Help with return pump

John07 · 07/09/2013, 10:34 PM

I am in the process of setting up my 220 gallon tank with 4-1 inch bulkheads. I have a 120 gallon sump that is about 3 feet below the aquarium. What pump would you recommend for the tank?

BlindZide · 07/10/2013, 05:54 AM

What is your distance between where your return pump is in relation to where the bulk heads are? This would help to determine head loss and then we can take into account how many bulk heads you have to be able to achieve maximum efficiency with returning water.

Fizz71 · 07/10/2013, 06:32 AM

You also need to decide what you'd like your turnover to be. Are you going to run a fast sump or a slow one? There is no right answer on that, just preference. Because of my distance I'm only running 2.5x but I also have live rock in my 100g sump so it's more like it's own tank. The less turnover in your sump the more you need to move the water in your tank with powerheads...which is cheaper to run anyway but takes up more space in your DT. FYI 2.5x is considered EXTREMELY low.

You also need to decide if you have room for an external or if you need an in sump pump. I'm hoping at 220g you're planning to go external...so you'll have the benefit of outside of the tank cooling.

My personal preference is anything made by ReeFlo because I like their low noise/low watt draw. I've owned a GenX, Iwaki, Little Giant, Mag, Dolphin and one other pump whose name eludes me at the moment but isn't made anymore. They were all OK except for the Dolphin that had a cheap type of plastic on the input that broke and forced me to use it as a submersible...but that was about 10 years ago so I'd hope they'd have fixed it by now.

I currently run a ReeFlo Tarpon.

Your best bet is to figure out what speed you want at what headloss you'll have and then research your choices and look at watt draw...THEN have a list of a few pumps and ask for advice/experience again....but I'll still suggest ReeFlo.

John07 · 07/10/2013, 04:37 PM

The distance from the pump to the bulkheads would be about five feet. I would be able to have either an external or internal pump. I would like to have at least 5-7 turnover from the pump.

Vinny Kreyling · 07/10/2013, 04:47 PM

Figure 200 in the tank & 60 in the sump X 6=1560 GPH
So something in the 1800 - 2000 GPH range to allow for piping.
I like my DC pump but reliability is unknown since they are so new, but you cant beat 96 W wide open.

John07 · 07/10/2013, 11:13 PM

Thanks for the help. How long have you had the DC pump?

Fizz71 · 07/11/2013, 06:36 AM

The ReeFlo Dart/Snapper Hybrid would work for you with the Dart setup (impeller). It's hard to tell actual wattage because it depends on what headloss pressure you run at but their site lists 94W as its average. I know that if my Tarpon failed today, the ReeFlo blowhole 2700 is on my list since I need something more pressure rated than fast and the blowhole seems to be both and is a good price....but I've read odd reviews on the first batch and the appear to be hard to find right now.

Vinny Kreyling · 07/11/2013, 07:44 AM

The DC pump has only about 6 months of run time.

07/09/2013, 10:34 PM	#1
John07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 30	Help with return pump I am in the process of setting up my 220 gallon tank with 4-1 inch bulkheads. I have a 120 gallon sump that is about 3 feet below the aquarium. What pump would you recommend for the tank?

07/10/2013, 05:54 AM	#2
BlindZide Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,273	What is your distance between where your return pump is in relation to where the bulk heads are? This would help to determine head loss and then we can take into account how many bulk heads you have to be able to achieve maximum efficiency with returning water. __________________ ~Trent Biocube 14 Mixed Reef 75G LPS Reef

07/10/2013, 06:32 AM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	You also need to decide what you'd like your turnover to be. Are you going to run a fast sump or a slow one? There is no right answer on that, just preference. Because of my distance I'm only running 2.5x but I also have live rock in my 100g sump so it's more like it's own tank. The less turnover in your sump the more you need to move the water in your tank with powerheads...which is cheaper to run anyway but takes up more space in your DT. FYI 2.5x is considered EXTREMELY low. You also need to decide if you have room for an external or if you need an in sump pump. I'm hoping at 220g you're planning to go external...so you'll have the benefit of outside of the tank cooling. My personal preference is anything made by ReeFlo because I like their low noise/low watt draw. I've owned a GenX, Iwaki, Little Giant, Mag, Dolphin and one other pump whose name eludes me at the moment but isn't made anymore. They were all OK except for the Dolphin that had a cheap type of plastic on the input that broke and forced me to use it as a submersible...but that was about 10 years ago so I'd hope they'd have fixed it by now. I currently run a ReeFlo Tarpon. Your best bet is to figure out what speed you want at what headloss you'll have and then research your choices and look at watt draw...THEN have a list of a few pumps and ask for advice/experience again....but I'll still suggest ReeFlo. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

07/11/2013, 06:36 AM	#7
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	The ReeFlo Dart/Snapper Hybrid would work for you with the Dart setup (impeller). It's hard to tell actual wattage because it depends on what headloss pressure you run at but their site lists 94W as its average. I know that if my Tarpon failed today, the ReeFlo blowhole 2700 is on my list since I need something more pressure rated than fast and the blowhole seems to be both and is a good price....but I've read odd reviews on the first batch and the appear to be hard to find right now. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

07/10/2013, 04:37 PM	#4
John07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 30	The distance from the pump to the bulkheads would be about five feet. I would be able to have either an external or internal pump. I would like to have at least 5-7 turnover from the pump.

07/10/2013, 04:47 PM	#5
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Figure 200 in the tank & 60 in the sump X 6=1560 GPH So something in the 1800 - 2000 GPH range to allow for piping. I like my DC pump but reliability is unknown since they are so new, but you cant beat 96 W wide open.

07/10/2013, 11:13 PM	#6
John07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 30	Thanks for the help. How long have you had the DC pump?

07/11/2013, 07:44 AM	#8
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	The DC pump has only about 6 months of run time.