what pump if only paying cost?
- Thread starter JPH
- Start date
I am definitley not one to question, but at the lfs I was led to believe that you wanted to turn the water 12 times in an hour. With the length of line run and 3-4 90 degree elbows I would need something around 3500 GPH size. Was I led down the wrong rd?
It'll completely depend on your pump. Some pumps don't do well under pressure applications, and others do. A pump that may have a 3500gph rating at 0' may or may not have enough power at a given height - that's why many manufacturers have multiple lines of pumps.
12 times per hour isn't necessary - you could get by with as little as 2-3x or as much as your overflow can stand. This is a huge debate, but I'd recommend not chasing numbers. I have about 2x per hour in my tank, and it seems to do just fine. Look to use powerheads to get flow to your corals, not your return pump. That route is cheaper and much easier to manage.
Lastly, you might want to consider using long bends or even flex PVC instead of the 3-4 90 degree elbows in your plumbing. You'll gain a good bit just right there...
Agreed. This seems to be a hotly debated topic, but all I can offer is experience. My 90g had a Mag 9.5 return pump when I got it, and after reading a little on this I "downgraded" to a Mag 7. The only tangible difference is that my skimmer's output increased, so I'm a believer in relatively slow flow through the sump. I actually used a Mag 5 for a while with good results, but I ended up needing that pump for my wife's tank so the 7 went back on.
- Messages
- 161
- Reaction score
- 0
i wouldnt try to chase the 12 times off your return pump. The flow inside the tank is much more important than the tank to sump and return flow.
When i set up mine i cheated and i have my tank empty into my sump with an overflow and it gets returned by an external filter that draws from the top off the sump down to the floor into the filter then back into the tank. It pumps 220 gallons an hour so i get a 4 times flow rate off that and have extra space to store stuff. (and was free because it was from my time with freshwater tanks so saved loads.
When i set up mine i cheated and i have my tank empty into my sump with an overflow and it gets returned by an external filter that draws from the top off the sump down to the floor into the filter then back into the tank. It pumps 220 gallons an hour so i get a 4 times flow rate off that and have extra space to store stuff. (and was free because it was from my time with freshwater tanks so saved loads.
- Messages
- 5,121
- Reaction score
- 7
I agree that 10-12x turnover is not needed. But I fail to see where it hinders the performance of a skimmer. If too much flow to the skimmer area (not into the skimmer) makes a difference then I guess I am in trouble if I run a skimmer in my all in one tank.
- Messages
- 5,121
- Reaction score
- 7
Excellent advice !
- Messages
- 5,121
- Reaction score
- 7
I assume you mean external when you say dry pump?
I would use something like the 1262 Eheim even at 12' of head it will give you 600 gph + is silent and reliable.
- Messages
- 5,121
- Reaction score
- 7
You are only talking around 8 feet of head loss . I figured in 5 90 degree elbows as well which added +/- 3/4 of a foot head loss. For whatever pump you choose you will kinda have an idea now.
- Messages
- 161
- Reaction score
- 0
I dont think flow would effect your skimmers chances of skimming. If you think of every part of your tank as glasses of water then the flow would mean the skimmer would spend less time with each hypothetical glass of water but it would skim each glass more time in the hour so i think the overall effect would be the same.
Similar threads
