Well I finally got my 90 gal up and running but my returns are receiving much less flow than I thought they would. I have a mega flow drilled AGA which I customized by spliting the return three ways and using a mag 12 for the return pump. I guess my question is do you think I would be ok to step up to a mag 18? I have the mag12 plumbed with a ball valve so I can always throttle it back. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
More Flow....
- Thread starter Mikef1
- Start date
Mike, You should be able to tell on the amount of success you had with this tank if its been well establish for you will however get a great number of comments when it comes too water current and your tank turnover rate.
Too give you some idea, my twin eel tanks have a turnover rate of 6.5 and in the two tanks are 4x 1200 maxi jets in the 130 and in the 70 is a 900 & 600 maxi jet. For as well, in these two tanks (one system) are lots of LR.
My reef tanks that I have aren't being stock as yet, but as well, they too as far as I know not have any higher a turnover rate then the eel tanks and I'm planning as well those wide pumps, which makes it that I will not need all those maxi jet pumps. Sorry, I don't remember the name of that type of power head.
Too give you some idea, my twin eel tanks have a turnover rate of 6.5 and in the two tanks are 4x 1200 maxi jets in the 130 and in the 70 is a 900 & 600 maxi jet. For as well, in these two tanks (one system) are lots of LR.
My reef tanks that I have aren't being stock as yet, but as well, they too as far as I know not have any higher a turnover rate then the eel tanks and I'm planning as well those wide pumps, which makes it that I will not need all those maxi jet pumps. Sorry, I don't remember the name of that type of power head.
The rule of thumb for a reef tank is a 30X turnover for the display tank.
I would leave the mag 12 for the return which gives you roughly a 10X turnover and make up the difference with either powerheades or a CL.
That is what most people do.
For example, I use a mag 18 for a return pump. It feeds the fuge as well as the display. I then use a sequence barracuda rated 4500GPH on a CL which splits into an ocean motions wave maker (rated for 2200GPH max) and eight constant returns (which take up the GPH the wave maker cant handle). I have over 16 directional return nozzels on my 120 which some might consider excessive (Im a plumbing freak). This gives me roughly about 5000GPH of flow int the display which is a 41X turnover. The idea as far as I know is volume, not necessarily velocity.
I would leave the mag 12 for the return which gives you roughly a 10X turnover and make up the difference with either powerheades or a CL.
That is what most people do.
For example, I use a mag 18 for a return pump. It feeds the fuge as well as the display. I then use a sequence barracuda rated 4500GPH on a CL which splits into an ocean motions wave maker (rated for 2200GPH max) and eight constant returns (which take up the GPH the wave maker cant handle). I have over 16 directional return nozzels on my 120 which some might consider excessive (Im a plumbing freak). This gives me roughly about 5000GPH of flow int the display which is a 41X turnover. The idea as far as I know is volume, not necessarily velocity.
Good Lord, 30x turnover?? That's a bit too much, don't you think?
Many years ago, I too once thought that I needed such a turnover for my tanks, it not however guarantee that its all so much better and all, least of all from my point of view. I knew that suggestions he would get be somewhere nearer too 10-15x turnover. For we as well have the powerheads for our water currents.
With that much a turnover rate, you not be needing any powerheads inside this 90> For it will still be too much for a 90> That's my opinion in this topic 8O
Buddy
Many years ago, I too once thought that I needed such a turnover for my tanks, it not however guarantee that its all so much better and all, least of all from my point of view. I knew that suggestions he would get be somewhere nearer too 10-15x turnover. For we as well have the powerheads for our water currents.
With that much a turnover rate, you not be needing any powerheads inside this 90> For it will still be too much for a 90> That's my opinion in this topic 8O
Buddy
Old Man Of The Sea":30qehjt3 said:
No, I dont or I wouldnt have it. Also, It wouldnt be considered the rule of thumb. Most try to acheive near 10X throught the sump and make up the rest with powerheads or a CL.
I have a 50X turnover rate in my softy tank. Its a 30G tank with near 1500GPH of circulation. As I said above, Its about volume not velocity.
Mikef":3c2bsjpn said:
If your tank is not drilled an up and over he back closed loop works fine. On my 110 I had a over the back with a mag 18 for about 3 year and never had a bit of trouble.
Here is a tank shot. The suction is the long PVC pipe you see to the left. The return was split between 2 SCWD's (I do not reccomend this they suck). They are the 4 returns along the back of the tank (one is hidden by a power head and the over flow).
Thanks Wazzel!
I think I am going to order a mag 18 for the return pump and use the mag 12 I am running right now for the close loop. Im not sure how much my overflow can handle but it has no problem with the mag 12 so I assume it can handle the mag 18 and if not worse comes worse I will throttle in back a bit.
I think I am going to order a mag 18 for the return pump and use the mag 12 I am running right now for the close loop. Im not sure how much my overflow can handle but it has no problem with the mag 12 so I assume it can handle the mag 18 and if not worse comes worse I will throttle in back a bit.
IMO I would keep the mag12 as the return pump. It is the same pump I had on the tank in the picture. As long as you have enough flow to feed the skimmer you are fine. You will get more benifit from a larger pump on the CL then on the return since IMO you have a properly sized pump on your return already.
I would still stick with the 12 for the return pump. Splitting the returns reduces the output velosity. If you like you could try putting some reducing elbow to get the velosity up a little. IN the tank aboe all the elbows are 3/4 x1/2 reducing. I found the 3/4 elbows decrease the velosity to much. Just my opinion.
I would also highly recommend sticking with the mag 12 for a return pump If not even downsizing to a mag 7 or 9. My double durso pipes are maxed out (IMO) with the mag 18 and I feed about 1/3 of the flow to the fuge. A one inch bulkhead is roughly rated for about 600GPH of gravity drain flow. Im surprised you arent flooding already.
Another issue to consider when you start pulling a large amount of water through your sump is possible micro bubble issues.
If you are planning a SPS tank you may want to consider buying a reeflow dart for your CL. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... e=Sequence
I have heard they create less heat and IMO are quieter than a mag 18 as a CL. I ran two Mag 18s on a CL for a while and the only way to quiet them was to choke them back a few hundred GPH which is not ideal.
I am currently running a mag 18 AS a CL on my 30G. I have had minor heating issues since using it.
All glass web site":2ubcavqv said:
Another issue to consider when you start pulling a large amount of water through your sump is possible micro bubble issues.
If you are planning a SPS tank you may want to consider buying a reeflow dart for your CL. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... e=Sequence
I have heard they create less heat and IMO are quieter than a mag 18 as a CL. I ran two Mag 18s on a CL for a while and the only way to quiet them was to choke them back a few hundred GPH which is not ideal.
I am currently running a mag 18 AS a CL on my 30G. I have had minor heating issues since using it.
You guys can think what you want but you cant argue with engineering and facts. Are you sure you dont have ALOT of head loss.
I dont like to post links to this site http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.ph ... ntrances=1 But, you guys should try this and see what your pump is really doing for you. I think you will be suprized what you pump is doing.
I dont like to post links to this site http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.ph ... ntrances=1 But, you guys should try this and see what your pump is really doing for you. I think you will be suprized what you pump is doing.
Trido,
I am sure I have a good amount of head loss, probably five feet. This pump is still perfect for my overflow though. I wouldnt go any smaller or bigger, I have decided to stick with this pump as my return and go with a mag 18 on my CL. Thanks for the input.
I am sure I have a good amount of head loss, probably five feet. This pump is still perfect for my overflow though. I wouldnt go any smaller or bigger, I have decided to stick with this pump as my return and go with a mag 18 on my CL. Thanks for the input.
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