Pump confusion.

SuzLucky

SuzLucky

New member
I'm researching pumps for my refugium/sump and I have become very confused. What's the best way to go. Submersible pump or outside the tank pump. There are so many options. I'm beginning to think I'll hire this done because it's too confusing. Dan leaves week after next for 8 weeks and I really wanted this done before he left. Just can't find the time to finish. I am looking at least 20 feet of pumping.

So what's everyone's opinion? And have you found any place that sells the pumps locally? BTW: I got burned twice by e-bay and don't use them.
 
your right there are many ways to do this!is your sump drilled?im guessing your sump is in basement?submersible pump will transfer heat to the water.somepeople use a big pump to return the water i use a smaller pump less gph and use more lower wattage powerheads in tank for circulation as im trying to keep the electric bill down.i know im not being much help just giving you more to think about,its all what fits your tank !
 
i think an outside pump would work best this way you can use a very low gph pump lets say a mag 2, or 5, this way you can host certain creatures in your sump, and your macro doesnt blow all over the place...i host pipe fish in my sump where they have lots of pods and critters to munch on...my fuge goes straight to the sump then to the tank then back to the sump with a ball valve on it to control flow to the refugium...
 
My favorite pumps are velocity (poseiden) pumps. They are external, the are silent, and very well made.

I have sequence pumps and they are good but they are audible.

I do not like internal pumps at all. Of course I have a few but I use them for once in a while type stuff.

Good luck
 
Re: Pump confusion.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6936703#post6936703 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SuzLucky
I'm researching pumps for my refugium/sump and I have become very confused.
Click to expand...
Now you're confusing me !
This pump is going to be the main circulation pump for your entire system, right?
 
i have the impression that his fuge is separate from the main supply, if not why would he need a pump, just use the overflow from the main to go to the fuge then to his sump then back to main, while using a valve to control flow to refuge....
 
I went and took pictures to better illustrate what I am planning on doing. I have two tanks that I want to hook together in the basement. I plan on plumbing them into the 125 that is upstairs right above them. I can't decide what type of pump I should use to get the water to them upstairs. I also want to add a spray bar to the tank at the top along with the one that is currently in the tank at the bottom. Looking to do a closed loop system. I am then hoping that I can get rid of the powerheads inside the tank upstairs.

Full tank shot as it looks right now:
Fulltankshot3-12-06.jpg


Refugium:
refugium.jpg


Sump:
sump.jpg


Placement of both tanks:
plannedpositioning.jpg


Placement of skimmer until I can afford the ASM G3:
skimmerplacement.jpg


I plan on placing the heater down here also. I have several lighting options available. PC, refugium light, or strip light. Probably will hang whatever I decide over it. Unfortunately the RO/DI unit in on the other side of the room but I think I can run a line to a bucket that will be placed next to the unit on a shelf.
 
JMO#1: I would use a pressure rated pump to move water from the basement to the upstairs display aquarium. This pump would be your main circulation pump. (You don't have to drill a sump to use an external pump.) A submersible pump (such as a MagDrive) is another option for the main circulation pump, but there are reasons to avoid using such a pump. (Such as heat transfer. With a closed top display aquarium such as yours, Sue, a submersible pump might cause the aquarium to run very hot.) A closed loop would use an entirely different pump and would not be tied into any other plumbing. A Sequence Dart would be a great choice for the closed loop.

JMO #2: Personally, I would recommend that you avoid multiple sumps/refugiums. It's possible to make a system so complicated that it's no longer a pleasure to own. Keep it simple. One large sump can also contain a refugium. Get a big skimmer. Powerheads are good because they change up the flow. Get MJ1200's and put tham on a wavemaker. I have 9 powerheads in my aquarium and nobody really pays much attention to them.
 
what type of lighting does that tank have....i think you should use a 3000-5000 gph external pump if not more, if it were me i would go with 8000gph just to make sure i would have flow to wherever whenever i feel like it...ill link a few sites for them...this way you could run the powerheads and spray bars and run sump, fuge, and maybe skimmer pump all from one pump....just use lots of valves so you can control water flow to all the powerheads and skimmer and spraybars....wish i could do that, my house isnt that big
http://www.aquauniverse.com/compone...product_id,1025/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,31/
aquauniverse
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=554
Champion Lighting & Supply :: Lighting :: Metal Halide :: 250W Double Ended Lamps
 
I have power compacts on the big tank right now.

