Why do we assume a large return pump is needed?

[mwood]

Well, I've been running my 300 table tank at around 500 gph for months now. I get 3 to 5 gallons of dark skimmate a week. I have plenty of flow with a closed loop. I don't think I see any negative side effects. All is looking good. Even though a week with the OM 4way going down. Anyone else trying this and what are your results?

 

[RGibson]

ITIWood have run my 180 gal reef tank with a eheim 1260 for a return and a Iwaki MD55RLT used for a closed loop and the tank has work very well .ALL of this has shown you do not need a big return pump for a reef tank.

 

[want2reef]

I was running a mag 9.5 on my 120g with 40g sump, because of this thread (and Wife) I went to a mag 5 for noise reasons. I don't know if it's my imagination, but I seem to get more skimmate now.

Kevin

 

[sjm817]

Bump

 

[scbauer]

I've been following this thread for a LONG time (I may have even posted a few times). I'm finally going to put this idea to use (as I've been wanting to do for quite some time). I got a new (new to me, but used) tank from eben and will be running a Mag 7 for the return and a using my Iwaki MD40 for a closed-loop.

I'll let you know how everything works out.

-Scott

 

[sjm817]

Bump

 

[watchdr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6235399#post6235399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Bump

Why was this needed???

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6236587#post6236587 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by watchdr
Why was this needed???

Because its a good informative thread. There are several posts on this forum with people having issues due to too large a return pump. This thread will be a good resource. Maybe it will keep someone from making the same mistake.

What was the purpose of your post?

 

[mwood]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6236686#post6236686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Because its a good informative thread. There are several posts on this forum with people having issues due to too large a return pump. This thread will be a good resource. Maybe it will keep someone from making the same mistake.

What was the purpose of your post?

I agree, I love this thread and want to see it continue.

 

[sjm817]

I'd like to see it as a sticky so it wouldn't have to be bumped.

 

[meagan_myers]

I accidentally posted this as a new thread but I ment to post it here.
I've been following this thread for a while. I will need to set up a new tank soon because I am scared my current 30g will not make it another couple of years. I am in the slow process of building a house now (still with a drafstman). My next home will have an in wall tank with a small tank equipment room behind. Because I will be needing to buy so much for the new home, I estimate that I won't be able to get the in wall going for another 3 years. Anyways, I don't think my current tank will make it that long (silicone seems are now very thin). I think I am going to set up a 55 gallon (36" x 19" x 20") with a closed loop and sump underneath.
I have an older model, unused AmpMaster 3000. I was thinking if I bought the new marine seal, that maybe I could have it feed everything (return, protein skimmer, calcium reactor). I would like to keep the return around ~150 g/hr or so.
I have a 20L in the garage that I would make the sump out of. I've never had a sump so I would like any input. Can you take a look at the sump design and tell me what you think?

 

[meagan_myers]

It is very possible that I will be doing the mirror image of this in the tank. In that case, the pipes to the calcium reactor would be shorter.
I also didn't put where the overflow water would be going. Either the protein skimmer area or the macro algae area?

Also, with the closed loop, I plan on having two 1" inlets and four 1" outlets. I am not sure where I am puting the overflow. This will be a mixed reef and I would like a good amount of flow but not too much where I can't have a ssb. I think I will have the closed loop on an oceansmotions super squirt. How much flow do people tend to run out of one outlet on a closed loop? Such as if I was running the 1 & 2, 2 & 3, 3 & 4 sequence on the squirt and wanted around 500 g/hr coming out a single outlet I would need about a 1000 g/hr pump.

 

[Ereefic]

Why do we assume a large return pump is needed?

Cause I have to pump up from the basement and return to 2 tanks. A little pump just wouldn't cut it. :lol:

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Ereefic, lol, you smart@$$! But that is the whole problem for alot of people...running basement sumps can get costly on the electrical bill, add heat, and require much larger pumps than a sump that isnt so far below the main display. At that, I hope you run a small amount through the sump for both tank, and rely on in tank powerheads/CL for the rest.

 

[scbauer]

New setup... 29-gallon tank, 10-gallon sump. Closed-Loop runs approximately 1,400 GPH and about 300 GPH going through the sump (Mag7 going through SCWD and 4' of head).

So far, I LOVE it. I have my durso dialed in so there is ZERO noise from the tank. All I hear is the gentle hum of the three pumps... Iwaki MD40, Mag7, and Dolphin something on my EuroReef.

Small return pump is the way to go!!!!!

-Scott

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6246253#post6246253 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Herbert T. Kornfeld
Ereefic, lol, you smart@$$! But that is the whole problem for alot of people...running basement sumps can get costly on the electrical bill, add heat, and require much larger pumps than a sump that isnt so far below the main display. At that, I hope you run a small amount through the sump for both tank, and rely on in tank powerheads/CL for the rest.

Yeah, but I'd do it in a heartbeat! I'm sooooo sick of trying to work everything under my stand. I dont have an adjacent room, and its on an outside wall. Basement is finished. I'd have to do some major reconstruction to have a basement sump.

This is the one case where a large(ish) return pump is well worth it.

There are lots of ways to save power besides the return pump.

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

scbauer, I dont know if I would consider that small exactly, as the norm here seems to be 1-3x the tank volume per hour through the overflow...that would mean about 100gph for a 29g...which would mean considerable less flow than a Mag7, even if through a SCWD. But if it works for you...so be it. But really, instead of a SCWD, if you can wave-time your powerheads, or use the SCWD on a closed loop, and then get a smaller return pump...more like 40-50 watts rather than the 80 for the Mag7...it might also help keep your temps down if its ever a problem.

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

sjm817, what about an integrated sump (hidden behind the tank)? Sorry, I dont know whattank size you have...but I have seen it work very well even on 100g+ tanks. Well, worse comes to worse, the low flow idea could be coupled with one of those ReeFlo 'Goby' pumps when it comes out...something like 1000gph and 24' of head for 100watts...not bad for a basement sump application.

 

[scbauer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6249063#post6249063 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Herbert T. Kornfeld
scbauer, I dont know if I would consider that small exactly, as the norm here seems to be 1-3x the tank volume per hour through the overflow...that would mean about 100gph for a 29g...which would mean considerable less flow than a Mag7, even if through a SCWD. But if it works for you...so be it. But really, instead of a SCWD, if you can wave-time your powerheads, or use the SCWD on a closed loop, and then get a smaller return pump...more like 40-50 watts rather than the 80 for the Mag7...it might also help keep your temps down if its ever a problem.

HTK: One week ago, I had a 20-Long with an 8-gallon sump. I was using my Iwaki for return. I had more than 1,200 GPH going through my tank, sump, and overflow. Compared to that, the Mag 7 is practically nothing. I know it may be more than you want, but the whole idea is to slow down the flow through the sump... that's what I've done.

-Scott

 

[meagan_myers]

Any comments/input on my sump design? I know the AmpMaster 3000 may be a little much (but I already have it on hand), but the extra will be flowing back into the sump and recirculation through the protein skimmer. I love the idea of having less return to the tank and having the tanks flow come from a closed loop.