how much is too much flow?

rob28 · 04/09/2007, 11:57 AM

I have a Aqua Clear 5000 Power head as a return pump running in my 16 gallon Refugium/sump...My overflow is 1.25" ...It seems to be moving alot of water through the refugium...Can i have too much turn over...And is there a disadvantage to this? tHANKS...Rob

fareforce · 04/09/2007, 12:03 PM

IMO that is way to much flow to be running through your sump. Your sump should only be running 10x your tank volume. The rest of the flow should be through a closed loop system, or power heads, wavemakers, etc.

drummereef · 04/09/2007, 12:05 PM

Some even say 3-5x the display volume for sump flow.

You should make up for the lack of flow in the display with powerheads etc...

Sparty00 · 04/09/2007, 12:11 PM

How much flow should you have in your display aquarium, and is it possible to have too much flow there?

papagimp · 04/09/2007, 12:12 PM

Yes you can have too much flow through the sump/fuge. And 1000gph through does seem excessive. I run about 500gph through my fuge on a 55g tank. And that's more than I like. Your overflow can handle the higher flowrate, but the refugium probably isn't going to benefit in the least from it. If you have macro algae in the fuge, it'll need sufficient contact time with the water flowing through. Too high a flow and you reduce this time as well as bombard the fuge with too much current, may hurt the macroalgae and give the pods too turbulent of a spot to call their own.

for a 55g, aim for 300-500gph return flow. I run a 700gph pump but have my return line tee'd back into the sump so only about 500gph is coming through my returns. This particular setup has actually proven alot less effective than when I was running a 300gph pump only.

04/09/2007, 11:57 AM	#1
rob28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 241	how much is too much flow? I have a Aqua Clear 5000 Power head as a return pump running in my 16 gallon Refugium/sump...My overflow is 1.25" ...It seems to be moving alot of water through the refugium...Can i have too much turn over...And is there a disadvantage to this? tHANKS...Rob __________________ When Hell Freezes Over I'll Ice Fish There TOO!!!! Current Tank Info: 55gallon,16 gall.refugium/sump 4X55W T5'S 2 false Percs,Pj Cardinal,6 line Wrasses,Green Manderine, Flame Angle,2- Purple Firefish,Lawnmower Blenny,Serpant Star,Seaba Anm., Hammer coral,Zoo's, 80 lbs Live rock/100 lbs sand

04/09/2007, 12:03 PM	#2
fareforce Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK (Alaska) Home of the frozen weasel Posts: 1,811	IMO that is way to much flow to be running through your sump. Your sump should only be running 10x your tank volume. The rest of the flow should be through a closed loop system, or power heads, wavemakers, etc. __________________ It's not my fault!!! It was an I.D.ten.T. thing.. Gosh!!!! (ID10T) --------------------------------------------- Click the red house to see my current build thread! Current Tank Info: Current Project. 110 gallon starphire.

04/09/2007, 12:05 PM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Some even say 3-5x the display volume for sump flow. You should make up for the lack of flow in the display with powerheads etc... __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/09/2007, 12:12 PM	#5
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Yes you can have too much flow through the sump/fuge. And 1000gph through does seem excessive. I run about 500gph through my fuge on a 55g tank. And that's more than I like. Your overflow can handle the higher flowrate, but the refugium probably isn't going to benefit in the least from it. If you have macro algae in the fuge, it'll need sufficient contact time with the water flowing through. Too high a flow and you reduce this time as well as bombard the fuge with too much current, may hurt the macroalgae and give the pods too turbulent of a spot to call their own. for a 55g, aim for 300-500gph return flow. I run a 700gph pump but have my return line tee'd back into the sump so only about 500gph is coming through my returns. This particular setup has actually proven alot less effective than when I was running a 300gph pump only. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

04/09/2007, 12:11 PM	#4
Sparty00 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 272	How much flow should you have in your display aquarium, and is it possible to have too much flow there?