pumps

livin2ish · 04/07/2008, 11:54 AM

very new to the hobby. just purchased a 125 rr. my question is which is the best way to go for the sump return pump. my house stays around 70 to 72 degrees so not sure how that will have to do with anything but i have read submursible add heat to the tank but are quiet. heard the external which cost more don't have heat problem but are louder. i hope to build this as a reef tank over time. i also had someone tell me it would be better to use 2 pumps one for each return. any help will be appreciated as i said i am very new to this no experience pretty much. i bought a non drilled 55 with can filter and it was a nightmare by the time i set it up. it was used and had to break it down and set it back up. clown fish did ok but seems like every parameter is high so i bought the 125. ready to get it going. just now bought it. tank, sump, protein skimer, and stand with new over flows. need to get moving on it just need return pump to start putting it together

lark · 04/07/2008, 12:48 PM

Depending on how you set it up, two pumps returning from your sump can be a difficult situation.

The question you're asking depends on an awful lot. The most important questions that come to mind are: how much flow do you want your return pump to provide in your tank, what are your space limitations, how is your sump drilled (for an external pump), how fast will your tank drain (because you don't want to return water faster than it can drain from your tank), will you have a refugium, etc.

Most important, though, is what kind of animals do you want to keep in this tank? Once you know, you need to have a sophisticated understanding of what kind of flow they want and a plan for how you're going to provide it.

So, all that said, you don't hear too many people say, "darn, I wish I'd never bought that iwaki pump." If you have the money to spend, the space to do it, and the ability to figure out the plumbing, a Japanese motor Iwaki as an external pump for your return is a very good option.

livin2ish · 04/07/2008, 07:16 PM

thanks lark for the reply. i have a refugium area built in the custom built sump. i was told each of the overflows will only drain 600gph for a told of 1200 gallons per hour. it is an all glass 125 with mega over flows. now not really sure if the person who sold me this tank and stand knows but he had it set-up. he had it with a submersible pump mag 18 which went bad. he also didn't have a sump just a plastic container with a protein skimmer which looked alot like a corallife. i got a really good deal on the tank, stand, power heads, heaters, and some chemicals. i would like to turn it into a reef tank with both stony and soft corals and of course a few fish (reef safe) like tangs, clowns some invertabrates and that is all i have thought about . the sump was custom built for me by a lfs and he has both style pumps. he really said i could go either way. just wanted the ideas from here cause you guys are the best and know the best. if it takes a little extra money to get the best option then that's what i will do. agains thanks a bunch for the reply

04/07/2008, 11:54 AM	#1
livin2ish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: north carolina Posts: 2	pumps very new to the hobby. just purchased a 125 rr. my question is which is the best way to go for the sump return pump. my house stays around 70 to 72 degrees so not sure how that will have to do with anything but i have read submursible add heat to the tank but are quiet. heard the external which cost more don't have heat problem but are louder. i hope to build this as a reef tank over time. i also had someone tell me it would be better to use 2 pumps one for each return. any help will be appreciated as i said i am very new to this no experience pretty much. i bought a non drilled 55 with can filter and it was a nightmare by the time i set it up. it was used and had to break it down and set it back up. clown fish did ok but seems like every parameter is high so i bought the 125. ready to get it going. just now bought it. tank, sump, protein skimer, and stand with new over flows. need to get moving on it just need return pump to start putting it together

04/07/2008, 12:48 PM	#2
lark Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 535	Depending on how you set it up, two pumps returning from your sump can be a difficult situation. The question you're asking depends on an awful lot. The most important questions that come to mind are: how much flow do you want your return pump to provide in your tank, what are your space limitations, how is your sump drilled (for an external pump), how fast will your tank drain (because you don't want to return water faster than it can drain from your tank), will you have a refugium, etc. Most important, though, is what kind of animals do you want to keep in this tank? Once you know, you need to have a sophisticated understanding of what kind of flow they want and a plan for how you're going to provide it. So, all that said, you don't hear too many people say, "darn, I wish I'd never bought that iwaki pump." If you have the money to spend, the space to do it, and the ability to figure out the plumbing, a Japanese motor Iwaki as an external pump for your return is a very good option.

04/07/2008, 07:16 PM	#3
livin2ish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: north carolina Posts: 2	thanks lark for the reply. i have a refugium area built in the custom built sump. i was told each of the overflows will only drain 600gph for a told of 1200 gallons per hour. it is an all glass 125 with mega over flows. now not really sure if the person who sold me this tank and stand knows but he had it set-up. he had it with a submersible pump mag 18 which went bad. he also didn't have a sump just a plastic container with a protein skimmer which looked alot like a corallife. i got a really good deal on the tank, stand, power heads, heaters, and some chemicals. i would like to turn it into a reef tank with both stony and soft corals and of course a few fish (reef safe) like tangs, clowns some invertabrates and that is all i have thought about . the sump was custom built for me by a lfs and he has both style pumps. he really said i could go either way. just wanted the ideas from here cause you guys are the best and know the best. if it takes a little extra money to get the best option then that's what i will do. agains thanks a bunch for the reply