Return pump question

[dadat1968]

Hello everyone,

I am setting up a 7.5 gallon tank drilled, with sump. Sump is about 10-12 gallons. How much gph per hour pump should I get? I currently have jebao 1500 pump not sure if thats too strong. Please advise

 

[jvu61]

IMHO you should move about 5X the total water volume of the system per hour. So your total system is lets say 12 plus 8 that's 20 gallons total so a pump that moves about 100 gph should work well for you. The jebao is a 400 gph if I remember so that may be a little on the strong side for that tank

 

[dadat1968]

Maxijet 1200 is too much also right? Looking to have mire flow and not to put any wave maker in the tank

 

[jvu61]

that's about 300 gph or so. IMO still a little strong. A
Eheim 1048 may be a good pump for you

 

[lrasser]

the 1200 is only 295gph. Add in the head height and that should work perfect. You can put a gate valve in the return line (feed off the pump NOT the down flow!) to slow it down a little if needed.

 

[jvu61]

that should work just be careful not to restrict the flow to much as you can create too much head pressure and ruin the pump

 

[lrasser]

it delivers only 160 GPH at 4' of head pressure.

 

[dadat1968]

Cool .. Ill get that one instead .. Really thought I could use 400gph so that i will not need a wave maker. Guess im wrong thanks guys

 

[jvu61]

that should be perfect the eheim is about the same 160 gph

 

[edd]

you have to consider the size of your over flow drain pipe, as you only can return whats draining down.
also if you want to run reactors, but i don't think its needed for a tank that size.

 

[dadat1968]

Thanks guys..

 

[dadat1968]

I wont be running anything other than skimmer. Il