Any formula for return pump?

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

What is the best ratio for a return pump for a 30 gallon [backside drilled] tank; i.e. gph, etc.?

What is the best ratio for a return pump for a 125 gallon [72 inch long] bean animal tank with an internal overflow box that extends at least 3/4 of the length of the 72 inch long aquarium?

Is there a general rule for minimum and maximum ratio of water leaving the display tank and the return line coming back into the tank?

What would be the optimum diameter size of holes to drill on return side as well as the bean animal on a 72 inch 125 gallon aquarium?


Wannabee

 

[bcrueter]

I always have gone 10x water volume. So for my 30 I'm running 300 GPH

 

[jdw]

From what I recall on earlier threads, for good flow you need 10xtank capacity minimum. In your case with 125 gallon you need at least a 1250 gph. w/o head pressure. You also have to consider how high the water will be pumped. 3-4 feet of head pressure can drop gph by a 2-400 gph. you need a mag18 or equivalent. Mag24 preferably. As far as return piping is concerned, I would stick with whatever the factory output diameter is.

As far as drain size goes, I think your main drain should be 1.5 ( around 1300 gph full siphon drain). 2nd and 3rd drain should be 1".

All these are just my .02
Please if I am wrong, please let me know

Edit: Hole Diameters on 125 would be 1x 1.5" 3x 1" (Again IMO)

 

[ringo®]

I try to match the return to the skimmer pump. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[jdw]

Makes sense, haven't thought about that

 

[jdw]

Ringo®;933662 wrote: I try to match the return to the skimmer pump. Different strokes for different folks.

You could still match return to skimmer with a gate valve and have drainage and gph available for a future skimmer upgrade if you chose to.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Thank you for your inputs. I love it when I post a question and others also learn from my post. That's what ARC is all about; learning.

Wannabee

If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.
-- W. Edwards Deming

 

[ringo®]

JDW;933684 wrote: You could still match return to skimmer with a gate valve and have drainage and gph available for a future skimmer upgrade if you chose to.

Agreed. I should have said match the flow after other equipment has been taken into consideration.

 

[nickg]

Nother consideration is what type of filtration? Refugium, with Macro, I would run slower than Bio balls, or other types. And I would always say go bigger than you really need and valve it down..

Just my $.02

 

[cosigner]

Im glad you posted this question. I was wondering the same thing. Good info guys!

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Cosigner;933757 wrote: Im glad you posted this question. I was wondering the same thing. Good info guys!

I've always used HOB [hang on back] filters and I'm in the preplanning stage of going refugium/sump for my aquariums. I want to investigate what others have learned from their experiences so I can avoid some of the pitfalls of "just jumping in" with my eyes closed or opened . As I mentioned in a post above; it's great when more than just one of us learns from posts here at ARC :thumbs: :shades:

Wannabee


If you do not know how to ask the right question, you discover nothing.
-- W. Edwards Deming

 

[nickg]

I agree with the 10 time turnover, but not thru a refugium. My setup has dual overfows. I run the left overflow straight into first chamber. Live rock and a pair of clowns. Then flows under wall and eggcrate into second chamber full of macro algae a pair of marrons and LR. Then flows to 3rd chamber. Right return goes directly into this chamber as well. Skimmer, heaters, and reactor pump all in this chamber. Then bubble trap to the final return pump chamber. Return pump is a little bigger than needed. I built a manifold but I am not currently using it. I just have the ball valve cut down...

Yet again, just my $.02

 

[jdw]

What does your manifold look like?

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Bump! Anyone else?

 

[acroholic]

I don't think any reef needs more than 3-4x hourly turnover from a return pump. Only situation I see maybe needing more is if you are relying on it for in-tank circulation as well. I use separate pumps for in-tank circulation. I prefer a medium-lower flow rate through my sumps.

But that being said, a high flow rate through a sump is only problematic if it is so fast it flushes micro bubbles and/or detritus through without letting the micro bubbles dissipate in the sump and the detritus settle in the sump.