return pump volume

[BigDaddyDeisel]

I searched and can't find it but I know there is a simple calculation for what the proper return volume fom a pump should be.
I have a 125gal reef with 100lb live rock a 55 gal sump which is another room directly behind the main tank . The height from sump to tank is 5' and i'm presently running a Mag12 for return.
I'm interested and adding the Oceans Motions super squirt to the system and want to upgrade the pump.
Any suggestions on pumps and sizes? thanks, Steve:confused:

[sjm817]

3 - 5X display volume.

[Tobman]

3-5X? I've heard a minimum of 10x with some people going as high as 40-50x display nominal volume.

[Fiziksgeek]

The pump which returns the water from your sump to the tank should be chosen to give you 3-5 times the volume of your tank. In your case, you need a pump that puts out between 375 and 625 gph at 5' of head.

I don't have any experience with a super squirt, maybe someone else will can comment on how much head pressure its adds.

The remaining flow should come from closed loops or power heads.

[BigDaddyDeisel]

so do you think a Mag 24 is overkill?

[sjm817]

Yes. WAY overkill. In a Mag, I'd use a Mag9.5. A better pump would be an Eheim 1262.

[WanaLeime]

You also got account for headloss due to 90* angles, length of rtn pipe, unions...etc...try using the headloss calc. on the home page

[Scuba_Dave]

On what do you base the 3-5x figure?

[WanaLeime]

Display volume turnover....MAIN TANK TURNOVER...

[Scuba_Dave]

What I mean is

on what research/data did you determine the 3-5x ?

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6987291#post6987291 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Scuba_Dave
What I mean is

on what research/data did you determine the 3-5x ?

3-5X gives enough flow through the sump for heaters/Ca reactors, etc. to be effective and also, most importantly IMO, allows your skimmer to take in virtually all the surface skimmed water coming from your tank. More flow just causes problems - noise, microbubbles, salt creep, etc. (unless of course you have a sump designed for high flow). Sorry, no published papers for you, just experience :D

[Scuba_Dave]

I was just curious, as I have a 125g show
And I've been running 1450gph thru the tank - 40g sump & 75g frag/fuge without a problem for over 2 years

My skimmer works fine & pulls out a lot
I'm upgrading to a 180g show (was going to be a 2nd tank)
124g sump - that will run at about 80g full
and the 125g will become a frag/fuge
Then I also have another 8' 75g that I will be adding as a frag/fuge

I'm planning on a Sequence 3200, which will give me over 2,100gph at 11' head. Part of this will be T'd off to the frag tanks & will not go thru the 180g

Basically I will have 600gph more, and use less electricity
I will also have Tunze in the 125g & 180g

If the recirc pump fails, there will still be flow in each tank
If the Tunze fail/circuit kicks then I will still have plenty of flow from the recirc pump

My pumps in the basement, so never cared about noise
I've never had bubbles, and salt creep seems to crop up anywhere regardless of flow (my fuge has low flow)

There is some noise from the drains, but mainly because my stand has never been finished/enclosed

[sjm817]

Some say 3 - 5x is too high.

[Sparkysreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6987944#post6987944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Some say 3 - 5x is too high.

Tell that to a SPS BB guy:lol:

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7010460#post7010460 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkysreef
Tell that to a SPS BB guy:lol:
We are talking about return pumps (sump flow), not display flow. 3 - 5x is more than enough and overkill most of the time. Yes, you need much greater than 3 - 5x display turnover, but that is not for the return pump to do.