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Unread 11/19/2013, 10:45 AM   #1
lwillis22
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How many pumps

I am setting up a new 240 gallon tank that is 8 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. I am no good at figuring out how much flow I should have and the return pump size. Can someone tell me what size return pumps I should have? The sump will be in the stand, not a basement and it has two returns.

Also, have one Tunze 6105 that will be going in there and I know I will need at least one more. Do you think two of the 6105's will work for this size tank?


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Unread 11/19/2013, 10:55 AM   #2
mkoop
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Two 6105's will be fine, as far as return pumps, your pump should account for about 3-10x turn over an hour after headloss. You should be able to accomplish this with one pump imo.


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Unread 11/19/2013, 10:56 AM   #3
mpeaden2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lwillis22 View Post
I am setting up a new 240 gallon tank that is 8 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft. I am no good at figuring out how much flow I should have and the return pump size. Can someone tell me what size return pumps I should have? The sump will be in the stand, not a basement and it has two returns.

Also, have one Tunze 6105 that will be going in there and I know I will need at least one more. Do you think two of the 6105's will work for this size tank?
Internal or External?


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Unread 11/19/2013, 11:01 AM   #4
lwillis22
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internal


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Unread 11/19/2013, 12:37 PM   #5
billdogg
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My vote goes to an eheim 1262. It will last forever, and if you use about 12" of vinyl to connect it to the hard plumbing as well as place it on a mouse pad or something similar it will be dead silent.


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Unread 11/19/2013, 01:45 PM   #6
mpeaden2
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I use and like Mag Drive. I love the Sicce PH's. I've heard good things about the Sicce return pumps also, but never owned one. Difficult to recommend a size because there are several factors that should be considered like the style of overflow you have, the ID of drain/return pipes used. The size of the sump your using etc..


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Unread 11/19/2013, 01:47 PM   #7
Palting
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Total flow needed, the sum of the gph of your return pump and all your powerheads, will depend on what coral you want to keep. 20X DT volume for softies, 30X DT volume for LPS, and upwards of 40X for SPS is the usual recommendation. As an example, I have a total of 7,500 gph or 50X for my 150 gallon SPS dominated reef.

A return pump with 6X -10X DT flow should be adequate for you, or a pump with 1,440gph-2,400gph effective flow. You can split the flow between two equivalent pumps and have two separate returns. Make sure you have a large sump and a large skimmer, as that's a lot of flow.

There is a part of this forum dedicated to tanks 180 gallons and larger and you may get better ideas there, here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=252


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Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

Last edited by Palting; 11/19/2013 at 02:01 PM.
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Unread 11/19/2013, 01:56 PM   #8
lwillis22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Palting View Post
Total flow needed, the sum of the gph of your return pump and all your powerheads, will depend on what coral you want to keep. 20X DT volume for softies, 30X DT volume for LPS, and upwards of 40X for SPS is the usual recommendation. As an example, I have a total of 7,500 gph or 50X for my 150 gallon SPS dominated reef.

A return pump with 6X -10X DT flow should be adequate for you, or a pump with 1,440gph-2,400gph effective flow. You can split the flow between two equivalent pumps and have two separate returns.


Thanks so much this really helps.


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