What size return pump do I need?

[Mester320]

I am building a fish room and I would like to know what size external return pump everyone recommends to run all of my tanks. I will have the pump running a 220G mixed reef, 60G frag tank, and a 60G display refugium. This will all be plumbed from a 100G rubbermaid stock tank. All of the tanks will be in a 12x13 room so there should not be a ton of head loss but I don't want to be worried about adding to many elbows and not having enough flow. Another thing to consider is that I might add another 60G frag tank down the road and I would like to accommodate it as well. Oh and I almost forgot I will be adding a few reactors and my large UV sterilizer.

I have been looking into the Reeflo Hammerhead/Barracuda Hybrid running on the Barracuda impeller to start. I have found a great price on these $365 new shipped from Reeflo. Also looked a DC pumps for the low watt draw but I am not sure any are powerful enough (GPH) to meet my needs. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dmorty217]

The Reeflo hybrid will pump way more water than you need, way more. I have one that run a closed loop on my 220g. You want something to turn over the DT 4-6 times a hr. Depending on how your two 60g tanks are setup they might have problems keeping up with the DT pump depending on what you get. I would worry about the DT and let whatever turn over rate occurs in the other two tanks be whatever it is

 

[Raoul5Duke]

I run the Reeflo Hammerhead Gold/hybrid on a 360 DT, 80 gallon sump, 40 gallon Frag tank and a manifold with 2 large reactors. It's likely too much flow, but dialing it back doesn't hurt and it allows you to add on later. I was impressed with how quiet they are. One thing I would suggest on a large tank is have 2 return pumps plumbed in so if one fails you can simply turn a few valves and use the additional pump while the other can be taken offline and sent for repairs. On a system that large its a minor additional expense for the peace of mind. Just my opinion.

 

[Mester320]

Thank you for the advise! All are great points. What do you think about running 2 DC pumps together? Deepwater just came out with a new BLDC pump that looks promising. http://www.deepwateraquatics.com/Deepwater-BLDC12-DC-Brushless-Pump-p/dw1136.htm

These are only $280 and with coupon $250. They deliver 3200gph at only 132 watts and they have a six speed controller with feed and maintenance timers. I have an Apex so this is not a huge deal but I thought they might be an interesting option. Do you think that I can run two of these at the same time or do I even need to.

I feel like there are just so many options.

 

[Mester320]

I was under the understanding that we need our tanks to turn over 10x per hour... if this is the case I need almost 3000gph just for what I have now not including the head pressure loss on height and length of plumbing, elbows, reactors, uv sterilizer, ect. This leads me to believe that I need the Reeflo Barracuda. Am I on the right track here?

 

[Dmorty217]

You don't need 10xs turn over somewhere around 6 is plenty. The two DC pumps could work since you can adjust them and fine tune easily. Typically this never works correctly otherwise because of hose length and elbows and what not so they won't return the same amount of water per pump.

 

[dave.m]

You don't need 10x "turnover". You want 10-20x "circulation" within the display tank, especially for sps corals. You only need enough flow from tank to sump and back again to keep the skimmer and filtration fed. The rest of the circulation happens within the tank, either by closed loop, power heads, gyre pump, or any combination of these.

Dave.M

 

[Mester320]

Ok well I am good there because I have 2 MP40Ws and a Tunze Wavebox

 

[Mester320]

So I think that I am going to buy the Reeflo Barracuda just so that I have extra flow if I need it. I am also considering the Dolphin return pumps but they are going to be more $$ and I have heard that they consumer more power.

 

[Dmorty217]

People who have Reeflo pumps love them, like me. Those who have dolphins will typically push those...

 

[Mester320]

Good to know. Now for the size of my system do you think that I should stick with the barracuda silver or can I get away with the super dart gold. It is only a few dollars less ($20-30) but I will get 5 year warranty on the gold pump.

 

[Dmorty217]

I would go with the Baldor motor personally

 

[Mester320]

Ok so I think that I am just going to go with the barracuda gold. It is only $40 more and I get the baldor motor and a 5 year warranty