return pump size

[jdmcdowe]

setting up 125g, dual return with 1' to 40g sump. with 3/4 back to tank. any suggestion on return pump size?

[sdietz2469]

somewhere between 600gph and 1000 gph..... are u wanting external or internal?
for external i would go with thet3 or t4 velovity pump or internal i would go with the ocean runner 3500....
shane

[luisagos]

I am setting the same tank as the OP, but was planning to buy Mag Drive 12 by Danner

Are ocean runner better pumps?

[GTriever]

Mag 12 works good in that application.

[cdipasquale]

I agree a mag 12 is a good choice. You typically want to strive for a 10x turnover throught the sump so anything around 1200 gph is a good pump for that size tank.

[sjm817]

You should have 3 - 5x display size from the return pump. 375 - 625 GPH. An Eheim 1260 will be right in the middle of that range and is an excellent, quiet, super reliable pump. You dont want 1200 GPH going through a 40G sump. The OR pumps get a lot of complaints of restart problems and all out failures. The Mag12 is way too big and the 3/4" plumbing would kill the flow from it anyway.

[jdmcdowe]

thanks for the help, I think :)

[luisagos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14037925#post14037925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdmcdowe
thanks for the help, I think :)

I feel your pain.
Like my hobby experience says, for every post I read, proves to me how much I didn't know from my last post i read, lol.

[DmitriyY]

Eheim 1262 will be excellent choose.

[luisagos]

OK, if you guys recommending 900 gph for the returning pump, what if I want to use this the Sea Swirl - 3/4" Model x 2 at the end of the return pump.
Wouldn't the pump be too small to drive 2 of them?

[jdmcdowe]

I have put a mag 9.5 on the return, there is no flow past the two overflows, the returns are pointing toward each other and I have played with the directions, I'm concern about the dead zone's on the ends. Do I need to add powerheads in the corners to fix this?

[RobsReefs]

Yes you will need powerheads for circulation. the return line is just to have flow through your sump for your equipment, not the current in the tank.

[jdmcdowe]

One more thought, would it help if I went with 1'' back to the tank instead of 3/4?