Sump return pump recommendations?

[bosox]

I do have my fuge on a seperate circuit from the system. My fuge (about 24" high) gets water pumped from the sump (across the surface of the water; well above the dsb) then 'waterfalls' into the sump prior to the return pump. Hence- Hi flow, more pod importation, minimal sand disturbance. Putting the fuge behind and above the display is impractical/ugly on a 150g. I do that on my 55gal.
I read your thread on drastically decreasing flow through a recirculating skimmer to improve removal of dissolved organics. Interesting idea, but I'm not sure it is more efficient.


As an aside, I have 5x250watt MH's over the 150gal. Yup...I'm American

 

[spoon671]

I have over 350gph returning to my 20g. Along with powerheads/closed loop my total flow through my nano is 640gph give or take a few. Over 32x turnover! Chaotic circulation indeed! Also a 150w HQI MH's hangs over it as well, yup... I'm American!

I think his flow would be perfect at 1000gph. Unless he has a seahorse tank.

 

[hahnmeister]

Funny you should say that...my uncle is into seahorses. His 40g has 1000gph going through it. Yep...its all in how you use what you have...or in this case, hide what you do. The 1000gph goes through two spraybars, one at the front of the tank, the other at the back, each with holes every 1/2" at 1/8"-3/16" each. It might be 1000gph, but you wouldnt notice it.

Im not saying you should change it if you are happy with it, or that there is only one way to do things...but if heat, electricity, skimming efficiency and/or noise are any concern of yours, a low flow sump might be a good idea for you to check out.

spoon671...how many watts do you use? I bet if you used a small return pump...heck, a glorified powerhead like a MJ1200, or an eheim 1048, you would use only 10 watts, get about 150gph through the overflow (more than enough), and then use a SEIO 620 in the main tank...for a grand total of about 780gph of flow for 18 watts.

 

[spoon671]

hahnmeister...I use probably close to 35-40 watts. I think I am getting away with it because it's not terribly hot where I live. I have a 150w heater set to 79F. My tank fluctuates between 78F and 81F (on a hot day). I currently use a RIO+ 2100 (25w) as my return pump.

I have been thinking of using different pumps though, just as you suggest. But for some reason, I always want MORE. Like a RIO HyperFlow 17 (840gph @ 4ft.) Then I would be able to make my return plumbing system a bit more elaborate. Thanks.

 

[gvibes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7395058#post7395058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bosox
As I said twice before, there are multiple ways to plumb a marine system. There are multiple trains of thought behind each. I'm glad a low flow system works for you. That's great. You are describing one approach. Just because YOU think a refugium only makes a "small contribution" doesn't mean you are absolutely correct.
As far as mine being an "American approach", I guess I am. I hope being an over-consumer doesn't make me a bad person. In regards to electric bills: You should see my lighting scheme...

You are missing the point. No one is recommending low flow. They are recommending a low flow return pump. The return pump is not the only source of flow. In-tank powerheads are much more energy efficient than big return pumps.

 

[bosox]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7397607#post7397607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gvibes
You are missing the point. No one is recommending low flow. They are recommending a low flow return pump. The return pump is not the only source of flow. In-tank powerheads are much more energy efficient than big return pumps.

I'm not missing the point. Personally, I like to minimize the amount of big clunky powerheads in my display tank. But that's just me. Perhaps you could also save energy by not even using a return pump. Energy could be saved by placing the in-sump skimmer directly in the display tank and closing off the overflow holes.

 

[Duchess]

I appreciate all the suggestions that were made. From the ongoing discussion, it's obvious that I need to consider GPH flow in both the sump and the display tank. My tank serves as a room divider so I think I'd prefer to keep powerheads out of it if possible.

I've had the tank for 18 months and it's still a work in progress.

Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Lynn

 

[bosox]

Lynn--
It's always a work in progress; that's the fun part
Best of luck
-matt

 

[hahnmeister]

If you have an 'on-end' room divider, you might consider some of those Icecap Vortech pumps. I think that people place alot of importance on not having powerheads in the tank, but with TUnze Rocks and some creative rockwork, any powerhead can be hidden. I made aragacrete shells to hide my MJ Streams that sit against the end walls of the tank like little shelves (frags on top, pump outlet below).

OR, if its still an issue, thats where closed loops come in. With no head pressure, and use of multiple outlets/unrestrictive piping, you can use low wattage pumps (tunze makes a kick-butt low-wattage circulation pump, deltec has a nice digital pump line, there is the ReefFlo Dart, and the Red Dragon) for high flow in piping that can be plumbed into the back/bottom of the tank through bulkheads, or over the back lip/around the edges of the tank from above in a canopy. This allows you to have lots of flow without head loss, wave action due to a oceansmotions or other sinusoidal valve, and no pumps in the tank.

 

[Duchess]

Thanks, hahnmeister, for the suggestions. It's nice to know that we have so many options with our SW tanks. My tank is faily low-tech and I'm trying to bring it up a notch by getting a more efficient skimmer and replacing the wet/dry with a sump/refugium -- hence my original question about a return pump and placement.

Lynn

 

[bosox]

That's a great decision to use aggressive skimming with biological filtration, ditching the mechanical filter. I made that switch a while back, and now my "tank maintenance" is a cinch.
--matt

 

[Duchess]

As of this moment in time, I think I'm going to go with the stronger pump -- probably an Eheim -- and divide the return when the water gets to my tank to spread out the flow a bit. I have a calm corner of my tank where I'd like a little more water movement.

I'm hoping the better skimmer and refugium might help me control (with luck, eliminate) the little patches of red slime algae that plague my tank.

Lynn