newbie pump help

[chansman]

Hey everyone! This will be my first SW build and have a few questions about pump sizes for my system. My plan is for a mixed reef.

75g with built-in over flow
20g long for sump
Aqua-C ev120 skimmer
Icecap 660 ballast

The Aqua-C recommends a Mag5 or RIO 2100, so that much I know, but should I use the same pump for my return?

The tank is bottom drilled for a closed loop system and from what I've been reading this sounds like to way to go instead of power heads. Since I am a newbie, and want to keep my marriage intact, what size external pump should I buy? There probably won't be any high end corals or anything for a while but still...I have no clue how to size it. There is one inlet and two returns on the cls. I thought about getting that JBJ Duo Wave Maker with the 1600 gph heads. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

[chansman]

anyone?

[Entropy]

The AquaC is a pump hungry skimmer. I would go with the Mag 7 or the RIO 2100+. You will get better skimmate in my experience (I had the older EV-150).

For the closed loop you can run pretty much any pump that will fit the drain/return size bulbheads you have. Closed loop can only flow as much as it can intake so there is no danger of an imbalance. You also need a return pump which will probably be similar to your skimmer pump. You might want to run the same pump on both so if your return pump ever dies you can steal the skimmer pump to keep you going while you get a replacement.

Don't know anything about the JBJ, sorry.

[azjohnny]

I like to shot for 3-5x DT turnover after head loss for your main pump. I prefer submersible pumps(they are more quiet) Just enough to get a surface skim and use your closed loop for tank circulation

Rios and Mags are not my favorite pumps, Sicce and Waterblasters might do better, they are both very quiet. You might also want to install a ball valve after your main pump in case it is giving you too much flow

[chansman]

Thanks for the replies.
I would like to get better pumps but the Rio's fit the budget for my skimmer and sump return. The closed loop pump however is stumping me. I was told to get something around 2,800 gph and that would work for what ever I decide to keep. The issue is that a pump that size is mighty expensive for a beginner. I mentioned the JBJ wave kit with the two 1600 heads only because they are just over $100. That's WAY better than closer to $400 for an external pump.

[azjohnny]

for your closed loop you could get away with lees than that, just make sure its a pressure pump, and not one for circulation. Try Craigslist I have bought many used items for aquariums. You could get a used Iwaki 55rlt or 70rlt for under $200.

people who have SPS will shoot for a 30x turnover, but if you want to go with more of a mixed reef 15-20x would be fine

[viggen]

Mag pumps are cheap however they are also louder then other pumps and I believe they also consume more power in the long run.

With the closed loop, what size are the holes in the tank? If 1 in I wouldn't want to run 2800 gph through those holes, easy to suck fish into the intake.

Possibly a iwaki 30 rlxt would work, that can push 1000+ gph and are reasonable quiet. The larger 40 series has a fan which makes a bit of noise. Possibly a sequence blowhole would work...... Blowholes would be new vs a used iwaki. Blowhole would be more efficient and also quieter

[chansman]

The inlet is 1" and the two returns are 3/4".

There is a local guy with a Gen-X PCX-40 Mak4. Do you think this would work?

[Phantom54]

I had a 75 and used a mag 7 for a return pump and was happy with that not sure though on that pump or closed loop

[chansman]

So many different ways to spend my money...lol

[viggen]

If noise is a concern I would not use that pump and to be honest I do not know if 1000 gph through one 1in intake would be to dangerous and suck in innocent fish.

Depending on what you plan to keep in the tank you Might be ok with 500 gph or you might need 100x turnover. FO or fowlr doesn't need as much turnover as the various types of reef tanks

[chansman]

So that gen-x is a noisy pump?

[Entropy]

You could always plug the closed loop holes for now and add to it later. Just attached normal pluming to the drain/returns and bring them down to where you plan to place the pump and add ball valves to all three lines (or two if you join the returns). You could just leave the ball valves at the end and then add to it with unions so the pump is removable (servicable). Honestly you could run a lot of different pumps on those size lines. You could even run a mag 7 or 9.5. There is very little head/pressure on a closed loop as long as you don't put some elaborate spray bar system on the end. If you are just sucking through one intake and pushing it out two returns (locline I assume) you will be fine. The most important part of a closed loop (and often the hardest) is to get all the air out of the system and making sure the intake and return are always under water and not sucking air.

[chansman]

ok ok...here's some extremely newbish stuff...so I don't have to run and external pump on the cls? A decent sized mag or rio would work not submerged? very cool!

[Entropy]

You would have to look at the specs on the pump. Some are not rated to run external but you could run them in your sump. The only downside (and it could be large) is the pump would dump it's heat into your tank. That is really the only advantage of an external pump IMO. I have a link somewhere to someone running a Mag 5 on a closed loop externally without any problems.

[chansman]

It looks like the mags and eheims can be run both ways.

I can just cap it off and get one of these but then i'll have big ugly heads in my tank.
http://www.aquacave.com/JBJ-OceanStr...P3182C808.aspx

[viggen]

The bubbleblaster pumps can also be run externally. There are external and internal pumps as well as some which can work either way. Mag pumps are sold as pond pumps, which is why they are louder vs a pump designed for a aquarium thus inside a house. Their smaller pumps aren't bad but the larger they are the noise really increases.

Correct, for me genx is noisy and I think to powerful. Mag 9.5 or smaller or bubbleblaster 3000 or smaller would work. Not sure if the bb5000 would be to much flow, 1300 gph at -70w if I recall

Like stated you can put a T valve at each bulkhead and just mess with the closed loop later.

[hackney]

mag 7