return pump recommendations for AGA 120 reef ready w/ dual overflows

[n8rad]

Just like the title states. Each overflow has a 1" bulkhead so thats 1200gph drain flow rate right?
I was leaning towards the mag18 because it will do 1200gph at 5' head loss.

Thoughts?

[MJD 1]

go genx PCX

MJD

[n8rad]

i forgot to mention, i want it to be an internal pump.

[getwood65]

that big mag pump will really heat the water.i would also recommend an external pump for that size tank.

[p4ck37p1mp]

the mag will also be noisy as all get out. its worth the effort to go external.

[n8rad]

ok lets say i do go external. Do i just need to drill one hole in my sump then for the main drain to the external pump?

[davocean]

You could go w/ Oceanrunner internal and it will be cool and quiet.
Only thing is the 3500 is 900gph
6500 is 1,700 gph, could throttle back.
They are on sale cheap right now fostersmith.
Only thing is I like to keep my sump turnover around 5 times.
So I use an eheim 1262 (900gph) on my 180
Is this your only flow?
What do you plan to keep?

[Bax]

Yup, one hole will do it, put in the largest bulkhead you can and step down to what you need so you have flexability in the future. I did not have time to drill my return sump due to a quick move, but I really wish I was not running an internal Mag, TONS of HEAT!!!

I'd run a Pan World 50 PXX 1,100 gph with no sound I have one on my chiller loop, great pump!

[n8rad]

Im going to be keeping everything. I have softies and LPS right now, but later when the 120 is about 6-8 months old, i will probably introduce my 1st SPS.
If you look at my signature this is my 1st time ever doing the whole sump/return system so you can understand me wanting to run an internal pump. (no drilling :-) )
An external makes sense but theres just so many questions going on in my head especially about plumping. I know they are simple questions but i am just starting to plan out my equipment and purchasing 1 piece at a time.
Hopefully some people might take me under their wing and subscribe to this thread and help me get all my questions answered cause im getting on the move for this thing, now that i have my custom stand made for the 120.
Thanks everyone for the input

[virginiadiver69]

I use an in sump mag 12. With head loss it puts out about 950 gph. My tank stays at a rock solid 81 deg. so it can't put off THAT much heat. I don't use a chiller or fans either. As far as noise goes... it's all relative I guess. It is hardly noticeable and I don't have my sump enclosed either.

[davocean]

I personally would go w/ an eheim(what I have) or an OR for your sump, but only about 5x flow.
Then you will need something else to move water, especially if you want sps.
For this, I went w/ a loop.
Still building, but I'm going w/ a sequence dart on an oceanmotins squirt.
For sps, you need about 30x turnover, and some dudes are doing like 60-75x
Mine is mixed w/ dsb, so 30x is what I'm going for.
If I think I need more flow later, I'll add seio's or tunzes.
Hope this helps.
By the way, if you're worried about heat at all I would'nt go w/ mag, they do run warm.
Eheim and OR are very cool for internal.
Sequence is very cool for ext. but I wouldn't run my sump on it.

[n8rad]

Anybody for Iwaki external pumps? And also if im having 1200 gph of drain because of 2 6" bulkheads i need a 1200 gph or higher return right? And say i get a pump that does way more than 1200. Do i just install a ball valve to control the flow?

[davocean]

I was told by many that iwaki's are loud.
And yes, a ball can control flow.
That seems like alot of flow through sump, but I'm not familiar w/ that bulk.
I was advised to keep sump at 5x

[bgcook]

I run a mag 18 internally in a 30 gallon sump for about 4 months now. so far - so good, not much noise or increased heat. the eheim 1262 that runs the skimmer is silent though. the mag provide a great deal of return circulation. I did this so that I wouldn't need as many wavemakers. also, due to space an external pump wasn't a real option.

gc

[ToddG]

I just set up my AGA 120 with dual overflows like you have.

I used a mag 12 and it works perfect. I didnt want a river of flow through the sump as I am using a large sump with very large refugium area with macro algae. Most of my flow is being performed by the 2 tunze's I am putting in to replace my current 3 maxijet 900's which are only temporary. I will use two 6000's on a 7095 controller.

My water temp barely gets to 80 with two 250 watt metal halides running 8+ hours a day. When I first set up the tank and didnt have anything alive in it, the water was in the very low 70's to match my ambient temp in my house. The mag12 didnt have an affect on the tank temp. At least any measureable affect.... I cant explain the other peoples complaints of heating problems. But the facts, in my case, did not point to a heating problem. Maybe a larger mag would have been an issue.


That being said, I like the idea of an external pump. I also like the idea of the eheim pumps.

[Bax]

Turn over in your sump is a personal preference, I like 3-5x, and get the rest of your flow from a closed loop or other PH (Tunzes & VorTech are my choice but Maxi mods or Seios are options too)