Return pump recommendations? Etc....

kaipo13 · 11/04/2011, 08:28 PM

Hello all,

I haven't had a saltwater tank for a few years and wanted some help with a return pump recommendation.

I am setting up ~130 gallon tank with a ~25 gallon tank to be used as a refugium/sump. The top of the display tank is almost exactly 4 feet from the sump bottom. As my tanks are older glass/metal framed, neither is drilled. As a result I am using an Eshopps PF-1000 dual overflow box to drain water into the sump. Additional filtration is obtained through a Rena Filstar XP3 canister filter. I am planning to order an AquaC EV-180 protein skimmer to be powered by a 9.5 mag drive pump to take care of that chore. I was planning to use a mag drive 18 as a return pump. Is this too much pump? Considering line bends and head pressure loss I think flow will be ~ 1000 gph. I'd love to hear anyone's input on this pump, such as how loud is it? It will be in my bedroom, will it be a distraction while I try to sleep? ~ how much heat does it generate? etc. If you think this pump is wrong for my application, what pump would you suggest?

Also, I was planning on using tap water to mix my salt water with Reef Crystals. I was going to just grab water from the ocean, but it's ~20 minute drive and I'd have to make several trips so....

Can I just cycle my water for ~a week to get rid of chlorine prior to mixing salt into the water? Or must I use some sort of an additive?

I am looking for any sort of input from experienced members. I'd like to avoid any mis-steps as I set up my tank.

Thanks in advance for your replies/assistance.

mjhall85 · 11/04/2011, 08:37 PM

I would steer clear of the tap water, Find a local LFS and get RO/DI water. A mag 18 will give you roughly 9 times your flow through your sump. You could probably go with a little less pump if wanted worse case if you choose the 18 and its too much flow put a ball valve on it to limit flow

MelloW33 · 11/04/2011, 08:38 PM

Mag 18 would be way too much in my opinion. I only run a Mag 7 on my 150 gallon tank. How many gallons per hour can your overflow handle?

kaipo13 · 11/04/2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhall85

I would steer clear of the tap water, Find a local LFS and get RO/DI water. A mag 18 will give you roughly 9 times your flow through your sump. You could probably go with a little less pump if wanted worse case if you choose the 18 and its too much flow put a ball valve on it to limit flow

What is the main issue with tap water? As for DI water I could grab that from my work, although 130+ gallons would be quite a bit, if I was going to lug that much water I'd just grab ocean water and avoid paying for salt.... I've done that in the past for 55 gallon and under applications, I was trying to avoid lugging water as the aquarium is next to my bed and I wouldn't want to accidentally spill any there...

mjhall85 · 11/04/2011, 08:58 PM

Has sediments you do not want in your tank that will cause a lot of problems down the road I have read quite a few horror stories when people used tap. Just depends on how good your "tap" water is some have used it and it did fine

Gill_bucket · 11/04/2011, 09:07 PM

I think you might want to do some research about the tank you plan on using, if I'm not mistaken your talking about a tank from the 70s. The tank could work, so don't let me discourage you. You might need to re silicone it though, so it's worth looking into.

kaipo13 · 11/04/2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill_bucket

I think you might want to do some research about the tank you plan on using, if I'm not mistaken your talking about a tank from the 70s. The tank could work, so don't let me discourage you. You might need to re silicone it though, so it's worth looking into.

Yes both tanks are from 60s or 70s, large one has been re-sealed, smaller one will be re-sealed and have baffles installed this weekend or next week.

thx for looking out. I've re-sealed the bigger one a couple of times and used it for years off and on. Nice tank, irregular shape, only thing that sucks is the metal frame doesn't hold up as nice as I'd like, but the glass is very thick. I'd estimate the tank alone weighs ~250 lbs or so.... not fun to move.

kaipo13 · 11/04/2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhall85

Has sediments you do not want in your tank that will cause a lot of problems down the road I have read quite a few horror stories when people used tap. Just depends on how good your "tap" water is some have used it and it did fine

Hmmmm, do you know what type of sediments? I have access to a very expensive spectrometer as I sometimes work in a lab and can test for virtually anything on a daily basis. I have left tap water out without aerating it and have noticed a significant chloride decrease as compared to relatively fresh tap water.

If I know what to check for I can easily determine if my tap water is adequate or if I'm going to spend next week hauling full 5 gallon buckets from the beach.... hehe

mjhall85 · 11/04/2011, 09:29 PM

chlorine copper chloramine fluoride just to name a few

SNAKEMANVET · 11/05/2011, 09:12 AM

I mag 5 or 7 would be plenty,you don't want alot of flow going through your sump.I run a mag 12 on my 240 with a 75 gallon sump.I agree with the others,use ro/di water.

