return pump question??

Hendersonracing · 01-25-2007, 05:48 PM

There has been alot of speculation on what size return pump to use.....What is the best?
I have A mag 18 with 3/4 return feed on a aga 210 gallon...Im wondering If I have enough turnover for the tanks specifications? It says to use a mag 24? Im wondering If the 18 is enough?

Fly Guy · 01-25-2007, 06:01 PM

In all honesty your return pump should have nothing to do with how you achieve your desired tank turnover.

the only considerations for your return pump should be if you are running other equipment off of it as well(such as a chiller or canster filter....etc), and how much water your skimmer can process.

You dont want to move any more water through the sump than your skimmer can process. This way you send as little unskimmed water back to the tank as possible.

For your overall desired tank turnover/flow, this should be achieved via a CLS or powerheads in the tank, and not at all connected to your sump/skimmer, besides the typically small amount returned that matches your skimmers flow

hth

what kind of skimmer and skimmer pump are you running?

For a 210 gallon tank i would think that your optimum display tank turnover would be 4000 gph on the low side upto the sky is the limit for stonies. That 4000 baseline numbert is of course your return pump + however else you achieve in tank flow.

Hendersonracing · 01-25-2007, 06:14 PM

I run a mrc2 skimmer and a blue line 55 pump...

I have 3 seio 2400's for tank flow

Fly Guy · 01-25-2007, 06:20 PM

Is that blue line 55 comparable to the pcx 55 flow wise?? I used to have a MR 2 witht he pcx 55 and it was processing around a little less than 1000 gph i think.
With that being said, i would think a mag 12 would be plenty sufficient for yoru return pump unless you are running other equipment off of it as well.

Hendersonracing · 01-25-2007, 06:46 PM

It is a pcx 55 and I use the mag 18 for return only!

Fly Guy · 01-25-2007, 06:51 PM

if you dont already have a ball valve on that return line i would add one and taper it back halfway.

For fun.....run it wide open for a couple of weeks and then taper it back halfway for a couple of weeks trying to keep your skimmate consistency the same and then reply back and say what your results were.

I used to think that all the people that said you needed to match your sump flow rate to your skimmer processing rate were full of crap. I figured its processing the same amoutn of water so whats the difference. About a year ago i did some tests for myself and proved them right.

tashier · 01-25-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

I used to think that all the people that said you needed to match your sump flow rate to your skimmer processing rate were full of crap. I figured its processing the same amoutn of water so whats the difference. About a year ago i did some tests for myself and proved them right.

I remember that argument and I remember when you told me you'd changed your mind on it. LOL. I thought I had someone to back me up on it finally. I've since changed my thinking on it too. No more 3600GPH through my sump.
Joe, the other reason running a lot of water through the sump sucks is because it will suck bubbles back into your tank. Doesn't look so great. But Fly is right in all he said.
If you're looking for a return pump, I'd recommend an Eheim. Those things are super quiet. A bit pricey but worth it.

Wiskey · 01-25-2007, 07:42 PM

If it were me,....

I would make sure that I overflow just slightly more than the skimmer will process for max efficancy. I would also have the skimer pick up pump and the drain from main tank in one chamber of the sump and the skimmer exit going into the next portion of the sump. This will ensure almost all of the water is skimmed and nothing is skimmed twice.

Whiskey