Why do people use monster sized return pumps?

[firebirdude]

Almost everyone uses a return pump to pump water back into the display from the sump/filtration system. But refugiums, all granulated media and live rock work best with low and slow flow. Does everyone not realize this? Or is everyone fixated on that return outlet in the display pushing water out? Trying to increase flow in the display? While I certainly won't argue lots of flow in the display is better, I would certainly argue against those people using a Mag12 on their 75 gallon...

Those with sumps in their basements, I get it. Lots of head loss. But what's with everyone else? Or the LFS who's using the huge external Little Giant or what-have-ya to push water through their fish only displays...

 

[thelizardkin]

I use a 5,000 gph pump on my tank but i have no live rock in my sump and it's about 10' under my dt

 

[firebirdude]

????

Even still. 10ft is not that much. You're still likely getting all of 2500gph at the return. How big is the tank?

 

[hollister]

You want good flow through the fuge. And the return pump is under greater load so a bigger then needed pump means less chance of failure then there's the wow factor , big pumps are cool....

 

[mike5051]

My tank has a 1" drain and a 3/4" return, and with my mag 9.5, I have to slow the drain down for balance. I drain into the skimmer section of my sump so I want good flow through there. I have the fuge teed off of the drain with another valve to control fuge flow. I've never even thought about my return pump being too large. Previously it was powering a SCWD on a 46 gallon bowfront. Oh yeah, like hollister said, big pumps are cool!

 

[Ben_n_Em]

Only been in the hobby for a year and a half but i'm definely in agreement with your logic. I run a 36 gallon tank with about 10 gallons of water in the sump. I run a maxijet 1200 for the return and a vortech mp10 for flow in the tank. Seems to work fine for me, but i'd love to hear others opinions on this.

 

[firebirdude]

You want good flow through the fuge. And the return pump is under greater load so a bigger then needed pump means less chance of failure then there's the wow factor , big pumps are cool....

Some flow, sure. But certainly nothing I would consider "good" (whatever that means...). Slow is best. And I already mentioned those in need of high head height.

My tank has a 1" drain and a 3/4" return, and with my mag 9.5, I have to slow the drain down for balance.

Slow the drain down!?!?!?! What are you talking about? The return pump pushes water into the display and that exact amount overflow down the drain and into the sump. There is no "balancing act" to be done.

I drain into the skimmer section of my sump so I want good flow through there.

Skimmers fall into that category too. Slower is better. You can't have 1000gph through your skimmer compartment and expect the skimmer to catch it all.

I have the fuge teed off of the drain with another valve to control fuge flow. I've never even thought about my return pump being too large. Previously it was powering a SCWD on a 46 gallon bowfront. Oh yeah, like hollister said, big pumps are cool!

Why not slap a huge Dart external pump on there? Come on man. It would look so cool...

 

[Brando8719]

I have a mag24 for a 55gallon haha.. why? because I got it really cheap... way cheaper than any other pump. and I think what he means by balance (or what I do) is have a T coming off the pump.. some of the water is put back into the sump and some is put into the dt.

 

[aday2remmbr]

i really dont think it matters, the sump will still filter if it has a huge pump returning water to the tank im sure it makes it a little less effective maybe but nothing that is even noticeable. and also in a skimmer high flow is what you need! if you dont have enough flow not enough bubbles are created to get out all of the proteins.

 

[firebirdude]

and also in a skimmer high flow is what you need! if you dont have enough flow not enough bubbles are created to get out all of the proteins.

What do you think a skimmer pump is for?

 

[aday2remmbr]

a skimmer pump is obviously used to pump water into the skimmer! thats why you have air stone driven and pump driven skimmers is because both cause enough turbulence in the water to create bubbles.

 

[mike5051]

I slow the drain down to keep the level in my overflow above the drain standpipe. I don't want to hear the sounds of a bathtub draining, nor do I want Niagra falls in my overflow....so I slow the drain for balance. I thought it was a pretty good idea at the time. Just my 2cts

 

[firebirdude]

Jesus christ. Then WTH is your point? We're talking about return pump flow and you seem to think the use of a skimmer requires heavy flow from the return pump. I said

You can't have 1000gph through your skimmer compartment and expect the skimmer to catch it all.

No where did anyone mention anything about changing the pump on your skimmer.

 

[firebirdude]

I slow the drain down to keep the level in my overflow above the drain standpipe. I don't want to hear the sounds of a bathtub draining, nor do I want Niagra falls in my overflow....so I slow the drain for balance. I thought it was a pretty good idea at the time. Just my 2cts

Nothing wrong with that at all. That could also be achieved by slowing down the return....aka A SMALLER PUMP!

 

[aday2remmbr]

Nothing wrong with that at all. That could also be achieved by slowing down the return....aka A SMALLER PUMP!

there is no need to go into conniptions you stated towards the top of the thread that slow flow through the fuge was good and you added on top of that slow flow through the skimmer was good and i simply stated you were wrong on that point.

 

[firebirdude]

Through the skimmer compartment. We're talking about return pumps and the flow through your whole sump. Skimmer compartment.

 

[aday2remmbr]

i do not think there is a point to this thread, people will use what they want on their tanks and it does not harm you one bit. but you are complaining about it as if it does. i dont think it really matters what size pump you run as long as you get the water in the tank.

 

[acpoweradapter]

Why does it bother you so much what other people use??

 

[pmark]

I think what he's trying to understand is why does anyone go overkill with the return pump size. He's not necessarily attacking people for their use of it, just that the answers are rather vague.

 

[aday2remmbr]

i think many people do it to just get that little extra bit of flow in to the main tank. i know thats why i have a "monster" pump in my sump.