Mag 7 or 9.5 for a 75 gallon

chris31 · 07/27/2014, 06:22 PM

Which size mag would you go with for a 75g? The mag 7 or mag 9.5?

RockyProndoa · 07/27/2014, 06:31 PM

Bigger is better right? Hehe... But seriously you can always dial it back if necessary, so I'd go with the 9.5. I would opt for too much flow than not enough.

chris31 · 07/27/2014, 06:35 PM

Yea that's a good point. Thank you

ghellin · 07/27/2014, 06:37 PM

For return only the Mag 7 is plenty sufficient. If you don't want to run a heater go with the mag 9.5 as it will serve you two ways. I run a mag 9.5 on my 58 but it also runs a GFO reactor, carbon reactor, and a Ca Reactor.

whiteshark · 07/27/2014, 06:39 PM

How high are you pumping the water? I think either will work honestly. I would tend towards the larger pump and dial it back with a valve.

That said, I have had a couple mags and while they are pretty much bullet proof, they are loud, run hot, and you really can't run it externally. I would look at something like a sicce syncra silent, tunze silence or a waveline DC pump. I would get a waveline myself. That way you can get an overrated one and use the built in controller to dial it down.

chris31 · 07/27/2014, 07:01 PM

It's a standard 75 so from sump up to return nozzle is a little under 5ft.

whiteshark · 07/27/2014, 07:04 PM

A 7 should be fine if you don't plan to run any reactors off of it. If you plan to run anything else from it I'd go 9.5 as ghellin mentioned.

pmcadams · 07/27/2014, 07:41 PM

Bigger is not necessarily better. If you have to restrict flow or redirect part of your return back into the sump to keep from over driving, then it's just wasted energy and extra heat. I ran a pretty successful 75G reef for a couple of years on a Mag5. I agree that if all you are using it for is a return, the Mag7 is fine.

J2T · 07/27/2014, 08:02 PM

I've been running a Mag 7 on my 75g for almost 3 years. Yes it is a bit noisy but its hard to beat for the price. Like others have said, if you plan on running a reactor off of it I would go for the 9.5 for sure.

firemountain · 07/27/2014, 08:12 PM

I had a 9.5 on my 65g and needed to throttle it back. I would still go with the 9.5 because there may be a need down the road to T off for a supplemental reactor. They are noisy and produce some nice heat...so if you are running a heater, you may have to ditch it.

If your DT is in an area where you need it to be quiet....I would look into the Sicce Syncra pumps. I currently am using an Eheim 1262...quieter than the Mags and are bulletproof.

07/27/2014, 06:22 PM	#1
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	Mag 7 or 9.5 for a 75 gallon Which size mag would you go with for a 75g? The mag 7 or mag 9.5?

07/27/2014, 06:37 PM	#4
ghellin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 1,844	For return only the Mag 7 is plenty sufficient. If you don't want to run a heater go with the mag 9.5 as it will serve you two ways. I run a mag 9.5 on my 58 but it also runs a GFO reactor, carbon reactor, and a Ca Reactor. __________________ 180. SRO 3000INT w/ANC. Fluval SP4. Gyre. DIY LED's/T5s. Apex. Bluefish. Clams. Tangs. SPS.

07/27/2014, 06:39 PM	#5
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	How high are you pumping the water? I think either will work honestly. I would tend towards the larger pump and dial it back with a valve. That said, I have had a couple mags and while they are pretty much bullet proof, they are loud, run hot, and you really can't run it externally. I would look at something like a sicce syncra silent, tunze silence or a waveline DC pump. I would get a waveline myself. That way you can get an overrated one and use the built in controller to dial it down. __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

07/27/2014, 07:04 PM	#7
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	A 7 should be fine if you don't plan to run any reactors off of it. If you plan to run anything else from it I'd go 9.5 as ghellin mentioned. __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

07/27/2014, 07:41 PM	#8
pmcadams Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 126	Bigger is not necessarily better. If you have to restrict flow or redirect part of your return back into the sump to keep from over driving, then it's just wasted energy and extra heat. I ran a pretty successful 75G reef for a couple of years on a Mag5. I agree that if all you are using it for is a return, the Mag7 is fine. __________________ Paul

07/27/2014, 06:31 PM	#2
RockyProndoa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 204	Bigger is better right? Hehe... But seriously you can always dial it back if necessary, so I'd go with the 9.5. I would opt for too much flow than not enough.

07/27/2014, 06:35 PM	#3
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	Yea that's a good point. Thank you

07/27/2014, 07:01 PM	#6
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	It's a standard 75 so from sump up to return nozzle is a little under 5ft.

07/27/2014, 08:02 PM	#9
J2T Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 952	I've been running a Mag 7 on my 75g for almost 3 years. Yes it is a bit noisy but its hard to beat for the price. Like others have said, if you plan on running a reactor off of it I would go for the 9.5 for sure. __________________ Jared 60 Gallon cube, 10g sump, 2 AI Sol Blue, SeaSide Aquatic CS3.5 Skimmer

07/27/2014, 08:12 PM	#10
firemountain Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 1,033	I had a 9.5 on my 65g and needed to throttle it back. I would still go with the 9.5 because there may be a need down the road to T off for a supplemental reactor. They are noisy and produce some nice heat...so if you are running a heater, you may have to ditch it. If your DT is in an area where you need it to be quiet....I would look into the Sicce Syncra pumps. I currently am using an Eheim 1262...quieter than the Mags and are bulletproof. Last edited by firemountain; 07/27/2014 at 08:20 PM.