installing now return pump? URGENT

[dirk_brijs]

wanting to install a new return pump
I have a 160Gl system with sump I was thinking on installing a 2600Gl return pump as I am using about 10+feet of plumbing now would this still be over kill or about right to use such a heavy pump? or maybe not even enough??

Please advise as I will be buying tomorrow

[Palting]

What type of drain/overflow for overflow capacity in gph? Height from return pump to return nozzle for head loss? Tubing length is important, but height is more so. These will determine what pump to use.

[mfinn]

IMO that is over kill.
Once you figure out what Palting said.
On a 160 g. system I would look for a pump that delivered a max. of 700 to 800 gph to the tank.

[a240reef]

Is there a pump calculator online somewhere?

I've got 1inch overflow and 1 inch returns.
I've got about 5 feet of head.
And a 150 gal system

Will my mag 5 rated at 500 gph handle it?

[Palting]

Here's a link: http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php...oss-calculator

1" overflow and pipesshould be able to handle up to 700 gph. Mag 5 with a 5 foot head will do about 250, accoding to the manufacturer. I'd go with another pump, or a Mag 9.5 with a ball valve.

[csarkar001]

if you avoid 90 degree elbows in your plumbing and use 45 degree elbows, instead, you will not need as powerful a pump.

HTH

[gweston]

Dirk:

I'd optimize the pump size for your flow needs. Bigger pumps use a lot of electricity, and generate a lot of heat (if in the sump/water). With ~10ft of head, something like Mag18 (1800gph) would be decent. You may be able to get away with a Mag12. Probably better to go Mag18 equivalent and plumb in a redirect to dump water back into the sump so you can tune back the flow to the main tank to ~700-800gph. You'd then have some extra flow. You could T-off a feed to potentially feed something like reactors or a refigium from the return line.

According to Mag. With a 10' head height you'd get about 600gph with a Mag 12 and 850gph with a Mag18. That is ideal, likely not accounting entirely for plumbing/resistance/turns, etc. A Mag24 may yield about 1100gph at 10' head height.

a240reef:

A mag 5 would give you some flow, but probably not much. At 5' head height. Mag states you'll get 250gph. As mentioned with Dirk it is likely not accounting entirely for plumbing/resistance/turns, etc. I'd think a Mag9.5 or Mag12 (tuned back). That is est 750gph for the Mag9.5 and 1150gph for the Mag12 per spec.


I'd look at this from the perspective of GPH. There are higher cost, higher quality pumps that use less electricity (generate less heat), and are more reliable.

But, I own a Mag18 (sump return) and a Mag7 (skimmer). Got them used with intention to replace with something higher end someday.

[Mavrk]

You don't want more than 600-700 gph going down that overflow. It cannot handle it. You do not need more anyway. Remember that when we talk about flow, it includes the powerheads inside the tank. The flow from the return determines the flow in the sump. You really don't need much going through the sump. I would say to aim for about the 600 mark (in case something clogs the drain). You can always dial it down with a ball valve or something. Bigger pumps are usually louder and hotter, so I say prefer not to overpower it.

Use this calculator to figure it out:
http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php...oss-calculator