Sump Turn Over Rate vs Total Flow

[joshh81]

I have an odd question. I currently have a 55 gallon reef with an aprox 15 gallon sump. The return pump I have is way overpowered but came with the tank. Its max GPH is 1400.

I currently have it turned down to about 900-1000 GPH flowing into the tank split into 2 returns and each return has loc line with a splitter.

My question is this. I dont have any powerheads in the tank. I dont need to as the flow is plenty and corals are doing awesome. Sand isnt kicked up but becuase of the size of the sump and the flow rate, microbubbles are an issue. The filter sock takes most out but a few get put back in the display tank. The question is, would it be better to get a smaller pump, one that say pumps 600 gph and put a few power heads in the Display tank or leave it the way it is.

I have read several places you dont want the sump turn over rate too much. My skimmer doesnt pull out as much as i think it can if the flow through the sump were slower. The Chaeto is doing great and all the water flows through a filtersock in the sump.

So, for my setup and anyone else possibly in the same situation, do you think its better to have a much slower return pump and more powerheads, or a controled powerful return pump and no or very few powerheads? I would be lead to believe that more powerheads would consume more electricty and warm the tank more. But then again... everytime I have a theory about something I am usually proven wrong.

 

[username in use]

Your sump flow through, should be equal or close to the rate at which your skimmer pump flows. Instead of a new pump, put a "t" on the output of the pump. One leg will go to your returns, and the other leg will go abck to your skimmer section. Than all you have to do is put a ball valve on the leg that goes to the skimmer section and you can control the flow to get it where you want. That will leave you with some money to get a couple of powerheads, which you can point where you want.

 

[joshh81]

Wouldnt that simulate the original situation though? The skimmer is in the same section as the overflow drain (where water enters the sump) and its also the same section as the small refugium.

Putting a T-valve (already have one on there) and putting the outlet back to the skimmer is basicly circualating the same ammount as it was originally correct?

 

[Aquarist007]

you should have a flow rate of between 1100--and 2200 gph for your 55 gal tank so that pump is not oversize for the system.
I would suggest adding a couple of koralia 2's and 600 gph to give some flexiblity to direction of flow and type of flow(koralias give turbulent flow rather then direct linar flow from your returns)

 

[ChuckLawson]

Lots of schools of thought... My 210 has a 600 gph return, and it's even throttled back a little (maybe doing 500 gph). Flow in the tank is provided by a wavebox, a Vortech, and a couple of Korellia powerheads.

The low flow in the sump insures that bubbles dissipate, detritus falls out where it's easily siphoned, and I don't have to listen to noisier than necessary return pump or plumbing