Return pump for a 180g

[Chipie]

Hi,
I'm setting up a 180g. It has 2 X 1.5 inches overflows with 2 X 1" returns.

This tank came with a Blue Line 55 pump. Would this pump be too much for this setup ? It was the pump the other reefer used for it but he had a fish room and the pump was much further from the tank than the way i intend to use it. Would it be too much pump for it?

I have a Eheim 1260 but i'm pretty sure it wouldn't be enough for this tank. Or would it?

 

[sjm817]

You can convert the 1260 to a 1262 and then it would be a great pump for a 180G. You would need a part #7443670

http://eheimparts.com/client/product.aspx?type=1262

 

[Chipie]

Do you think the eheim would be a better option than the Blue LLine 55 ? Could it run my phosban reactor and UV too?

 

[sjm817]

The Blueline is a very nice pump. It is a high head pump and will have a lot more flow than the Eheim. A GFO reactor needs just a very small amount of flow as typically does a UV. That pump would handle all of that easily.

 

[Chipie]

But would the blue line be just too much flow?

 

[sjm817]

Its rated 1100 GPH @ 0' with a 28' max head. You wont be losing much flow with the sump plumbing. How big is the sump? What type of overflow setup?

 

[Chipie]

It's a setup i just bought used. It has two 1.5 inches bulkeads in the 2 internal overflows and uses 1.5 pipes. It think it has some kind of durso. (I'm receiving it tomorrow) It has two 1" returns.


The sump, well there's 2 of them, one is for the skimmer (25g) connected to another sump (23.5g) where the return pump is connected with baskets for filter media etc and a manifold with ball valves.
There's a refugium(16g and separate from the 2 sumps) that will be fed from one of the returns and overflow(gravity) back to the 2nd sump.
Hope you can understand what i just wrote. (I'm french speaking by the way)

 

[sjm817]

Your English is very good. Better than many who are "English speaking". Honestly, I would not use that setup. All the separate sumps cause lots of issues. One of which is adequate drain back space when power is off. Another is flow between the sumps. If you want to set it up the same way as it is and have all the pieces, it obviously works. You can use the manifold with the ball valves to turn down the flow as needed. A diagram of the whole setup would help.

 

[Chipie]

Yes this setup is supposed to work. The guy who sold it to me was using it for 3 or 4 years without problem. I agree with you. I don't really like having 2 separate sumps but i guess that will be it for now. I have to add that the 2 sumps are connected by two pipes. One is 1 inch and there's another larger one (1.5") that is a bit higher as a security.

He said that there never was a problem with drain back space with power off. I sure hope it's true LOL.

 

[sjm817]

As long as the drain back works without the aid of a check valve, it should be fine then.

 

[Chipie]

No check valves on this system. I will certainly find another sump to replace this later on for sure.

 

[tydtran]

Just a thought. Switching out a sump can be a real pain in the neck. It may be worthwhile in the planning stages to decide exactly what you want for a sump right now and make it that way from the beginning.

 

[Chipie]

No check valves

 

[whyamisofly]

I run a 75g sump under my 180g with a Mag24 return pump.

 

[biger]

I am using two 1262's on my 180 on separate circuits in case one breaker trips. works good for me.