Poll - Return pump for 120 - 130 gallon range

[phishlet]

I'd like to see what RC folks seem to the best return pump would be out of the options above for a tank in the 120 - 130 range. Please limit your comments to reference only the pumps listed. Sump is a 55 gallon with live sand, and love rock. Sump also houses the skimmer and phosban reactor.

Water movement in the tank is handled by two Vortech pumps.

Mag 7
Mag 9.5
Mag 12
Ocean Runner 6500

[rreddick]

sorry,
but I would go with a Pan World or Iawaki - Quality and sound levels

Ron

[nhlives]

I have been asking much the same question and have concluded that a relatively low flow throught he sump seems to be what most recommend. Of course the pump size depends on overflow capacity, head, piping, etc. Have you tried the head loss caculator? http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php. I am shooting for about half the maximum overflow (1200 gph)

[phishlet]

Originally posted by rreddick
sorry,
but I would go with a Pan World or Iawaki - Quality and sound levels

Ron

I'm looking for an internal pump. Thus the reason I asked to keep the replies reflective of the above options.

[rreddick]

Ah, I see. then the Mag 12,
I will go vote now

Ron

[fishdoc11]

How many overflows and what type/size?
Are you wanting to process a lot of water or have a relatively low turnover through the sump and more "thoroughly" clean the water with a recirc type skimmer or go somewhere in between?
If I just had to vote based on the available info I would go with a Mag 12 but I don't particularly like Mags and would prefer an Eheim if you would be satisfied with the flow an Eheim would provide.

Also love rock typically requires a "special" pump


Chris

[phishlet]

Originally posted by nhlives
I have been asking much the same question and have concluded that a relatively low flow throught he sump seems to be what most recommend. Of course the pump size depends on overflow capacity, head, piping, etc. Have you tried the head loss caculator? http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php. I am shooting for about half the maximum overflow (1200 gph)

You may be right. That's always been my conclusion too. I've been running a Mag 7 for 6 years or so through my 125. But I also have about 3 fet of almost vertical height to pump. So that's about 3 feet of head loss. This is just not producing much of any flow in the display tank. So I was seriously thinking about upgrading to the Mag 9.5 but I have also considered a Mag12 and "T" it off to relieve some pressure and just let some excess flow back through the 55 gallon live sand/rock sump. I'm not sure that the Mag 9.5 would be that much of an improvement though. But I don't want to force too much through the sump either.

I should have also noted that I have one center overflow.

[phishlet]

Originally posted by fishdoc11


Also love rock typically requires a "special" pump


Chris

LOL Know what you mean.

Sorry folks... I meant live rock.

[phishlet]

Originally posted by fishdoc11
How many overflows and what type/size?
Are you wanting to process a lot of water or have a relatively low turnover through the sump and more "thoroughly" clean the water with a recirc type skimmer or go somewhere in between?
If I just had to vote based on the available info I would go with a Mag 12 but I don't particularly like Mags and would prefer an Eheim if you would be satisfied with the flow an Eheim would provide.


Chris

Yeah I really don't want to blow tons through the sump. I would rather have a relatively low turnover rate through the sump. But right now with the Mag 7 there's really not a whole lot of turnover at all considering the thing has to pump up three feet or so. I have one center overflow which is of the angled type. In other words, not square. It's a Clarity Plus acrylic tank with angled overflow.

One other thing, the overflow is real quiet right now with the Mag 7. It's going to get a lot louder with a Mag 9.5 or 12 once more water is being pushed correct?

[STEELERFAN747]

Iv'e been running the mag 9.5 in my 90g so for a 120-130 I would say a mag12 although Ive heard good things abouth the ocean runner.

[xtrstangx]

Skip Mag pumps... they are loud and add lots of heat to the water.

Go with an Eheim.

[phishlet]

Originally posted by xtrstangx
Skip Mag pumps... they are loud and add lots of heat to the water.

Go with an Eheim.

Thanks for the advice. I'm not real concerned about noise or heat since my sump is in an unfinished portion of my basement which stays around 65 degrees in the winter and remains cool in the summer. It requires a heater in my reef to keep the tank at 77 degrees with MH and VHO lighting over the top. This is nice since it avoids the necessity of a chiller. The vortechs are nice too because there's no motor in the water to add more heat. So the only thing in my reef display tank is actually just the titanium heater.

[jzdad]

I also agree ,Eheim. I removed my 9.5 from my 125 and added a Eheim 1262 . I sometimes check to see if it running, is so quiet.Sorry It's not one of your choices ,but check it out.

[fishdoc11]

Originally posted by phishlet
Yeah I really don't want to blow tons through the sump. I would rather have a relatively low turnover rate through the sump. But right now with the Mag 7 there's really not a whole lot of turnover at all considering the thing has to pump up three feet or so. I have one center overflow which is of the angled type. In other words, not square. It's a Clarity Plus acrylic tank with angled overflow.

One other thing, the overflow is real quiet right now with the Mag 7. It's going to get a lot louder with a Mag 9.5 or 12 once more water is being pushed correct?

It shouldn't be much louder. I would vote for a Mag 9 then...or better yet an Eheim 1262. The selling point for me for an Eheim over a Mag is not just heat but reliablility and longevity...they are much better pumps and reliability is at a premium on a return pumpas I'm sure you know

Chris

Chris

[phishlet]

bump