Rockhead21564 · 11/05/2011, 10:19 AM

3-5 times turnover is plenty. In your case, that's approx 360-600gph. A mag 7 would be perfect, IMO. Too much flow will make more noise and push to hard thru your sump/refuge. I'm using a mag 18 on my 300g with 100g of sump/refuge.

Udoped/di water period. You can test all you want, but you wo t be removing any of the Total Disolved Solids (TDS), especially as during evaporation the solids stay in the system and you just keep adding more as you add " make up" water. You can use a TDS meter, very cheap, to test. Just my opinion, that and years of experience. Lol. Good luck!

11/04/2011, 08:28 PM	#1
kaipo13 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hawaii Posts: 138	Return pump recommendations? Etc.... Hello all, I haven't had a saltwater tank for a few years and wanted some help with a return pump recommendation. I am setting up ~130 gallon tank with a ~25 gallon tank to be used as a refugium/sump. The top of the display tank is almost exactly 4 feet from the sump bottom. As my tanks are older glass/metal framed, neither is drilled. As a result I am using an Eshopps PF-1000 dual overflow box to drain water into the sump. Additional filtration is obtained through a Rena Filstar XP3 canister filter. I am planning to order an AquaC EV-180 protein skimmer to be powered by a 9.5 mag drive pump to take care of that chore. I was planning to use a mag drive 18 as a return pump. Is this too much pump? Considering line bends and head pressure loss I think flow will be ~ 1000 gph. I'd love to hear anyone's input on this pump, such as how loud is it? It will be in my bedroom, will it be a distraction while I try to sleep? ~ how much heat does it generate? etc. If you think this pump is wrong for my application, what pump would you suggest? Also, I was planning on using tap water to mix my salt water with Reef Crystals. I was going to just grab water from the ocean, but it's ~20 minute drive and I'd have to make several trips so.... Can I just cycle my water for ~a week to get rid of chlorine prior to mixing salt into the water? Or must I use some sort of an additive? I am looking for any sort of input from experienced members. I'd like to avoid any mis-steps as I set up my tank. Thanks in advance for your replies/assistance.

11/04/2011, 08:38 PM	#3
MelloW33 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 591	Mag 18 would be way too much in my opinion. I only run a Mag 7 on my 150 gallon tank. How many gallons per hour can your overflow handle? __________________ Mark

11/05/2011, 10:19 AM	#11
Rockhead21564 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Up North Vanderbilt, Michigan Posts: 525	3-5 times turnover is plenty. In your case, that's approx 360-600gph. A mag 7 would be perfect, IMO. Too much flow will make more noise and push to hard thru your sump/refuge. I'm using a mag 18 on my 300g with 100g of sump/refuge. Udoped/di water period. You can test all you want, but you wo t be removing any of the Total Disolved Solids (TDS), especially as during evaporation the solids stay in the system and you just keep adding more as you add " make up" water. You can use a TDS meter, very cheap, to test. Just my opinion, that and years of experience. Lol. Good luck! __________________ Sometimes I just don't get IT ! I want IT, but she won't let me buy anything else. Well, that she knows about anyway, Bah hahahaha Current Tank Info: 280g reef w/90g refug/reef & 90g sump;210g FOWLR W/20"Pnthr Grper,10"niger,36"zebra & 24" Tiger eels. 55g clam tank w/ 9,"8",6",5"& 4" Corceas, 9" Blue &12"orange squamosas

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11/04/2011, 08:37 PM	#2
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	I would steer clear of the tap water, Find a local LFS and get RO/DI water. A mag 18 will give you roughly 9 times your flow through your sump. You could probably go with a little less pump if wanted worse case if you choose the 18 and its too much flow put a ball valve on it to limit flow

11/04/2011, 08:58 PM	#5
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Has sediments you do not want in your tank that will cause a lot of problems down the road I have read quite a few horror stories when people used tap. Just depends on how good your "tap" water is some have used it and it did fine

11/04/2011, 09:07 PM	#6
Gill_bucket Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 547	I think you might want to do some research about the tank you plan on using, if I'm not mistaken your talking about a tank from the 70s. The tank could work, so don't let me discourage you. You might need to re silicone it though, so it's worth looking into.

11/04/2011, 09:29 PM	#9
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	chlorine copper chloramine fluoride just to name a few

11/05/2011, 09:12 AM	#10
SNAKEMANVET PREMIUM MEMBER Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TRENTON Tn Posts: 4,486	I mag 5 or 7 would be plenty,you don't want alot of flow going through your sump.I run a mag 12 on my 240 with a 75 gallon sump.I agree with the others,use ro/di water.