View Full Version : Fuge pump
kl3377
01/31/2007, 08:49 PM
I need help figuring out what size pump I need to keep up with the overflows on my 120 gal tank. All-Glass says that the flow is 600 GPH for each overflow (tank has two). The refugium will be no more than 4 ft below the tank with enough 3/4" pipe to get back to the returns. Thank you.
zoomfish1
01/31/2007, 09:04 PM
I can only relate to mag drive pumps cause that's all I have used. Had a 150g with dual 600gph overflows and used a magdrive 24. I was too large and had to turn it back about 35%. I would say a magdrive 18 would do it for that set up.
Others will chime in on different brands.
There is no need for the return pump to “keep up” with the overflow. I recommend that you use a turnover of 5 times volume or 5x120 = 600gph for your pump. You can use powerheads or Vortech propellers in your main tank to generate another 5x turnover.
To calculate the flow, use the link to the “Head Loss Calculator” on the lower left of the Reef Central Home Page. For example, the Blueline HD-40 pump with following parameters will generate a 662gph flow:
4’ vertical
2’ horizontal
0.75” pipe diameter
One 90-degree elbow
1 pipe exit
1 pipe entrance
The reason for using a small 5x pump is to reduce noise and reduce turbulence for your skimmer and refugium.
I have a noisy Iwaki MD-30RXT pump and I plan to replace it with a smaller pump, such as an Iwaki MD-20RXT or Blueline HD-30x in the near future. I plan to use Vortech propellers to make up for the loss in circulation. Here is a comparison of an Iwaki pump and a PanWorld pump which is a copy of the Blueline: http://members.cox.net/bohdar/pumps/.
kl3377
02/02/2007, 08:57 PM
I think I am going with a Blueline or Pan World, maybe a Magdrive if I go submersible. I am going to wait until I get my fuge under the stand to see what kind of room I have to work with. Thanks for the input.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.