Return Pump Poll...

[treehugger]

So with a possible upgrade on the way I'm making a list of all the new equipment I will need to get. My current dilema is what is the best suited/quietest/bang for your buck return pump for a 180g AGA tank with the two mega overflows? Welcoming all thoughts and suggestions.
Jeff

 

[trido]

I use a mag 18 on my 120 and intend to use it on my 210. Unless your sump can handle more flow, your looking for an external pump, or looking for a quieter pump you should just stick with the one you have IMO.

 

[Scooterman]

Eheim 1262
Had bigger didn't like the results after a year, main issue was noise & heat!

 

[seawandrr]

Current return in my 135 is a Poseiden PS4. It's perfect for a single tank, low head (it's an in-stand sump) solution. Silent, moderate flow, it does add a bit of heat, but not a bad thing if you account for that in your system planning.

Next tank (220) will have 2 other tanks driven off the same return, so I'm shifting to a reeflo snapper to have enough flow to handle them all. (and it gets down to about the same wattage as the PS4, with more flow, when dialed back)

~K

 

[Snowboarda42]

I like my Mag Drive, so those get my vote.

 

[LakeEd]

All of the above are good suggestions. You really only need about 3X turnover rate in a return pump. If you are wanting flow for SPS's, you're looking at about 30X flow rate (general rule, type and placement are more important)...which you won't have going through your return pump anyway.

Taking into consideration that you want about 600-700gph flow for a return pump, plan on what your head-height is going to be and subtract that from what the various pumps will do for you. Some pumps (like the Mag's) are mainly used In-Sump... and because they are in the water, do produce more heat. Take that into consideration as well like Seawandrr mentioned.

The Eheim, Mag Drive & Poseidon’s are all good quality pumps. You won't go wrong with any of them.

 

[theJ]

those two overflows can handle a whole heck of a lot of return pump, but as mentioned earlier, the sump is really supposed to be a slower flowing area for your skimmer/fuge area to grab onto and process the water.

I think 700gph is a decent number to shoot for in your tank after taking into account head loss, which eats up your gph pretty quick. For instance, I have a mag 9.5 (950gph), and after about 5 ft of head loss (including elbows and bends) I am only getting about 500gph out of the pump which turns into about 7x turnover (total water volume is about 70g including sump), and just about perfect for my skimmer and fuge to have enough time to scrub the water as it passes by.

For 'flow' in the tank, I use a combo of Seio and maxijet power heads that gets me about 45x turnover in the display (58g tank)

 

[mower7]

If you want to go with an external pump, the reeflo pumps are great. I'm using a Dart as a return, and a closed loop pump (2 pumps) on my 150. They are quiet, and put their heat into the air (as opposed to the water). If it's in a closed cabinet, you will want to move some air through the cabinet (but that would be a good idea anyway for gas exchange).

Another thing to make sure you think about is the size of the plumbing that you are using. It can cause a lot of head pressure that will take away the flow abilities of your pump. Check out some of the head pressure calculators on reefcentral.com to get a feel for the flow of the different pumps, and the plumbing.

Just my $0.02

Enjoy

Jack

 

[Scooterman]

Hey Jack, on the dart what size PVC are you using to supply it on the suction?
Just curious because these pumps aren't designed to be return pumps & I see people using them as so more & more, I know they require 2" suction but I'm guessing that most who use it are necking that down some? I'd like to know just how they are plumbed & how much head are you dealing with?

Thanks!

 

[mower7]

Heh... funny you should ask...

For my return pump (Dart) I actually have a 2" bulkhead into my sump with a 90 degree corner on it ( to make it able to still work when the sump level gets low). The output is a manifold kinda thing that goes to a 1" line up to my return, and to my chiller (which returns to the sump). And that is the reason that I mentioned the head calculator in my message above, that 1" line really puts up some back pressure, and thus reduces the flow (I had a snapper, and upgraded to the dart impeller). And the actual lift back up to the tank is about 4'. Works great for me, and I actually have it throttled back a little bit just because my overflows are a little to high in the tank for that kind of return flow.

My closed loop is really the problem. It is 1" line run from the tank, and back to the tank. It was a retrofit from an earlier pump. It really restricts that Dart a LOT. I just adapted the 1" up to a 2" with a 2" corner. One of these days I will rip the tank apart (at least partially and replace that 1" plumbing I did. If I had it to do again, I would at least use 1 1/2" plumbing on the intake. It's under the tank so it gets a little tight. But the pump doesn't seem to be too angry with the setup, it just doesn't flow like it could..

Of course the tank is a perpetual project right... I have been thinking about replumbing the entire system one of these days. I just have to bring myself to move some of the rock so that I can plug the return of the closed loop system (which returns to the bottom of the tank).. Crazy idea, but I didn't make the tank, and it was that way when I bought it. The nice thing is it is all self contained in the stand...

If you want a picture, I can see what I can do.. It is jam packed with stuff

Jack

 

[kgross]

I would go with the DART as a closed loop pump and use a much smaller pump for the return, you skimmer will work better, your overflows will be quiter and overall you will be more happy with the tank. Other than the heat, a T4 would be a great return pump a genx pcx30 would do nicely the Eheim 1262 would be great.

Kim