Return Pump selection

[MitchReef]

I am setting up a 75 G reef and wondered people's opinions on return pumps.

I have a poseidon T4 available for use, but wondered if they are quiet? I have also thought about going with a Mag 18. Somebody in a LFS said they throw off a lot of heat?

I would love to hear a few opinions on this.

Thanks,
Mitch

 

[sjm817]

Both are too big. You should target ~ 3 - 5X display size for return flow.

 

[MitchReef]

I have been told that I should have 15 to 20X for SPS?

 

[Racing1]

That 15 to 20X is in the tank not through the sump. 3 - 5X through sump and then you supplement in tank flow with powerheads... How far is your sump from the tank. If it is under the stand a mag 7 or Eheim 1260 should be plenty... Then use a couple power heads in the tank....

Good luck

 

[MitchReef]

wow, I guess I have to hunt for pumps then....I have a problem with red slime in my chaeto on my nano fuge and was told I need crazy flow in the sump to prevent that, so I figured this might be the answer....

 

[CruzinKim]

Highly recommend the Eheim 1260 or Ocean Runner 2500 for the return pump as they produce very little heat because of the low wattage. You may want to install a ball valve to adjust the return rate in case it is too strong. Then put a couple of Koralia 4s inside your tank, or Tunzes.

 

[mg426]

Thats pretty good advice.

 

[MitchReef]

I have been told that the Koralia 3's are too much flow and that I will have a sandstorm with them? Too many different opinions....

 

[kdblove_99]

AGree withthe OR 2500 and if you get the deflectors for the Koralias you shouldnt have to worry about a sand storm i think all the new Koralias come with them now

If not if you contact Hydor they will send you some for free, that what i did

 

[ElDiabloPollo]

For external use, I like the Pan World pumps. They are small, quiet and cool running.

 

[twon8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11257288#post11257288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MitchReef
I have been told that the Koralia 3's are too much flow and that I will have a sandstorm with them? Too many different opinions....

whoever told you that doesn't know what they are talking about

i would go with 4's or some nanostreams, or modded maxijets, in the tank, at least 2

 

[oct2274]

agreed, minimum of two 3's in a 75g and I would probably do two 4's. good return pumps would be oceanrunner 2500 or eheim 1260 as listed above. The T4 you listed above is known to be a tank heater and probably will increase the water in a tank that size at minimum 3-5 degrees

 

[CruzinKim]

The Tunze Nanostream 6025s won't be too strong and pretty compact if you think the Koralias are too strong or obtrusive.

 

[MitchReef]

What a fantastic bunch of advice....I already own the T4, but could always put it on Ebay or sell it here...I didn't realise that they kick that much heat....

As for the Tunzes, I would love to use them, but just plain cannot afford them...I am basically a shoestring budget reefer....

I love my little Koralia 1 in my AGA 29, but really wish I had gone with the 2 for that little tank, so the 3's or even 4's would be the bet there I guess.... I have a bunch of smaller powerheads I considered scattering around the tank....a couple of Hagen 201's, couple of Minijet 606's and my Koralia 1. Just figured the more points of flow, the better the turbulence....maybe even run some of them on wavemakers....

BTW twon, that stylo is sick....maybe some day when I have money for real corals....

 

[MitchReef]

Hey, just one more thought....I have a buddy with a great deal offered for a QuietOne 4000HH. What do y'all think about one of those...I would probably run it externally, just to try and keep heat under control....

 

[petedoc]

Another option is to split your return flow through a SCWD, one less pump to purchase and less heat overall. The SCWDs are an inexpensive option and in my experience work well. I use them on both of my systems for return flow.

 

[MitchReef]

Yeah Pete, I was considering a SCWD, but the issue those above raise is not one of return as much as of sump flow.

I still wonder about the QuietOne 4000HH, as in opinions about noise, heating etc. Is there a thread comparing the different pumps?

 

[sjm817]

I would not use the QO. Too big. I'm not a afn of SCWDS. I had 3 of them. They are flow killers. Mine cut the flow of a Mag9 down to the level of a Mag5.

 

[Craig Lambert]

On my 75G I run an external pump, and have been very happy with Iwaki. I run the MD 20 RT. (MD's are the Japanese motors and they are very quiet and do not add heat). The pump returns about 300gph to the display, so the whole system runs very quietly. I augment flow with tunze nanostream powerheads.

If you want to check out the Iwaki pumps, Marine Depot (an RC sponsor) has them.

 

[Dwarf Seahorses]

Eheim return pumps all the way. They're built like a tank and will never give you any trouble. Many people have had their eheim hobby pumps for 10+ years and they're still going strong.