Using smaller return pumps
- Thread starter rad1687
- Start date
Kyleben
Member
I have 3 poweheads moving about 2200 gph in my 56 gallon tall tank. My sump houses my skimmer and a large fuge area.
depending on what you read it is actually better (in my opinion, there are people who will disagree) to have a lower flow return pump, However I have my heater still in my DT not in my sump.
The general rule for sumps is 5 to 10x DT volume/hour but that speed in a fuge can kill pods and so on.
Kyleben
Member
110galreef
New member
I like this concept within reason. I have 250g DT and 40g frag tank. My skimmer is being fed 360gph (sro xp-3000e). The skimmer could handle more like 500gph, but skims perfect at the 360gph. Plus params are near perfect!
PO4 ~ .0245
Nitrate: 0
My frag tank is feed about 125gph and my DT is feed about 650gph.
If i only had 360gph for DT, it would probably be a tad on the low side! haha
However blasting 10x's flow thru my sump of like 2500 gph would be way overkill!
Kyleben
Member
true story but if you have a fuge and your return pump moves too fast then you loose the benefit of the fuge right? if its just a sump with a skimmer, filter sock and heaters I agree, but if u add a fuge it seams like the flow is too high....maybe use a HOB skimmer?
mcrist
Premium Member
If the head loss is no more than 5-6 feet, you should be fine. I am running at about 900 GPH for a 450 gallon tank.
mcrist
Premium Member
Sorry I didn't see this post. You would be cutting it pretty close with a Mag 7 pump since they are only rated for 550 GPH at 2 foot of head.
Reefer-in-Jax
New member
What goes down must come back up. You have to match the flow out with flow in. Unless you have a weir type overflow that dictates how much flow you have.
It all depends on the setup. Currently I have a 30G sump that holds my skimmer and that feeds a 90G main sump. I'm using a Reeflo Dart as my return pump, about 1500 GPH. My skimmer is run by three Mag 9.5's.
I'm actually looking at going to a smaller skimmer designed for a 500G system. That way I'll have less flow thru the skimmer than I currently do and so I can lower my return pump and power consumption.
The biggest thing with flow thru your sump is to make sure that you sump is designe dto handle it. As for pods growing in the sump, all you need is some rocks for them to grow in. I have the output of my skimmer flowing directly into the 90 sump in a small section that also houese LR. The flow is massive and there is a ton of life in that area. I also have a DSB with some large peices of LR and again, there is a lot of life growing in there, even with all the flow thru my sump. It's been this way for about 7 years.
I'm actually looking at going to a smaller skimmer designed for a 500G system. That way I'll have less flow thru the skimmer than I currently do and so I can lower my return pump and power consumption.
The biggest thing with flow thru your sump is to make sure that you sump is designe dto handle it. As for pods growing in the sump, all you need is some rocks for them to grow in. I have the output of my skimmer flowing directly into the 90 sump in a small section that also houese LR. The flow is massive and there is a ton of life in that area. I also have a DSB with some large peices of LR and again, there is a lot of life growing in there, even with all the flow thru my sump. It's been this way for about 7 years.
