Return Pump for 180 gallon

rzrmaster · 10/30/2012, 10:30 AM

Im trying to set back up my 180 gallon reef tank. This time I wont be using a canister filter! Good bye fluval! Just drilled and installed a Dart glass hole overflow kit. I had schplitter custom make me a sump/refugium combo years ago that I will now just get around to using hopefully.

Ive been doing ALOT of reading and keep going back and forth on what return pump to use. It seems like I keep getting conflicting info. Some people say more GPH than others. Ive been looking at the Sicce line of pumps. The syncra 5.0 is rated at a little over 1300 gph but after head loss its looking like I would only be getting around 1000 gph. It looks like the next step up is going to be syncra 10 which after head loss is going to be around 2000 gph.

This isnt going to be my main source of water movement so Im wondering what return pump to go with. Is there a better pump than the sicce for the money? I want to get my plumbing setup so I have the proper filtration to house a nicely stocked reef tank.

Brien H · 10/30/2012, 10:38 AM

I just moved from my 90g to a 180g and in the process was researching return pumps. I ended up going with a Water Blaster and am very happy. Since I am feeding 2 returns, an under stand fuge and a remote fuge in the room behind the tank, I went with the larger HY 10,000 (2,600gph). I'm currently not feeding the remote fuge so I have it throttled back a bit right now and it's pretty silent. With the Herbie overflows I have to touch the plumbing to even tell it's running. Just a vibration to let me know it's running. My skimmer is louder than the return pump.

You may want to check into Water Blasters as another option as they have a 1,300 gph and 1,800 gph models as well.

Cleancoupe · 10/30/2012, 11:21 AM

I just put a sicce 5.0 on my 175 & I like it

usmc121581 · 10/30/2012, 11:25 AM

I have been running a MAG 18 this is going on 4 years.

gone fishin · 10/30/2012, 11:42 AM

I am using a reeflo dart/snapper hybrid. I ended up swapping to the snapper impellor. the dart impellor was to much flow for my set up.

zakstrong · 10/30/2012, 11:59 AM

my thought on return pumps is as follows. your skimmer heater and everything else in the sump can only process a couple hundred gallons per hour to begin with. so having 2000 gallons running through you sump will not give an increase in skimmer performance or improved heater efficiency. It will give you increased flow in the display which is good and a hell of a lot of noise both from the pump and the water falling noise via the overflow. So in my tanks i always go with a minimal return pump. I have a 210 display with a 65 gallon refuge, 40 gal sump and 20 gal frag tank. all fed with a small external pump. about 450 gallon per hour i assume thought the display. Use internal powerheads in the the display for flow. more efficient with electricity, noise and more adjustable positioning.

tntneon · 10/30/2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zakstrong

my thought on return pumps is as follows. your skimmer heater and everything else in the sump can only process a couple hundred gallons per hour to begin with. so having 2000 gallons running through you sump will not give an increase in skimmer performance or improved heater efficiency. It will give you increased flow in the display which is good and a hell of a lot of noise both from the pump and the water falling noise via the overflow. So in my tanks i always go with a minimal return pump. I have a 210 display with a 65 gallon refuge, 40 gal sump and 20 gal frag tank. all fed with a small external pump. about 450 gallon per hour i assume thought the display. Use internal powerheads in the the display for flow. more efficient with electricity, noise and more adjustable positioning.

-yes you need to adjust your flow in function of your skimmerflow , if your skimmer draws 1000 gph water flow you need to adjust your return pump accordingly .
But then you still will need an 1500 gph pump as you have to pump the flow up to the display ( say 2~3 ft) , will decrease flow in function of the pump flow charateristic and also it's handy to have some sort of recycle line feeding back into the sump , alowing to fine tune the flow going to DT.
I would take an 2000~2500 gph pump IMO .

greetingzz tntneon

cap032 · 10/30/2012, 02:06 PM

Like Zak, I run minimal flow through my sump. My newly set up 125, is using the Sicce Syncra 3.0. I dialed it about half way back with the built in flow adjuster and its a great pump. Its quiet and reducing my flow this way from the Mag 9.5 I initially put in the sump to the dialed back Sicce Syncra, greatly reduced sump noise, pump noise, and splashing. You would probably be fine with the 3.0 as well, again I have mine dialed back half way.

wildman926 · 10/30/2012, 02:07 PM

Your skimmer will skim whaterver it is designed to. The flow through the sump is irrelevent. If the skimmer does not skim it on the first pass, higher flow through the sump ensures it will get it on the next passes.

The theory of slowing your flow in the sump to match your skimmer is only valid if you are directly feeding the skimmer from your overflow, and nothing else.

cap032 · 10/30/2012, 09:05 PM

Wildman, you are correct, but isnt it true that there is no "real need" to have more flow through the sump than the skimmer can process anyway? Unless of coarse you are counting on the return pump creating the flow in the DT as opposed to powerheads. In essence, slowing the flow may not be an advantage in terms of skimmer performance but, it will save $$$ by running a smaller return pump and greatly reduce noise. Then there is also the extra measure of safety in avoiding potential water on the floor scenarios for those who have 1" or smaller bulkheads.

