Return pump sizing

jcarman81 · 11/03/2013, 03:28 PM

Just picked up a 75 gallon aquarium and a 40b sump. I plan on building a mixed reef that is SPS dominant. I have an MP10 and a WP25 for in-tank current. Just curious as to how much flow my return pump should be able to handle and any recommended pumps.

The sump is plumbed for an external pump already. I plan on everything being housed in my stand, so I guess there would only be about 4' of run from pump to tank. The tank will be in my living room so noise will be a factor.

phillrodrigo · 11/03/2013, 06:16 PM

I have the same size tank and sump. I have a mag 9.5 on mine but I have 2 returns. You want to closely match the amount of water your skimmer is skimming and the return pump to be close. That way almost all the water being returned to the dt has all been pretty much been through the skimmer. So It depends on the size of your skimmer. 1 return some were around 600gph at a 4ft head

jcarman81 · 11/03/2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillrodrigo

I have the same size tank and sump. I have a mag 9.5 on mine but I have 2 returns. You want to closely match the amount of water your skimmer is skimming and the return pump to be close. That way almost all the water being returned to the dt has all been pretty much been through the skimmer. So It depends on the size of your skimmer. 1 return some were around 600gph at a 4ft head

I'm running a Reef Octopus skimmer with a Bubble Blaster 3000pump. The tank isn't drilled yet so I don't really know if i'm doing 1 or 2 overflows, let alone returns. More to figure out then...any recommendations would be helpful!

modder man · 11/03/2013, 07:59 PM

Skimmer sizing really has nothing to do with it. It is a closed system so in theory all of the water is going to pass through the skimmer anyway.

I am going to go with my returns being roughly 5x the tank volume, I think the rule of thumb is 3-5x turnover. This means that for your 75 gallon tank you will want to see about 600 gallons per hour after head loss. Depending on what your budget is I would look into using one of the small dc pumps for a return as they will be quiet.

11/03/2013, 03:28 PM	#1
jcarman81 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 63	Return pump sizing Just picked up a 75 gallon aquarium and a 40b sump. I plan on building a mixed reef that is SPS dominant. I have an MP10 and a WP25 for in-tank current. Just curious as to how much flow my return pump should be able to handle and any recommended pumps. The sump is plumbed for an external pump already. I plan on everything being housed in my stand, so I guess there would only be about 4' of run from pump to tank. The tank will be in my living room so noise will be a factor.

11/03/2013, 06:16 PM	#2
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	I have the same size tank and sump. I have a mag 9.5 on mine but I have 2 returns. You want to closely match the amount of water your skimmer is skimming and the return pump to be close. That way almost all the water being returned to the dt has all been pretty much been through the skimmer. So It depends on the size of your skimmer. 1 return some were around 600gph at a 4ft head

11/03/2013, 07:59 PM	#4
modder man Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 143	Skimmer sizing really has nothing to do with it. It is a closed system so in theory all of the water is going to pass through the skimmer anyway. I am going to go with my returns being roughly 5x the tank volume, I think the rule of thumb is 3-5x turnover. This means that for your 75 gallon tank you will want to see about 600 gallons per hour after head loss. Depending on what your budget is I would look into using one of the small dc pumps for a return as they will be quiet.