Return Pump for 180 gallon reef ready??

[youngguns27]

Need some help with return pump for 180 Marineland Perfecto with 4 - 1inch holes. The choices are the Mag 12/18 or Sicce 5.0. The drains they say are rated for 600-700gph. This would be with about 3-4 ft head height. I am moving from a 45 gallon cube and have used a Sedra but it is okay on noise.

 

[Drae]

Sicce over the mags. Laguna 1500 over the sicce. Quietest return that I know of besides the dc pumps. Trust me about Laguna they're the shizz.

 

[youngguns27]

Will the Laguna 1500 run dual returns to a head heights 3-4ft and still deliver enough for my 180??? I have dual 1 inch drains that are rated at 600-700 gph a piece.

 

[BigKahuna]

I have my Laguna 1500 as the return on my 150DD running a manifold that feeds a bunch of things and it can still overwhelm the overflow if run flat out. I think the limiting factor on the Marineland reef ready tanks is the overflow itself, not the drains. The Laguna 1500 at 5 ft head is still over 1200 gph. You don't really want 1200 gph through your sump though, you'd still be better off running a manifold and running reactors etc. Don't try to get a big chunk of the flow in you tank by way of your sump return, get flow pumps in the tank for that.

 

[youngguns27]

I have my Laguna 1500 as the return on my 150DD running a manifold that feeds a bunch of things and it can still overwhelm the overflow if run flat out. I think the limiting factor on the Marineland reef ready tanks is the overflow itself, not the drains. The Laguna 1500 at 5 ft head is still over 1200 gph. You don't really want 1200 gph through your sump though, you'd still be better off running a manifold and running reactors etc. Don't try to get a big chunk of the flow in you tank by way of your sump return, get flow pumps in the tank for that.

Thanks for the info!! I bought 2 WP-40s for flow in the display but I thought the drains would drain that much and the return had to match the drains???

 

[Down]

I honestly have very little intelligent to contribute other than a somewhat similar comparison. I went from a MAG 9.5 to a Sicce 4.0 and couldn't be happier. When I upgrade, the Lagunas will get a hard look from me too though, I've heard a lot of great things.

 

[BigKahuna]

Thanks for the info!! I bought 2 WP-40s for flow in the display but I thought the drains would drain that much and the return had to match the drains???

Yeah many people think that when they start out but the pump sends the water to the tank and the quicker it sends it the quicker the level rises in the tank and the quicker the water will fall over the overflow. If the pump is slower it just goes over the overflow slower. An underpowered pump is safer than one too powerful because if the drains and overflow get overwhelmed the tank could overflow. With a reef ready tank when there is no pump running the water level can only drain as low as the top of the overflow. If you have a pump that returns 100 gph back into the tank from the sump that 100 gph will go over the top of the overflow and no more. It's all self limiting.

 

[ca1ore]

It is unecessary, in my opinion, to run vast quantities of water through overflows and sump. Just need enough to maintain temp and skimming. Far better, and more economical, to use circulation power heads in the tank to meet flow requirements. On my previous 180, I only ran about 500 gallons per hour through the sump and it was more than sufficient.

 

[Drae]

It is unecessary, in my opinion, to run vast quantities of water through overflows and sump. Just need enough to maintain temp and skimming. Far better, and more economical, to use circulation power heads in the tank to meet flow requirements. On my previous 180, I only ran about 500 gallons per hour through the sump and it was more than sufficient.

Yep. I personally would have had about 720gph or 4 times the display volume but your gph was probably more then sufficient. I bet your skimmer worked great too, skimmers like lower flow, less bypass. I suggested the Laguna because you can valve them down and with reactors and head pressure he'd be just fine.

 

[azjohnny]

I have run a Sicce 5 and Laguna 1350 on my 180.

When I ordered my 1500 I got a 1350 instead and thought ***!.....From what i have heard the 1500 has been replaced by the 1350 which has a computer chip that helps with reduced energy consumption. I still have to valve the pump back about 50%. I was happy with both the Sicce and Laguna pumps, both are quiet but i think I do prefer the Laguna. The impeller seems to be a higher quality.


As some of the other posters have said be prepared to reduce your flow. Instead of comparing your flow to your display tank I compare it to the actual water volume in the sump which I keep around 20x. Any more than that and it gets too turbulent and your filtration becomes less effective ( skimmer, reactors, ATS)

If you do go with a Laguna you will need a stand since they are designed to run on their side .

Check out this thread

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2211056

 

[scuzy]

I am using the Diablo dc10500 quietest pump I have ever use not even a hmm sound

 

[indyjaco]

Eheim 1262. It will do what you want.

 

[blazzing_ray]

im using a bubble blaster 7000

 

[youngguns27]

Thanks RC Members,

I have had tanks for the past couple of years and learn something new everyday. I really do appreciate the knowledge.

 

[DavidinGA]

Eheim 1262. It will do what you want.

That's what I'm running on my 210gal.

 

[Sonicboom]

Waveline dc 10000 on my 180. 1 1/4" durso drains, 1" return plumbing off of a true wye pipe. Running it at 50%

 

[youngguns27]

That's what I'm running on my 210gal.

Are you running any reactors?? Also are you running a single return line or dual??

 

[DavidinGA]

Are you running any reactors?? Also are you running a single return line or dual??

Dual return lines, plus I T off some into the fuge.

I run reactors on independent pumps on an as needed basis.

I'm not a fan of huge return pumps myself; seems counter productive to hurry the water through your filter area... I also don't subscribe to using your return pump for tank turnover rates; I run two WP40'S for that ;-)


I also suggest an in sump pump for added safety and simplicity.

 

[Teaggs]

Bringing back the dead thread....I need some info PLEASE. I feel the more I read here the more I think I might have too much return pump. I have a reef ready Oceanic 135 currently with a mag 18 running back to two 1" returns. Inside the tank I have a korilia Magnum that is 2750 gph. Sump is about 20 gallons of water volume at the depth I keep it. There is quite a bit of flow. No corals in the tank, just aggressive FOWLR. Ive had the mag forever now and don't know much about the other pumps out there these days. What are some recommendations for my setup? I want in sump not external. I also have everything hard plumbed with pvc.

 

[Sonicboom]

Bringing back the dead thread....I need some info PLEASE. I feel the more I read here the more I think I might have too much return pump. I have a reef ready Oceanic 125 currently with a mag 18 running back to two 1" returns. Inside the tank I have a korilia Magnum that is 2750 gph. Sump is about 20 gallons of water volume at the depth I keep it. There is quite a bit of flow. No corals in the tank, just aggressive FOWLR. Ive had the mag forever now and don't know much about the other pumps out there these days. What are some recommendations for my setup? I want in sump not external. I also have everything hard plumbed with pvc.

I used to run a mag 18 on my old 180, that pump is bulletproof but a huge energy hog. Especially with all the dc controllable pumps that can give you adjustable power at about 35 watts. Also seems like a lot of flow for a fowlr.