Return Pumps : Please help me pick (240 gallon)

[offshored]

My 240 gallon (8x2x2) tank is almost finished.

I'm having 2 overflows put in, drilled through the bottom of the tank.

Each overflow houses 2 returns, for a total of 4 returns for the tank.

The sump / refuge will be around 80 gallons.

I plan on having 2 Sicce Syncra Silent 5.0 power each set of returns. So each pump will power 2 return lines. The distance from the pumps to the return outlet ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 feet.

Here are the specs on the pumps:
http://www.sicce.com/prodottiDettaglio_eng.php/prodotto=syncra-silent-3.5-4.0-5.0/idprodotto=60

The guy working on my tank / sump suggested 2 Mag 9s or 2 Eheim 1262s. I though the Syncra 5.0 would be better, since it's adjustable up to over 1300 gph.

I'm just curious of anybody has opinions on using these pumps in my setup, or could suggest something that suits my needs better. Also quiet is a big plus

I'll also be using 2 Sicce Voyager HP 4000s on a wave controller for water movement. Each does 4000 gph:
http://www.sicce.com/prodottiDettaglio_eng.php/prodotto=voyager-power-stream/idprodotto=30

Other filtration is ~ 300 lbs of live rock and a Skimz 201 Monzster Skimmer.

Thanks

 

[BigCountry74]

The Eheims are the best, but the most $. I personally am a Mag guy. But that Syncra looks nice. Their website is very professional.

 

[offshored]

Just not sure if 1300gph x 2 will be enough water movement.

Would think maybe a Mag 18, but heard they can be load and add a lot of heat.

 

[Ron Reefman]

At the head you are talking about, your pumps are down to 900-1050gph at best. Throw in a few elbows and such and you are down a little more. Even as low as 800gph you are talking about turning over your sump/refugium 20 times an hour (with 2 pumps). That's way more than enough for your sump. With the additional stuff in the tank, you should be in really good shape IMO, and I like more flow better than less. I also like having 2 return pumps in the sump. Good design as far as I can see. I want to see more of this system as you set it up!

Consider an extra hole as an emergency drain. I didn't know about that idea before I set up my 180g DT and now I could kick myself. It's just a hole, a bulkhead and some pipe, cost, a few bucks. Stress and worry reduction, priceless!

 

[offshored]

Thanks Ron, glad you think that will be enough

Has anyone heard of Liefegard Aquatics Quiet One Pro pumps?

The 5000 says it does 1400 gph.

 

[offshored]

Do you think the Quiet One Pro 6000 is worth it over the 5000 for 15 dollars more?

 

[sirreal63]

Will your drains handle that much flow without a ton of micro bubbles or constant flushing? That is a lot of flow for an open channel drain, and way more than you need. Ideally 3-5X turnover rate works the best, but it depends on your goals and what other filtration and nutrient removal methods you will employ.

 

[offshored]

Going for 3-5x tank or sump turn over?

Filtration is a Skimz 201 Monzster Skimmer and live rock.

 

[sirreal63]

3-5x the total water volume through the sump, per hour. There is no way I can figure out what the actual water volume will be with the 300 lbs of rock, as different rock has different weights, and displacement, but for fun figure 275 gallons of water. 5 times that would be a total flow of 1375 gph or about 675 gph from each pump. Your overflows should flow that easily and not be noisy or create too many micro bubbles. Or you can go with a siphon design on the overflows and run a high turnover rate. I prefer a lower turnover rate and a high in tank turnover, meaning your powerheads. The idea is to keep what is in the tank stirred up and have the overflow take it to the sump, where it settles and can be removed with water changes. It is the easy way. If you have a high sump turnover, you will risk blowing any detritus back to the display. I like to remove it from the sump, but that isn't the only way.

 

[offshored]

That's 675 ghp at head height right?

So I'd need to have around 700 at 6ft per pump?

Also the Syncra and Quiet One Pro are adjustable... just not sure how far they can be dialed back.

Thanks for all the help

 

[sirreal63]

You are correct, that is after head loss. FYI the Quiet One pumps use a Sicce motor block, but I would get the Sicce pumps to take advantage of the latest tech they offer. There are some web sites that calculate water volume loss with rock, and it will be close. That is a lot of rock and will displace a lot of water.

 

[offshored]

Didn't know that thanks!

Seems a lot of people are complaining about the noise of the Syncra Silent 5.0s... seems the 3.0 and below are quiet. Not so with the 4.0 and 5.0.

The QO 5000 and 6000 seem to have pretty good noise reviews... with some failures tossed in for good measure.

 

[sirreal63]

Every product will have failures and online reviews should never be considered accurate, you do not know who is doing the reviewing or how they used the product. I read them for fun, but don't let them make decisions for me. Forums are a little better, but even here you really don't know if what you read about a product means it will work well for you. Sadly the only way to find what works best for you is trial and error. One thing that you can rely on, if 10+ people here all stand by a pump, it is a good bet it will perform as stated. No one here has a monetary stake in your equipment choices so you will get a better review of the product and how it works for them. Ron from above is a great example, he has found a setup that works for him, but it wouldn't work for me, the rest of my setup is different. Trial and error or go with the tried and true pumps, Eheim probably leads the pack there but that doesn't mean a different pump won't do the same job as well, it is just the Eheim has been around and stood the test of time.

Kind of fun isn't it? Off Topic, but are you a member of ARC? I would enjoy reading a build thread on your tank.

 

[offshored]

Hey Jack,

Yeah I'm on ARC : Offshore's 240 Build thread

Going to San Antonio Sunday, any suggestions on LFS to check out?

Yeah I've heard Eheims are the best... I have one and don't like it... so I'm the one out of 1000 that don't like them. Maybe it's just the model... Compact 1000 for a small skimmer.

 

[sirreal63]

I like Aquarium Design but there are much better LFS's in Austin. I just moved to Marble Falls but am in S/A for the next hour or so. My little build thread is on ARC as well, Reefing the Pentagon, I will check yours out when I get back home.

The general purpose Eheims are what I have used, the 1250 and 1260 and 1262 are nearly bullet proof. I have a 1250 that I bought used in 2003 and has been in almost constant use, I have no idea how old it actually is, since it was used when I got it.

 

[cem1234]

Offshored,

FWIW, I have 2 Quietone 6000's on a 180. Flow is really good and the bulkheads seem to be able to keep up. They ARE quiet. I did add a ball valve to the top of mine to control flow if I wanted.

I do have one down right now due to an impeller failure (broken impeller). I've had the tank running on just one 6000 for nearly a year and everything is fine. (I've been a little low key on my tank...it happens ).

Good pump.

- Chuck!