Help on return pump.

[picoreef]

Hi.Need some help here. For a 90L tank,how many l/h of return pump should i get?

[xeneryx]

At least 900

[picoreef]

Ok. Thanks.

[kenyee]

For 90L tank, 900LPH pump mean 10 time turnover in an hour..depend on what u r keeping, some need stronger turnover while some weaker turnover..the turnover rate subject to ur skimmer capacity too..coz if flow rate too fast and smaller skimmer can't skim fast enough = no work..cheers

[CFOh]

rule of thumb, at least 10x of your tank volume. You may need to consider pump head loss factor. Get higher flow rate. Cheers and Happy Reefing

[picoreef]

Thanks all. I didnt aware so much thing to consider of. Most probably mine will be a mix reef. Btw im goin to use bubble magus curve 5 skimmer. Let me check with the tank maker.

[Dez Ching]

Hi All, I'm new to this hobby. I'm currently cycling my 4 feet tank, using a Eheim 1260 or 1262, which has a 4500L/H flowrate, which is as mentioned about 10 times the volume of my tank. However, I realized that the return of water flow back to my display tank was relatively very slow. My return pump goes from my sump through my 1hp chiller prior to the display tank. If the flow rate which is 10 times is already slow, what do you guys suggest for a faster flow? Can I use a higher flowrate pump? What could be an ideal flow rate then? Can someone help enlighten me? Appreciate.Thanks.

[patricklhc]

Hi All, I'm new to this hobby. I'm currently cycling my 4 feet tank, using a Eheim 1260 or 1262, which has a 4500L/H flowrate, which is as mentioned about 10 times the volume of my tank. However, I realized that the return of water flow back to my display tank was relatively very slow. My return pump goes from my sump through my 1hp chiller prior to the display tank. If the flow rate which is 10 times is already slow, what do you guys suggest for a faster flow? Can I use a higher flowrate pump? What could be an ideal flow rate then? Can someone help enlighten me? Appreciate.Thanks.

I usually don't like to link return pump to chiller. It's better a stand alone pump imo. Also too much bend on pvc pipe actually slow down the flow.

Suggest U try to measure the flow of your chiller from the water outlet so that U know if you are having a correct flow rate. Efficiency of chiller is dependent on using the correct flow rate.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Solo77]

Think 1260 or 1262 don't give 4500l flow rates, I may be wrong. Only 1264.

[Dez Ching]

Thanks guys for the replies.

Patricklhc: Is it possible? How do we measure the flow at the chiller water outlet? I didn't use a separate pump for chiller because adding a pump means adding noise pollution. As much as possible, I want to reduce noise.

Solo77: I saw the Eheim pump indicating flowrate of 4500L/H on the label, but I guessed since it's a second hand pump, maybe it has also lost it' efficiency through ageing.

Do you all think a higher flow rate pump could solved my problem whilst not affecting the chiller's performance?

[patricklhc]

Thanks guys for the replies.

Patricklhc: Is it possible? How do we measure the flow at the chiller water outlet? I didn't use a separate pump for chiller because adding a pump means adding noise pollution. As much as possible, I want to reduce noise.

Solo77: I saw the Eheim pump indicating flowrate of 4500L/H on the label, but I guessed since it's a second hand pump, maybe it has also lost it' efficiency through ageing.

Do you all think a higher flow rate pump could solved my problem whilst not affecting the chiller's performance?

Noise pollution from pump wouldn't be as loud as overflow in my case haha but anyway a normal working pump shouldn't be too noisy.

For flow rate measuring refer this the link below.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dez Ching]

I use bean animal system so not much noise on overflow. That's why I factor in lower noise pollution as criteria so that can have silent night viewing too.

[Whiskie]

Noise would be negligible. I would worry more on the heat generated by the additional pump. Tried different pumps and eheim seems to be the most reliable but generates more heat than dc pumps.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[picoreef]

Now considering eheim compact 3000. Anyone using this? Any feedback?

[Dez Ching]

I'm using a second hand eheim return pump. It was only having a standard humming sound(noise), but it now sometimes produces soft rattling noise that is rather annoying to me. It happens after I start adding sand and rocks. Could this be the reason? Anyone knows how to resolved such noise which wasn't there in the beginning? Will a dismantling wash help?

[picoreef]

Maybe you want to add rubber stud at the base.

[Dez Ching]

Picoreef: Bro, the noise is not caused by vibrations, as I had already put a cut-to-size Styrofoam at the base of the Eheim pump to reduce any possible noise that may be caused through vibrations from the pump-body and the sump.

Last night, I did a simple dismantling to brush off calcium deposits and dirt that was found within the pump. But after completing and operating it, the small rattling noise was still there. However, funnily, this morning when I woke up to check, the rattling noise is gone, and only left the standard humming sound of pump. *Puzzled me to the max* What is the thing that causes this rattling noise in my pump, since sometimes have, sometimes don't.
Presumingly, it might still come back again, as I have not found the real cause of it.

Anyone knows how to upkeep a return pump to maximize it's potential and life?

[xiggie]

Rattling sound might come from any part of the pump that is touching the glass.

First check if u still have the rubber suction cups or rubber legs (this helps to secure the pump from moving and touching the glass)

[REEF*STAR]

Chk ur impeller bro might be worn out..also chk e pump side where e impeller is inserted..if worn out & changing new impeller is not worthwhile as it will still cause impeller to wornout due umbalanced wear on e pump.

Cheers

thx bro

[Whiskie]

What about your pipings? are they solid pipes or rubber hose? Due to turbulence? If you have a valve, try throttling to see if that's the issue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[picoreef]

Whats your pump model?

[Dez Ching]

Thanks guys for the replies.

My pump is a Eheim 1260, and I'm very certain that, though without rubber suction cups beneath, my pump body don't have any direct contact to the glass of tank, as the styrofoam acts as a separator between them. So rattling sound isn't from that source.

My pipings is a Eheim pipe and it fits direct from pump to chiller, without valve, so the rattling noise isn't from this source too.

The noise is surely from the impeller area I think where I felt might be due to sand or some dirt deposits rotating together with the impeller. Since morning until now, the pump is quiet without rattling noise now. I so called guess my crucial part is pump maintenance then. Since I did dismantle the pump for a simple brush off last night. And the noise went away this morning unknowing what I had done right that rectified it.

Normally how do you all wash or service your return pumps?

[picoreef]

I only clean up the impeller itself and the area where it sit in.

[Dez Ching]

Do you just clean with clear water?
Does using Vinegar to wash helps? I see that many reefers macam like to use vinegar to wash most marine equipment.
I'm totally new to this, so will vinegar wash helps?
When we say Vinegar wash, do we mean only a few portion of vinegar mix with water, or really 100% only vinegar to wash/ soak the pump/ equipment? *puzzled*

[picoreef]

Im curious too abt the vinegar wash.

I just wash under the tap.