Return pump on 120

[burton14e7]

The head will be about 5.5 feet , the drain is 1.5" and the return is 3/4". It will be in sump so I'm thinking something along the lines of a Mag 18....but they're not the most heat efficient out there and probably not the quietest either. So I'm curious what would be a better solution that will still give me about 10x's turn over an hour. I'm not using it for current, I have vortech's and a wavebox for that. Just for good ol skimming.

TIA
-Chris

[oct2274]

The perfect pump for that size of tank is the oceanrunner 3500 or eheim 1262. The oceanrunner is cheaper and uses less power. They are both very quiet and very reliable and can be used external if needed. there is no way the overflow on a tank that size can handle a mag 18 unless it is custom built and the mag 18 would waste tons of electricity and loose all it flow through 3/4" lines anyways. Plus, mag 18's are much louder.

[burton14e7]

word, thanks g. It's just a standard corner over flow.

[2crazyreefers]

I used a mag 18 on my 125 for 2 years.

[burton14e7]

well I had a mag 7 on my 55 and it went out after 1.5 years. It was hot as hell and I could hear it humming from the next room. I know there are more efficient and more quiet pumps but since I havn't had to shop for returns in 4 years I feel kind of ignorant on the matter so thats why I'm asking. Reading a chart a mag 18 can do about 1200 gph at 5' of head. So thats why I was using a mag 18 as a referance, 10xs turn over. My stand is going to be 40" tall and my tank 24" . I'm not sure how a mag 18 couldn't handle that if thats what it should be doing.

[burton14e7]

bump

[twon8]

an eheim 1260 or 1262 or ocean runner 2500 or 3500.

and he didnt' say teh mag 18 couldnt' handle it, he said the overflow couldnt' handle a mag18

[Reef Sponger]

I love my Eheim.

[burton14e7]

So saying my overflow can't handle a mag 18 at 5', which is about 1200 gph, you're also saying that I can't have 10x's turn over with my over flow? The ocean runner says it's rated for 900gph so whats that at 5' of head, like 650 gph? I don't like their graph on the oceanrunner.pdf It has a graph with lines with incriments of 1000 which are not concrete and people may interpret differently, I prefer a chart with numbers like the mag chart on marinedepot. Out of the eheim and ocean runner is one particularly better than the other or are they both top notch pumps that will satisfy?

[cplev]

I love My Eheim 1262 on my 120.

[45commando]

The way Mag pumps flow rates are listed is a bit deceiving,they state that plumbing needs to be twice the diameter of the pump output.That would probably mean that you'd need 1 1/2" returns for the Mag 18 to have max flow rate.If your returns are 3/4" then you'll be loosing a lot of flow.Type in the numbers in the head loss calculator & it will give you a more accurate number & you can compare different pumps.HTH

[burton14e7]

ah thanks. I'm trusting those with more knowledge than me on the pumps, i was just curious on what the flow would be. Online I've seen the price difference on the eheim range in 70.00 which is kind of crazy. Usually some places are cheaper by about 20 bucks.

[cgib831]

as far as your overflow being able to handle the flow, it depends on how many you have. One AGA overflow will flow 600 gph, so if u got 2 your good an your 1200.

[burton14e7]

Nope, I definately only have one. My tank was made by visio if that matters. I've seen 250's with only one overflow and thought it wouldn't hurt for my 120. Thats what I get for not researching properly. I think I should be ok though but i'll only have 5x's turnover an hour. The overflow looks to be about 8"x8" but it could only be 6"x6" I couldn't find any specs on their website.

[kdblove_99]

oceanrunner 3500

[cgib831]

i would call them up and check if u can. doesnt make any sense to spend the extra money on a return pump that you are going to have to throttle halfway back. 5x is plenty for your return though. 3x is even fine, you just need to have a lot of circulatio inside the actual tank