pump size/# for 100gal???

[acrouse]

I need some experienced input! Starting a 100gal, LR,LS,with fish and corals in the future. LFS said my 1100 RIO pump along with the return pump would be more than enough to circulate my tank. (the turnover is approx. 10X per hour). However, my LR is curing now and I don't think the tank has enough waterflow because some rocks have no movement across them, and they are spread out. The pumps are at opposite ends of the tank and there seems to be dead spots. How many pumps do I need to add? More pumps or just larger ones? How much of a current is too much? Should I have a pump at the top and one at the bottom? Thanks for all suggestions and input, I really appreciate all the great information from this site!! As a beginner, I learn something new every time I log on!! Keep up the good work

thanks jolene

 

[ej1698]

I WOULD GET THE MAG 18 PUMP, MORE MONEY...BUT WORTH IT! VERY QUIET, I HAVE IT ON MY 90 GALLON AND I HAVE TO CUT BACK THE FLOW SOME WOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR YOUR 100 GALLON AND YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH FLOW.

EJ

 

[smcnally]

I go for a slower flow through my sump. I have a 125 and only use a MAG 9.5 for a return. I use powerheads for my flow.

 

[Avi]

Have your water pump do just about the maximum flow that your overflow is rated to handle (bearing in mind, "head loss" so take a look here: http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php ) and then chose some other method as well to bring the total waterflow in the tank to about 30 times in gallons per hour the volume of the tank which, in your case, is 100-gallons. So....a total of about 3000 gallons per hour is what I'd suggest you should shoot for. You can use a "closed loop" or any one of other methods, but if you want to use powerheads I would recommend Seios...they create a broader flow than most other powerheads, which is preferable to the narrow, stong flow. Assuming your overflow handles 600 gph, maybe two Seio 1100s or one Seio 1100 and two 820s.

 

[acrouse]

Sorry I did not explain correctly what Ive got! I have a 600 gph in the sump and one Rio 1100 in the tank opposite of the return, pumping 300 gph. The tank is 6ft long. should I put another power head low in the tank at the same end as the return?

thanks jolene

 

[ej1698]

I would, opposite side of the tank facing each other, one high, one low.

EJ

 

[ej1698]

the close loop idea is cool, i'm soon setting up a 125 tank and think i am going to do that

EJ

 

[Avi]

For a six-foot long tank that's 100-gallons, in addition to the return flow from the sump, I'd have at least one Seio 1100 on one side and another on the opposite side of the tank. Maybe even a Sieo 1500 on one side and an 1100 on the other.