Gary, I was hoping to utilize the two tanks to add more size. Originally I was going to put the glass tank under the big tank but it doesn't fit but a 1/4 ". Due to space issues I thought this was a good solution. Probably won't happen anytime soon. I'll keep reading what people have to say.

Thanks for all the help.
 
Gary, not looking to step on experience here, but she is looking at 20+ feet of head pressure. She will need to go with a high volume pump that @ 20 feet will turn over her 125 gallon tank 5 to 8 times atleast. Maybe even more. So Sue is going to need a pump that will give her say 1000 gallons an hour @ 20 feet.

Sue, even though it may be a 5000 gallon pump @ 0 feet, it may only be 1200 @ 20 feet. This is what you need to look for. I just went to the basement and my first pump was a Mag 36. I soon found out that was not enough flow for me. I went with a Sequence. Yes audible, but not that bad in my basement.

JMO!!!!!!!!!
 
thats what im thinking, and the best pump i seen was a sequence at 16 ft it had 2200 gph, but at 20ft it will be much lower, and too run all the powerheads and skimmer, minus another 1500gph, and your left with 700 for the spray bar...that was around $350, so i personally would go with a 5000 gph at 9 ft, this way by the time it gets to where its gong you might have 2000 gph....but im not a pump expert, never tried different kinds...at 20ft
 
20' of head is goin up 3 floors. I would use the headloss calculator to find out how much head there is.

A sequence dart may be a bit much unless you are an sps(acro) freak. 2 velocity t4s would be great for closed loops. A t4 isn't too far off from a mak4 as far as pressure ratings. I wouldn't use a mak4 unless it was in a very isolated place, not under a bedroom, etc..
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6941113#post6941113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kent E
20' of head is goin up 3 floors. I would use the headloss calculator to find out how much head there is.
Click to expand...
Agreed. The main aquarium is directly above the proposed sumps in the basement. Is it
really 20' of head?
Next- consider the animals that Sue is keeping and the fact she also wants a closed loop or will be running powerheads. She doesn't require a 10x per hour turnover out her main pump!

Just as an example- I'm using an Iwaki 100RLT as my main circulation pump on a 225 with 20' working head. There is no reason that Sue would need a pressure rated pump larger than this one.
 
I had a 70 going up 1 floor and it was WAY to much. A 40HD (the one with 1" fittings) or a 55 is the answer for me
 
Hi Sue, I do agree with the low flow to the sump but not for electrical savings. You get much better skimming, it is quieter due to lack of water rushing into your over flow, less splashing and turbulence in the sump area decreases salt build up on everything. The one thing I caution you on is that you need to make sure the pump you buy has to be able to handle the head pressure you have.
 
Electrical savings are a good thing. So is having a pump that will operate optimally with the head pressure it will be working under.
Skimming is an entirely different topic best left out of this already confusing thread, but before somebody gets the wrong idea-
low tank turnover does not provide better skimming!
Sue has a "Starboard Reef".
Ideally, this type of reef aquarium should feature very efficient skimming, very good water circulation and a high tank turnover.
The concept behind BB/starboard is to remove DOC's as quickly as possible. High tank turnover can afford better skimming, but low tank turnover will do nothing to improve skimming.

The actual rate a skimmer works to remove harmful substances depends on the processing rate/efficiency/type of the skimmer and how quickly unprocessed water is fed into it.
 
20 feet may be a bit much. I was figuring up to the tank from the basement is 10 feet, add plumbing across the floor at another 8, plus also needed for curves, if there are any.

Now can you see why I'm confused? I so want to get this going. Probably why Dan hasn't acted on it either because it is confusing. Would like to keep electric costs down if possible. One of my main concerns with this addition. I've done a lot of reading of other threads of what people are doing. All kind of molds itself together.

Thanks for the help and assistance. I'll keep reading what everyone has to say.
 
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