Recommend a strong return pump for 90g
- Thread starter jarrod13
- Start date
JiveWalker
New member
couldnt you make a 4 headed return nozzle by splitting the return, and then splitting/reducing the splits?
Like stated model 7 more then likely means its a mag 7 so you might be getting 400gph of actual flow. With two return lines its only getting 200gph per pipe.......thus not much force coming out of it
Getting a new pump that does say 800gph of flow at actual head pressure is still only getting 200 gph out of each line, that is if you want 4 return lines which isn't very forceful coming out. If you want lots of force to move water around tank you might need closer to +400gph per return line to hopefully eliminate any dead spots...... However.... Someone else mentioned your issue which is the drain. Your tank probably has a single 1 in drain? Max flow is in the 800-1000 gph area for a 1in pipe.
If your overflow box has two bulkheads, 1in and .75 best bet would be to use both for the drain, that is if you want more gph then 800 or so.
If it was me I would add a ocean motion squirt with 4 return lines coming out. Get the squirts which does 1,2,3,4 and not 1 + 2 , 3+4 so each output gets the full power of the pump. Best way to reduce dead spots but yes...... The squirt ahas a small motor.
You could do the squid from a company I cant remember..... It uses the water flow to alternate the current. Thus creating a few more feet of head pressure to work.......
Also make sure your sump can flow whatever Extra flow you plan on running.
Getting a new pump that does say 800gph of flow at actual head pressure is still only getting 200 gph out of each line, that is if you want 4 return lines which isn't very forceful coming out. If you want lots of force to move water around tank you might need closer to +400gph per return line to hopefully eliminate any dead spots...... However.... Someone else mentioned your issue which is the drain. Your tank probably has a single 1 in drain? Max flow is in the 800-1000 gph area for a 1in pipe.
If your overflow box has two bulkheads, 1in and .75 best bet would be to use both for the drain, that is if you want more gph then 800 or so.
If it was me I would add a ocean motion squirt with 4 return lines coming out. Get the squirts which does 1,2,3,4 and not 1 + 2 , 3+4 so each output gets the full power of the pump. Best way to reduce dead spots but yes...... The squirt ahas a small motor.
You could do the squid from a company I cant remember..... It uses the water flow to alternate the current. Thus creating a few more feet of head pressure to work.......
Also make sure your sump can flow whatever Extra flow you plan on running.
How much flow will your overflow handle? IMO if you split the flow 4 ways you are still going to have dead spots because the volume is not strong enough to create enough flow beyond 18 inches from the end of of each return and if you step up the volume to increase pressure your overflow would need to be pretty big.
JiveWalker
New member
Just to be clear, I would split the loc-line with wyes, not the pvc. I'm sure that's what you meant.
andrzadr000
New member
At my LDS they have a 400g spa Dom tank and it has two rotating returns made out of PVC. Dont know what powers them to rotate. They also have powerheads though. It's pretty sweet.
jarrod13
New member
There is one 1" drain and one 3/4" return, only those two bulkheads, I'm assuming its the standard 90 set up (I bought it used). Do to the limitations of the drain is the reason I want to go with one of the DC pumps, so I can adjust it to have as much coming out as the drain can handle, even if I get the DC6000 which is rated at 1500 gph and I only turned it up to say 1000 gph, I'd be happy with that because it will help the longevity of the pump and use less power. If I crank it up to the max that the drain can handle and I'm still not happy with the volume I guess I could change the return bulkhead into another drain and just run a bigger hose behind and over the tank for my return right? Although I dont think it will come to that, I know I won't get every dead spot but there is so little flow in there now and with it only pointing in two directions anything has got to be better lol. I'd be happy with 4 returns putting out 250-300 each.
jarrod13
New member
Yes I was referring to using loc-line Y's not PVC, I actually went to my lfs yesterday to play with them and see how it looked, and I think it will work perfectly. Thanks for the heads up though :thumbsup:
JiveWalker
New member
I have a 90 and the 1" drain is pushing around 580gph at 4' head with a rio2500, not sure a 1" can do much more than that. What you can do is convert the 3/4" into a second drain and pipe the return over the back of the tank for close to 1000gph if that's what ur after
jarrod13
New member
Thanks that's what I was thinking too. Only other problem I would have with that is I would have to replace my wet dry with a bigger one, mine only has a single input on the top. That's the one thing I would really rather not change, hmmmm.... lot of thinking to do and lot of decisions to make. This tank has been running for over a year now without any problems and I hate changing things when they're going good, but I just really hate having powerheads in the tank. If I ever buy a new tank I'm definitely going closed loop. Here's a pic of the tank so you guys can see what I'm working with, doesn't it look so much better with zero equipment in the tank?!
Notice the two scorpionfish bottom right and the lionfish in the middle
JiveWalker
New member
I'm a fan of no equipment in the tank! Just drill an additional 3/4 inlet into your wet/dry. I say this, but haven't done it myself. Don't see why it wouldn't work though. I think you can accomplish what you want to do no problem!
Tank looks very cool!!!!
Due to sump input limitations...... Save yourself a bunch of hassle and just go buy a vortec mp-something. Mp10/20/40 would work and give you all the flow you need, especially if you get the 40. Yes you do have to look at a round thing in there but at least no wires to deal with and its not to ugly looking
With the controllers that vortec uses where they variety the flow I think its probably your best bet. Getting a new return pump I just don't see how you can gain much flow due to only being able to use the singe return line to the sump
Below is a short video of my tank.... I also HATE anything in the tank but felt a pair of mp60's was my best option. You can see them one on each end of the tank. I am thinking of adding another one or two mp20 or mp40's on the back..... The way your tank is you could hide them much easier then I can. My tangs kinda eat everything.......
http://s267.photobucket.com/user/sambaviggen/media/IMG_0236.mp4.html
Due to sump input limitations...... Save yourself a bunch of hassle and just go buy a vortec mp-something. Mp10/20/40 would work and give you all the flow you need, especially if you get the 40. Yes you do have to look at a round thing in there but at least no wires to deal with and its not to ugly looking
With the controllers that vortec uses where they variety the flow I think its probably your best bet. Getting a new return pump I just don't see how you can gain much flow due to only being able to use the singe return line to the sump
Below is a short video of my tank.... I also HATE anything in the tank but felt a pair of mp60's was my best option. You can see them one on each end of the tank. I am thinking of adding another one or two mp20 or mp40's on the back..... The way your tank is you could hide them much easier then I can. My tangs kinda eat everything.......
http://s267.photobucket.com/user/sambaviggen/media/IMG_0236.mp4.html
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