Pump recommendations?

[Lakeside518]

I'll be setting up a 120 RR tank. I will be using a 30 gal sump to hide my skimmer, probes, heater, UV & phosban pump.

Trying to decide which to use. I have used the head loss calc. several times with various pumps.

It will be an internal sump pump. I'm looking into Mags, Quiet one, and Eheim pumps.

The tank will have Dual Mega Overflows. Stand will be 36" tall, tank is 24" tall so combined vertical of 5ft.

Do most people use 3 to 5x display size for flow? Or can you go larger?

Seems like most use closed loops and powerheads for added flow. I would like to keep the pumps to a min. Keep the electric bill lean if in anyway possible?

I'm looking at:

Quiet one 4000 or 5000
Mag 12
Eheim 1262

Do any of these fall in where i should be? Or are they to little or to much flow? I can give pipping plans if needed-basically pretty simple little to no elbows. Will be using 1" and 3/4" black vinyl tubing adapted to the pvc return on the Megaflow.

 

[scottyc1]

mag 9.5 is plenty,get your flow in the tank via poerheads.

 

[Ken668]

If you are looking to keep PHs out, then those return pumps might be on the small side for your size tank. Depending on what types of corals you want to have, you typically want to aim for 10x+ tank size for flow. More likely 15-20x+ though if you are not using power heads.

I personally like the QOs. I have 3 of them in my two tanks. Some people say they have problems restarting after losing power, but I've never seen it. Low energy cost, low price, low heat, and high flow. Good all around.

The Eheims are excellent pumps. They are whisper quiet, decent pressure rating, and low energy consumption. They do cost a little more though.

If you want to keep everything together with one pump and not have any other powerheads, closeloops, etc. you might want to look into a Sequence Dart. Relatively low power, very high flow, decent price.

 

[Lakeside518]

Do you think the Eheim 1262 (80w) and say 2 - Seio powerheads would be enough flow and what size? I would also still be running my Magnum 350 canister for carbon. Maybe just one powerhead? If so, what size? The 820 or possibly a 1100. I'm kinda leaning towards the 1100.

I have no desire to do hard corals. I do not want a calcium reactor or PH controller, no Co2 bottles.. Keep it semi simple.

 

[Ken668]

One would be a good start, but you might want to consider either (2) 820s ,(2) 1100s, or a combination of each. If you aim them at each other from opposite ends of the tank, you will create random patterns of flow which will tend to eliminate more dead spots in your tank.

 

[michaelg]

I'd go with a mag.