in it's own room?

 

[sjm817]

Be aware many 55Gs are tempered on all 5 sides and can not be drilled for a bulkhead. IMO, a 40B makes a better sump since it is 18" wide. The Panworld I posted would be good for a modest flow rate.

A very good basement pump is a Gen-X Mak4. Its inexpensive, reliable, and pushes a pretty decent flow. It only uses ~ 100W. Its not a quiet pump, but thats OK for a basement pump.

 

[Cod Fish]

Has anyone used or heard of a "tiny might" pump? Are they junk?

 

[sjm817]

I've seen them. Spa pumps. I dont know if they are reef safe (metal parts). Got a link to what you are looking at?

 

[Cod Fish]

I just found this

http://www.pondpetsusa.com/water_pumps_ext/tiny_might_pump.html

 

[sjm817]

Looks OK. I would check to see if it is saltwater/reef safe before I would consider it.

 

[Cod Fish]

That site says 1,180 gph at 4 feet. I am unfortunately math impaired so I'm wondering if this pump would be sufficient. The reason I'm asking is because I have one of these new in my garage.

 

[sjm817]

Are there any metal parts in the pump/impeller area? Flow wise, it would be fine. How is the pump connected to the motor? Shaft or magnetic coupling?

 

[Cod Fish]

I'll

 

[Cod Fish]

I'll have to check. I bought from the owner of the largest LFS in town and he knows I have a reef tank so I would hope it's safe. How do I calculate how much turn over I would get?

 

[Forfend]

Look around the top or left side of the Website screen for tools or google search reefcentral headloss calculator