steve_karen
Member
How many GPH return pump should I be looking for? I have a 55 gal. The sump will be 55 gal as well.
return pum?
- Thread starter steve_karen
- Start date
AllenFord_SC
New member
IMO I would get a small return pump, say 500 GPH. Then add a closed loop to add more flow and do away with any powerheads. A Mag 7 will give you 480 GPH @ 4ft head. This pump can be submersed or used externally. I would go for a Little Giant 2 MDQX-SC for a closed loop pump. It will add 770 GPH to your flow. This will give you a total flow rate of 1250 GPH and a 22X turnover rate. Here is a link to both pumps.
Mag 7
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=DN1125
Little Giant 2-MDQX-SC
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=LG2125
Mag 7
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=DN1125
Little Giant 2-MDQX-SC
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=LG2125
I'm a fan of relatively low flow through the sump... I run about 1 1/2 times my tank volume (my tank is 135 gallon) through mine... quiet and no micro bubble problems to deal with.
Melev (of Melevs Reef site) says 3 to 5x tank volume per hour through a sump is adequate-- this is on his web site.
It really can be a personal preference... some people don't want powerheads in their tank so run massive flow through their sump with multiple returns-- but sound and micro bubbles can be a problem so a good design is important if you do this... also whether your tank is drilled might be pertinent in giving you advice...
Melev (of Melevs Reef site) says 3 to 5x tank volume per hour through a sump is adequate-- this is on his web site.
It really can be a personal preference... some people don't want powerheads in their tank so run massive flow through their sump with multiple returns-- but sound and micro bubbles can be a problem so a good design is important if you do this... also whether your tank is drilled might be pertinent in giving you advice...
Agu
Premium Member
Will there be other sources of water flow ? How many returns ? What will be in your sump ?
IME too much flow through a sump is counter productive if you have a fuge or skimmer in the sump. Plus bubbles returning from your sump can be problematic. I'd say a pump in the 700gph range would be about right for most setups with other sources of flow. After plumbing and head you'll move around 500 gph, split into two returns that would be about right.
jmo,
IME too much flow through a sump is counter productive if you have a fuge or skimmer in the sump. Plus bubbles returning from your sump can be problematic. I'd say a pump in the 700gph range would be about right for most setups with other sources of flow. After plumbing and head you'll move around 500 gph, split into two returns that would be about right.
jmo,
It really depends on your overflow.Is this tank reef ready?Or are you going to use a hob overflow.Then you need to match the gph of the overflow with the return pump.I have a 800gph overflow with a mag 9.I just throttle it back so the overflow can keep up with a ball valve.
You dont want to match the return pump to the overflow. The return pump has to have less flow than the max capacity of the overflow.
Your setup is a little unusual with an equal size display and overflow. Without knowing details of what the sump is used for (fuge, size/type of skimmer), type and capacity of overflow, its hard to say, but the 3 - 5x rule is a good bet. I'm not the biggest Mag pump fan, but for those, a Mag5 or Mag7 would be good since the sump is so big.
Your setup is a little unusual with an equal size display and overflow. Without knowing details of what the sump is used for (fuge, size/type of skimmer), type and capacity of overflow, its hard to say, but the 3 - 5x rule is a good bet. I'm not the biggest Mag pump fan, but for those, a Mag5 or Mag7 would be good since the sump is so big.
