Which return to use ?????

[agent007]

I've been reading but now I'm getting confused

I want to upgrade my 5 year old RIO R500 return pump I have in my sump.
I believe it's equivalent to the current 600 plus pump which pushes a max 200 gph.

I have a 75gal display with 15gal (operational water volume) sump. I am considering
another Rio (because the one I have has been very reliable), Eheim because I have heard how reliable/quiet and efficient the can be and a Mag drive pump because they seem to be popular hear.

What's import to me reliability and quietness. Also some suggestions on max flow I might require to push through a system of my size.

Thanks in advance.

[Henry Bowman]

You can keep your flow lower through the sump IF you have sufficient flow within the tank. I.E. less than 5X (375-400 gph). This helps keep salt spray down, is quieter and more energy efficient.

As far as a pump, I'd go ehiem. They're efficient, quiet and very reliable. Mag Drive pumps are less expensive but lack the efficiency (by a bit) and are a little louder. Ehiem's are generally considered the Caddy of the submersible pump category.

[Henry Bowman]

Originally posted by Henry Bowman


You can keep your flow lower through the sump IF you have sufficient flow within the tank. I.E. less than 5X (375-400 gph). This helps keep salt spray down, is quieter and more energy efficient. As far as max flow? This would be answered by what your overflow could handle. I have seen 75-90 gl tanks with over 1000 gph going through them. That's too much flow, in my opinon, for a sump operation.

My thought process here. Put 300-400 gph through your sump and create 25+ turns on the tank with power heads or a closed loop. Internal tank turnover is needed in additional amounts as you move from fish only and LPS to SPS and harder to keep corals.

As far as a pump, I'd go ehiem. They're efficient, quiet and very reliable. Mag Drive pumps are less expensive but lack the efficiency (by a bit) and are a little louder. Ehiem's are generally considered the Caddy of the submersible pump category.

[Henry Bowman]

Gosh.... I jacked the whole edit process up there. Sorry about the double post / quote thing. My "final answer / opinoin" is where I ...quoted myself....

[agent007]

No problem this is the kind of info I need.

I have a vortech pump (max 3000gph) and an aqua clear 70 (max 400gph)
I run the vortech at approx. 75% - so 2250gph.
So I've got 2650gph + what ever my R500 Rio is pushing out from under the tank.

This is good to know because it means I do not need a return pump that pushes out 1000gph plus, which is what I was planning on replacing the Rio pump with.

[Henry Bowman]

Originally posted by agent007
I run the vortech at approx. 75% - so 2250gph.
So I've got 2650gph + what ever my R500 Rio is pushing out from under the tank.

This is good to know because it means I do not need a return pump that pushes out 1000gph plus, which is what I was planning on replacing the Rio pump with.

Yeah, I had a 120 where I was pushing 1400 gph through the (standard reef ready) overflows with a horse of a return pump. Flow was great but the tank sounded like Niagra Falls in my living room. Later, I added a couple modded maxi jets (this was 10 years ago) and put a smaller pump on it and have been happy ever since.

My current 90 has about 350 gph running through the sump. The skimmer pulls tons of crap out due to increased contact time in the sump. I have (old school now) 2 Tunzes and 2 modded maxi jets for about 60X turnover in the tank and everything is happy !

Good Luck and Happy Reefing !

[agent007]

Yep, that makes complete sense. I used to top up water directly into the display tank and you would hear a mad rush of water through the overflow to the sump. Not something you need to deal with on a regular basis. Seems my Rio can doesn't need to be upgraded then. Guess I can save the bucks for a calcium reactor

Thanks