Return pump too big?

[Stephen73ta]

Do ya'll think a sedra 1200 gph is too large to run externally on a 58 gallon? or should i put a T fitting on the return line and have some of the flow return back to the sump?

I'm running this with a octopus needle wheel 110, pump rated at 260gph and a closed loop system still undecided on pump size for the loop. maybe a mag 7?

 

[Entropy]

How big is the sump? You might have micro bubble issues pushing 20x turnover through your sump, but I have seen bigger pumps used. My 58g had a Sequence Snapper return pump when I first got. Talk about too much flow.

 

[Stephen73ta]

sump is 24x12x16

here is a link to my sump, i'm currently in the process of designing it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1638269

 

[Entropy]

My gut says you will flow too much water through the skimmer section and the bubble trap will not be enough to limit the bubbles. Maybe if you use a filter sock you could do it, but I don't know if you want to go that route. I would definatly integrate a bubble tower into your middle section.

 

[Stephen73ta]

yeah i was planning on putting a bubble tower filled with live rock rubble.

i'd really like to utilize this large pump. i'm planning on having a mixed reef. any other ideas?

 

[username in use]

if your doing closed loop anyway, why do you need so much flow through your sump. All your doing is lowering the efficiency of your skimmer.

 

[Stephen73ta]

well i got the pump for free so i wanted to use it.. should i maybe move the sedra 1200 to the closed loop and use a valve to control the flow or get like a mag 7 or 9 for the return? or sell the sedra and have to buy two pumps..

i really just need someone to advise me what to do or tell me what they would do in my position..

 

[ALBERTA REEF]

I run a mag 24 on my 90g tank. the sump is roughly 34"x14"x16". All I did is used a valve to control the flow. I hooked it all up with pvc piping and glued it together. I works pertty good. I have found that walking around Home depot with pump in hand in the plumding where the pvc piping is. The sedra 1200 has no threads on the outlet. I think it has a 3/4" outlet, try to see if a 3/4" male threaded fitting fits tight. If it does glue it on. Once this is done skies the limit on plumbing options. If not I thinking 3/4" valve female threads on both ends, two 3/4" barbs and 4 hose clamps. Sorry I have no pictures of my set up. Have problems up loading pictures. let me know if it works or not. good luck.

 

[becact]

A lot of people make the mistake of trying to use the return for flow. The return rate should be governed by your sump! I use a mag7 on my 90g w/30g sump, which is perfect. In fact, the drain plumbing is split. After head and frictional losses, I get about 470gph, split two ways, so about 235 gph drain into each compartment of my sump (fuge and skimmer section).

If your skimmer pump is rated for 260gph with water, it will be actually pumping much much less because of the air intake. For example, my skimmer uses a Sicce2500, which when pumping water does 2500lph=660gph. But when used as a skimmer pump with a venturi and air it does about 200gph of actual water. So you can see that my flow rate into the skimmer compartment of about 235gph is perfect!

Of course, if I had higher flow, the skimmer would still skim all the water eventually. But with low flow less DOCs bypass the skimmer compartment. Another benefit of low flow is few microbubbles.

If I were you I'd use the large pump for a closed loop, and the mag 7 for your return.