Return Pump Size???

richie_pedro · 12/01/2006, 03:42 PM

Hey guys, I have a 75 gallon display with a 30 gallong sump. I have two sets of baffles in the sump. I was originally running a Mag Drive 12 pump as my return, but because the water flow through the sump was so fast, I would always get fine mircrobubbles back into the display. The impeller on the Mag 12 recently broke, and I had a mag 3 which flows 350 gph versus the 1200gph of the mag 12 that I used as a back up return pump. The water is now crystal clear, with no bubbles...I guess because the water flow through the sump is much slower. Is this adequate waterflow for the sump or should I get like at Mag 7 which is 700gph? Any opinions for the proper water flow rate through my sump would be great. I have a Euroreef non recirculating skimmer, some chaet and a few pieces of lr in my sump. Thanks for the advice in advance.

Richie

twon8 · 12/01/2006, 04:53 PM

that is fine, i use a eheim 1250 320 gph as a return on my 90. i say 1-3x turnover per hour is great.

papagimp · 12/01/2006, 04:55 PM

what he said, sound fine to me.

staticx · 12/01/2006, 05:01 PM

thats wierd I have a 25 X turnover in my sump with no bubbles. But it sounds like you got everything dialed in.

a4twenty · 12/01/2006, 05:26 PM

the general rule for sump flow is 3 - 5 times the tank volume. so for you 225 to 375 gph approx.

12/01/2006, 03:42 PM	#1
richie_pedro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 9	Return Pump Size??? Hey guys, I have a 75 gallon display with a 30 gallong sump. I have two sets of baffles in the sump. I was originally running a Mag Drive 12 pump as my return, but because the water flow through the sump was so fast, I would always get fine mircrobubbles back into the display. The impeller on the Mag 12 recently broke, and I had a mag 3 which flows 350 gph versus the 1200gph of the mag 12 that I used as a back up return pump. The water is now crystal clear, with no bubbles...I guess because the water flow through the sump is much slower. Is this adequate waterflow for the sump or should I get like at Mag 7 which is 700gph? Any opinions for the proper water flow rate through my sump would be great. I have a Euroreef non recirculating skimmer, some chaet and a few pieces of lr in my sump. Thanks for the advice in advance. Richie

12/01/2006, 04:53 PM	#2
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	that is fine, i use a eheim 1250 320 gph as a return on my 90. i say 1-3x turnover per hour is great. __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

12/01/2006, 04:55 PM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	what he said, sound fine to me. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/01/2006, 05:01 PM	#4
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	thats wierd I have a 25 X turnover in my sump with no bubbles. But it sounds like you got everything dialed in.

12/01/2006, 05:26 PM	#5
a4twenty Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,603	the general rule for sump flow is 3 - 5 times the tank volume. so for you 225 to 375 gph approx.