10/30/2012, 10:30 AM	#1
rzrmaster Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: MO Posts: 77	Return Pump for 180 gallon Im trying to set back up my 180 gallon reef tank. This time I wont be using a canister filter! Good bye fluval! Just drilled and installed a Dart glass hole overflow kit. I had schplitter custom make me a sump/refugium combo years ago that I will now just get around to using hopefully. Ive been doing ALOT of reading and keep going back and forth on what return pump to use. It seems like I keep getting conflicting info. Some people say more GPH than others. Ive been looking at the Sicce line of pumps. The syncra 5.0 is rated at a little over 1300 gph but after head loss its looking like I would only be getting around 1000 gph. It looks like the next step up is going to be syncra 10 which after head loss is going to be around 2000 gph. This isnt going to be my main source of water movement so Im wondering what return pump to go with. Is there a better pump than the sicce for the money? I want to get my plumbing setup so I have the proper filtration to house a nicely stocked reef tank.

10/30/2012, 11:25 AM	#4
usmc121581 Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Abingdon, maryland Posts: 1,671 Blog Entries: 1	I have been running a MAG 18 this is going on 4 years. __________________ I prefer not to think before I speak, I like to be just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth. Current Tank Info: I have a 180 gal mostly LPS corals, it contains 1 Val. Tang, 1 yellow striped clown fish, 3 percula clownfish, a blood shrimp, cleaner shrimp and a sand shifting goby, 5 pajama cardinals, 1 green chromis. Also a 75 gal. sump/fug.

10/30/2012, 11:42 AM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I am using a reeflo dart/snapper hybrid. I ended up swapping to the snapper impellor. the dart impellor was to much flow for my set up. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

10/30/2012, 02:07 PM	#9
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	Your skimmer will skim whaterver it is designed to. The flow through the sump is irrelevent. If the skimmer does not skim it on the first pass, higher flow through the sump ensures it will get it on the next passes. The theory of slowing your flow in the sump to match your skimmer is only valid if you are directly feeding the skimmer from your overflow, and nothing else. __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

10/30/2012, 10:38 AM	#2
Brien H Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 12	I just moved from my 90g to a 180g and in the process was researching return pumps. I ended up going with a Water Blaster and am very happy. Since I am feeding 2 returns, an under stand fuge and a remote fuge in the room behind the tank, I went with the larger HY 10,000 (2,600gph). I'm currently not feeding the remote fuge so I have it throttled back a bit right now and it's pretty silent. With the Herbie overflows I have to touch the plumbing to even tell it's running. Just a vibration to let me know it's running. My skimmer is louder than the return pump. You may want to check into Water Blasters as another option as they have a 1,300 gph and 1,800 gph models as well.

10/30/2012, 11:21 AM	#3
Cleancoupe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 126	I just put a sicce 5.0 on my 175 & I like it

10/30/2012, 11:59 AM	#6
zakstrong Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 357	my thought on return pumps is as follows. your skimmer heater and everything else in the sump can only process a couple hundred gallons per hour to begin with. so having 2000 gallons running through you sump will not give an increase in skimmer performance or improved heater efficiency. It will give you increased flow in the display which is good and a hell of a lot of noise both from the pump and the water falling noise via the overflow. So in my tanks i always go with a minimal return pump. I have a 210 display with a 65 gallon refuge, 40 gal sump and 20 gal frag tank. all fed with a small external pump. about 450 gallon per hour i assume thought the display. Use internal powerheads in the the display for flow. more efficient with electricity, noise and more adjustable positioning.

10/30/2012, 02:06 PM	#8
cap032 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 611	Like Zak, I run minimal flow through my sump. My newly set up 125, is using the Sicce Syncra 3.0. I dialed it about half way back with the built in flow adjuster and its a great pump. Its quiet and reducing my flow this way from the Mag 9.5 I initially put in the sump to the dialed back Sicce Syncra, greatly reduced sump noise, pump noise, and splashing. You would probably be fine with the 3.0 as well, again I have mine dialed back half way.

10/30/2012, 09:05 PM	#10
cap032 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 611	Wildman, you are correct, but isnt it true that there is no "real need" to have more flow through the sump than the skimmer can process anyway? Unless of coarse you are counting on the return pump creating the flow in the DT as opposed to powerheads. In essence, slowing the flow may not be an advantage in terms of skimmer performance but, it will save $$$ by running a smaller return pump and greatly reduce noise. Then there is also the extra measure of safety in avoiding potential water on the floor scenarios for those who have 1" or smaller bulkheads.