what size retun pump?
- Thread starter tim000
- Start date
Can't really comment on size,
My Q is how far apart will the tank and sump be? THis extra info may help others. If you are pumping from basement through floor you will need stronger pump.
Also, Last week or 2 there were threads about brands of pumps, and concensus was tonot buy RIO. They cost less, but everyone agreed that the Mags are better pumps.
My Q is how far apart will the tank and sump be? THis extra info may help others. If you are pumping from basement through floor you will need stronger pump.
Also, Last week or 2 there were threads about brands of pumps, and concensus was tonot buy RIO. They cost less, but everyone agreed that the Mags are better pumps.
I have a similar setup. I'm using a Mag 950 into a sea swirl. The return flow overwhelmed my ovcerflow box so I added a ball valve to the return to gate down the flow. I'm considering branching off a line to run both my skimmer and the return flow duties, but haven't gooten around to figuring if the flow would be enough for both. You might want to consider that option.
If it's just for the water return I think you could get by with a Mag 700.
Also, my Mag seized while I was away overnight and burned out the motor. Now, I hadn't been cleaning the impeller for the 6 months I had it, so that may have been a factor. I'm not sure if the failure was my fault, Mags, or both. Overall they are well thought of pumps on this board.
If it's just for the water return I think you could get by with a Mag 700.
Also, my Mag seized while I was away overnight and burned out the motor. Now, I hadn't been cleaning the impeller for the 6 months I had it, so that may have been a factor. I'm not sure if the failure was my fault, Mags, or both. Overall they are well thought of pumps on this board.
I agree that a 700 might be a little much for your system. I have a 92 Gallon with a Mag 1200 for a return and I probably should have gotten like a 900 or 700 instead. I have to turn the ball valve down on it as it is. Nobody on this board seems to like Rio's for return pumps. I think they are great for circulation but for the same money you can get a nice Mag Drive that runs much cooler and is all set up for PVC.
If you get a larger return pump, just run two return lines to keep from having a fire hose effect on the tank.
There is no way you can simulate the water movement of the ocean, but the ocean does not shoot water in a very concentrated flow like power heads deliver.
If you have two 3/4" returns off of a Mag 7, or so, you will be getting 200 ish GPH from each return. That is not even equal to a Maxi-jet 900 for each return.
Also, using a pump like a Mag 9 will allow you to run items that require more pressure, like a skimmer. But putting the mag 9 through two returns only gives you 350 ish GPH from each return. Which is a fair amount of water for your tank, and could keep your from having to fill the tank with power heads for flow.
If you run something like a Sea Swirl in a return setup, it is also easy to have a second line with a ball valve to control flow. And let the Sea Swirl get the rest of the flow.
Just my 2¢
There is no way you can simulate the water movement of the ocean, but the ocean does not shoot water in a very concentrated flow like power heads deliver.
If you have two 3/4" returns off of a Mag 7, or so, you will be getting 200 ish GPH from each return. That is not even equal to a Maxi-jet 900 for each return.
Also, using a pump like a Mag 9 will allow you to run items that require more pressure, like a skimmer. But putting the mag 9 through two returns only gives you 350 ish GPH from each return. Which is a fair amount of water for your tank, and could keep your from having to fill the tank with power heads for flow.
If you run something like a Sea Swirl in a return setup, it is also easy to have a second line with a ball valve to control flow. And let the Sea Swirl get the rest of the flow.
Just my 2¢
Tim, IMO that 1.5" drain will handle a Mag 9.5 easily. The problem you are going to have is bubbles returning to your tank with such a small sump no matter how many baffles you have. The question you have asked is very difficult to give an exact answer to as pump size differs with each tank and situation.
Steve
Steve
OK how do you guys go about choosing a pump size? do you buy one and if that one isn't strong enough you go back out and buy the next size up until you finally get it right? or is the some kind of math involved? I'm confused here
BTW- thanks alot for all the help so for with this newbie question!
BTW- thanks alot for all the help so for with this newbie question!
Tell us exactly what species you are keeping and where they are positioned relative to your output devices and what kind of nozzles you have on the outputs. When designing water movement within your system you start with what specimens you want to keep. Then you design the flow that corresponds to the environment in which those species are found. Then you design your circulation around that. I run 60 turns per hour on my sps tank (900 gph thru a 15g), and only 8 turns per hour through my low-light polyp tank. I run 10g sumps and have found the best way to eliminate the bubble problems is to use a closed loop to move the majority of water without running it through the sump. In my sps tank my return pump only moves 225 gph which gives me enough turns to keep my skimmer fed and my water temp constant (in sump heater). Splitting the flow is the key.
Also, if you're running high flow in a small space you want the flow to be dispersed and random. That means flared nozzles, oscillating devices like sea swirls, and spraybars, or some combo of all. That's my opinion.
Also, if you're running high flow in a small space you want the flow to be dispersed and random. That means flared nozzles, oscillating devices like sea swirls, and spraybars, or some combo of all. That's my opinion.
This is what I have so far; 35g reef with one 1.5" bulkhead (drain) 4" below the surface (back of tank) along w/ a 15g sump. (all of this is just sitting on the floor right now waiting to be put together. thats it right now, I was thinking about going with a spray bar across the whole rear of the tank, I want to really be able to keep everything in my tank. Im going to be running a hand on skimmer in the sump w/ a rio 600.
so basically I think all I need is a return pump, some PVC tubes/parts, and hopefully that will get me started. so if anybody can help me peice together this puzzle that would be great! thanks alot
so basically I think all I need is a return pump, some PVC tubes/parts, and hopefully that will get me started. so if anybody can help me peice together this puzzle that would be great! thanks alot
If it were me I might think about running approx. 700 gph of flow and split it to a spraybar (drill a couple siphon break holes) and a sea swirl (1/2 inch stubby perhaps). I would put a couple baffles in my sump. I would consider placing half the flow through a closed loop and run half through my sump. Just ideas.
A sea swirl is a brand name of a popular oscillating return device. A 1/2 inch stubby is just one of the models of the sea swirl that happens to be designed for smaller tanks. A closed loop is a system that takes water from, and return it to, the same tank. If you do a search on "sea swirl" or "closed loop" you will find numerous threads on both topics.
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