Return Pump Size

[liverock27]

Looking at picking up a Blueline Velocity pump to use as my return pump on my 90g.

The T3 has a flow rate of 720gph at 4ft while the T2 is rated at 660gph at 4ft.

The pump will only be setup as a return pump to start with, but could also run a carbon reactor.

Which one should I choose?

The pump is not intended to be my main source of flow in the tank. I have a Mp40 and Mp10 for that, but my plan is for this tank to be mainly SPS.

Thanks.

 

[reefknight]

I would go with the T2 for your return pump. A slower flow through the sump is more efficient. You don't want to move the water through to quickly, only a 3-5 turn over. These pumps do add a small amount of heat though to the water.

I would recommend the MP40 on the 90gal, as that is what I had on my old set up. I had a MP40 on the left end, 2 6055's and a 6025. Great flow all around the tank, no build up of detiritus and great polyp extension. I ran the MP40 at a little better than half power on the Reef Crest mode.

HTH

 

[liverock27]

Thanks Bill.

I did read that these pumps put off a little heat, but also read that they run silent. That along with their compact size is what made me lean towards running one of them.

I bought a new MP40 for this setup, but I already have a MP10 that I am running on my biocube so I am going to use that as well. I figure my placement will be like your setup, but substitute the MP10 for your 6055s and 6025.

Thanks again.

 

[grouper therapy]

reefknight;645249 wrote: I would go with the T2 for your return pump. A slower flow through the sump is more efficient. You don't want to move the water through to quickly, only a 3-5 turn over. These pumps do add a small amount of heat though to the water.

I would recommend the MP40 on the 90gal, as that is what I had on my old set up. I had a MP40 on the left end, 2 6055's and a 6025. Great flow all around the tank, no build up of detiritus and great polyp extension. I ran the MP40 at a little better than half power on the Reef Crest mode.

HTH

How so?

 

[dawgface]

Makes little difference how fast your flow through your sump is. The misconception comes from the fact that generally the sump runs through the refugium. If you have a separeate refugium, then run as much as possible without micro bubbles if you want. For instance I have 4000 gph running through my 190 while my refugium trickles in at maybe 30 gph.

 

[grouper therapy]

Eheim is what I would go with. Less heat and no noise

 

[liverock27]

The sump will not have a refugium, so that is not a problem. I guess this is just a question that is up for debate because I have read both sides of the argument on different forums. Some people say that your retrun pump should only be 4-5x total volume, but then I see a lot of people who run massive return pumps that are way more than 10x turnover.

Never read much about Eheim except for their canister filters(ran 1 way back in the day and it performed really well), so I will have to check into it. Thanks.

 

[lifestudent]

Here is a http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=55101&highlight=sump">link </a>to a recent discussion about flow using return pumps.

I would recommend going with a return pump that will give you sufficient enough flow to treat your water quality (e.g., heat, mechanical filtration, dosing) and use your MPs to provide the majority of the flow within your display. The total of the flow from the MPs <u>plus</u> your return pump should be 10 - 20xs turnover since you plan on keeping SPSs corals.