Pump

Brisbane Lion · 07/19/2007, 12:21 AM

Hello All

I have just stumbled onto the online mag and have found it to be fascinating reading. Thanks very much to all concerned. Back in 2002 an article was written about pumps etc over 3 parts. I think the authors name was Rex Neidemeyer and it got me to thinking. My tank is approx 650 litres including a plenum in a sump. Given that I have 5 powerheads in the tank itself pumping around 2000lph each, I was wondering how much the return pump located in the sump should indeed be pumping?

The one I am using at present needs to be replaced and I would like to replace it with an eheim pump. The biggest one available is the Eheim Compact + 5000. This unit pumps up to 5000lph. Is this too much, not enough or adequate? By the way I have a reef tank with fish and corals.

The same article got me thinking about the direction of my powerheads. I have one in each corner. Up till now I have directed them toward my reef under the belief that this would assist in keeping debris etc off the rocks and out via the filter. However the article suggested the powerheads be aimed at the surface. Which if either is better?

Thanking you in advance

Brisbane Lion

theatrus · 07/19/2007, 12:38 AM

- Recommended through sump flow is 3-5x your tank size, though you can do higher in some circumstances.

Eheim makes some quality pumps. I'm not sure what your pump availability in Austrailia is, but you could also look for Sequence, Iwaki, or Panworld pumps which are air-cooled external pumps and may be more efficient than the Eheim.

Powerheads should be aimed to provide random and turbulent flow, usually by bouncing the flow off of other powerhead outputs, tank sides, etc. Just don't point jet-type output powerheads directly at corals.

Brisbane Lion · 07/19/2007, 01:19 AM

Thank you for such a speedy response. Most of my corals seem to wave around in whatever flow I am achieving so I guess that my powerheads are about right. My main reason for choosing Eheim was quality and silence of operation. You are right in that the one I want is not yet available in Australia but I can order from a UK site which has similar voltage requirements to us here. Seeing as we are on the subject, how many and what should my powerheads be pumping.

Kind regards

Brisbane Lion

07/19/2007, 12:21 AM	#1
Brisbane Lion Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 87	Pump Hello All I have just stumbled onto the online mag and have found it to be fascinating reading. Thanks very much to all concerned. Back in 2002 an article was written about pumps etc over 3 parts. I think the authors name was Rex Neidemeyer and it got me to thinking. My tank is approx 650 litres including a plenum in a sump. Given that I have 5 powerheads in the tank itself pumping around 2000lph each, I was wondering how much the return pump located in the sump should indeed be pumping? The one I am using at present needs to be replaced and I would like to replace it with an eheim pump. The biggest one available is the Eheim Compact + 5000. This unit pumps up to 5000lph. Is this too much, not enough or adequate? By the way I have a reef tank with fish and corals. The same article got me thinking about the direction of my powerheads. I have one in each corner. Up till now I have directed them toward my reef under the belief that this would assist in keeping debris etc off the rocks and out via the filter. However the article suggested the powerheads be aimed at the surface. Which if either is better? Thanking you in advance Brisbane Lion

07/19/2007, 12:38 AM	#2
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	- Recommended through sump flow is 3-5x your tank size, though you can do higher in some circumstances. Eheim makes some quality pumps. I'm not sure what your pump availability in Austrailia is, but you could also look for Sequence, Iwaki, or Panworld pumps which are air-cooled external pumps and may be more efficient than the Eheim. Powerheads should be aimed to provide random and turbulent flow, usually by bouncing the flow off of other powerhead outputs, tank sides, etc. Just don't point jet-type output powerheads directly at corals. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

07/19/2007, 01:19 AM	#3
Brisbane Lion Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 87	Thank you Thank you for such a speedy response. Most of my corals seem to wave around in whatever flow I am achieving so I guess that my powerheads are about right. My main reason for choosing Eheim was quality and silence of operation. You are right in that the one I want is not yet available in Australia but I can order from a UK site which has similar voltage requirements to us here. Seeing as we are on the subject, how many and what should my powerheads be pumping. Kind regards Brisbane Lion