Return pump for 55 gal tank

razec · 11/09/2009, 07:20 AM

I have a 55 gal display tank with 10 gal sump and a 300 gph overflow. I just bought a maxi-jet 3000 which is rated at max 775gph. The distance from the pump to the diplay tank is 4'

Question: Is this pump too big for this system? Seems to me since I have to close the valve almost to the maximum to get a stable flow. Also the pump is very noisy. Is this how this brand of pumps are?

Any advice?

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/09/2009, 08:16 AM

Are you running the pump submerged or external? What is your plumbing like (size, material, etc.)?

How do you know your overflow is 300gph? Is that a manufacturer's rating, or something you came up with?

In general, valving down a pump isn't a bad thing, but there could be other factors contributing to your problems.

razec · 11/09/2009, 08:44 AM

The pump is submerged. The plumbing is 1". Overflow rated by the manufacturer.

der_wille_zur_macht · 11/09/2009, 08:55 AM

If you take all the plumbing off and just put the pump in a big bucket of water and run it, is it quieter? Doing that test will help you determine if the pump is just plain noisy, or it's your setup that's causing the noise.

Hard PVC plumbing or hose? Sometimes a short piece of hose between the pump and the rest of the plumbing can help with noise. Also, try this - fill a small ziploc bag with a few handfuls of sand, and put it under the pump. It'll absorb vibration and help with noise.

razec · 11/09/2009, 08:57 AM

I have a hose between the pump and the valve and after that PVC pipe

razec · 11/09/2009, 08:58 AM

I will try your suggestions.

11/09/2009, 07:20 AM	#1
razec Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 47	Return pump for 55 gal tank I have a 55 gal display tank with 10 gal sump and a 300 gph overflow. I just bought a maxi-jet 3000 which is rated at max 775gph. The distance from the pump to the diplay tank is 4' Question: Is this pump too big for this system? Seems to me since I have to close the valve almost to the maximum to get a stable flow. Also the pump is very noisy. Is this how this brand of pumps are? Any advice?

11/09/2009, 08:16 AM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Are you running the pump submerged or external? What is your plumbing like (size, material, etc.)? How do you know your overflow is 300gph? Is that a manufacturer's rating, or something you came up with? In general, valving down a pump isn't a bad thing, but there could be other factors contributing to your problems. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

11/09/2009, 08:55 AM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	If you take all the plumbing off and just put the pump in a big bucket of water and run it, is it quieter? Doing that test will help you determine if the pump is just plain noisy, or it's your setup that's causing the noise. Hard PVC plumbing or hose? Sometimes a short piece of hose between the pump and the rest of the plumbing can help with noise. Also, try this - fill a small ziploc bag with a few handfuls of sand, and put it under the pump. It'll absorb vibration and help with noise. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

11/09/2009, 08:44 AM	#3
razec Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 47	The pump is submerged. The plumbing is 1". Overflow rated by the manufacturer.

11/09/2009, 08:57 AM	#5
razec Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 47	I have a hose between the pump and the valve and after that PVC pipe

11/09/2009, 08:58 AM	#6
razec Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 47	I will try your suggestions.