Return Pump question

Coachrdb · 12/26/2015, 07:21 PM

I have a 68 Gallon Cadlights tank. It came with a 1" drain and a 1/2" return line. The pump that came with it is rated at 500GPH and I would obviously like to swap it our for a more powerful one. It's approximately 3' from the sump to the bottom of the overflow. In looking at the submersible pumps available, the most powerful ones are about 700GPH with a 1/2" outlet. So the question is... Do I settle for that or is there a way to work around it? I assume I could get a larger pump and work with a reducer to a 1/2" at the return line going up into the overflow. I guess I could also run a line up the back of the tank instead of using the overflow. Any other ideas or suggestions?

Thank you!

That was my first post by the way. Great site here!

shifty51008 · 12/26/2015, 07:52 PM

Whats wrong with the other pump? you dont need high flow through the sump. So the 500 gph pump is fine. You get your flow in the tank with powerheads or a closed loop.

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Coachrdb · 12/26/2015, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

Whats wrong with the other pump? you dont need high flow through the sump. So the 500 gph pump is fine. You get your flow in the tank with powerheads or a closed loop.

To Reef Central

Thanks for the speedy reply...

I thought it was ideal to get 10-12X your tank size for turnaround? I'm not even getting close to that with the current pump.

shifty51008 · 12/26/2015, 08:00 PM

Alot of people go 3-5x through the sump and 10x-100x in tank depending on what you wanna keep.

12/26/2015, 07:21 PM	#1
Coachrdb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 17	Return Pump question I have a 68 Gallon Cadlights tank. It came with a 1" drain and a 1/2" return line. The pump that came with it is rated at 500GPH and I would obviously like to swap it our for a more powerful one. It's approximately 3' from the sump to the bottom of the overflow. In looking at the submersible pumps available, the most powerful ones are about 700GPH with a 1/2" outlet. So the question is... Do I settle for that or is there a way to work around it? I assume I could get a larger pump and work with a reducer to a 1/2" at the return line going up into the overflow. I guess I could also run a line up the back of the tank instead of using the overflow. Any other ideas or suggestions? Thank you! That was my first post by the way. Great site here!

12/26/2015, 07:52 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Whats wrong with the other pump? you dont need high flow through the sump. So the 500 gph pump is fine. You get your flow in the tank with powerheads or a closed loop. *To Reef Central* __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/26/2015, 08:00 PM	#4
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Alot of people go 3-5x through the sump and 10x-100x in tank depending on what you wanna keep. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder