Return Pump Flow rate in a 120g (3.5ft) tank

[southpaw23]

Hi there...

Me again with a couple more questions. Was wondering what's the general turnover rate one aims for between the sump and their main tank? I know that 10-20 times turnover is recommended within the tank itself (in non sps systems) but that is usually taken care of by external powerheads or wavemakers.

But what's a good turnover rate between the sump and main tank? I currently have a Hailea 2800lph pump hooked up to the return and i'm feeling that the flow is way too low in my sump after minusing headloss etc. My concern is that the skimmer and chiller wouldn't be as effective with this low a flowrate. I haven't done actual calculations but i'm sure that my becketts turnover rate is way more than the actual flow rate that ends up in the sump.

Does anyone know what the flow rate of the MD40 and MD55 is? I'm thinking that i would need a higher flow rate return as my original plan was to tee off the return to run my FR but seeing how low the flow rate is on the Hailea, it's not possible now. Was wondering if the MD40 would be sufficient or should i just go with the MD55. If the out put is too strong on the MD55, i was planning on extending the return pump lower into the tank and drill a 1/2 inch hole at the bottom to add additional flow at the lower portion of the tank while maintaining the upper outlet at the top...a lil difficult to explain but it'll look something like the diagram below (please excuse the lousy drawing )

Thoughts?

[southpaw23]

Anyone?...

[southpaw23]

Nobody?

[Eric]

Hi there...

Me again with a couple more questions. Was wondering what's the general turnover rate one aims for between the sump and their main tank? I know that 10-20 times turnover is recommended within the tank itself (in non sps systems) but that is usually taken care of by external powerheads or wavemakers.

But what's a good turnover rate between the sump and main tank? I currently have a Hailea 2800lph pump hooked up to the return and i'm feeling that the flow is way too low in my sump after minusing headloss etc. My concern is that the skimmer and chiller wouldn't be as effective with this low a flowrate. I haven't done actual calculations but i'm sure that my becketts turnover rate is way more than the actual flow rate that ends up in the sump.

Does anyone know what the flow rate of the MD40 and MD55 is? I'm thinking that i would need a higher flow rate return as my original plan was to tee off the return to run my FR but seeing how low the flow rate is on the Hailea, it's not possible now. Was wondering if the MD40 would be sufficient or should i just go with the MD55. If the out put is too strong on the MD55, i was planning on extending the return pump lower into the tank and drill a 1/2 inch hole at the bottom to add additional flow at the lower portion of the tank while maintaining the upper outlet at the top...a lil difficult to explain but it'll look something like the diagram below (please excuse the lousy drawing )

Thoughts?

For my 3ft I use a 1262 eheim 3400l/hr for my chiller to tank and a Rio 32hf 8000l/hr for main return. I find the high turnover rate is good for my skimmer to cope with my high bioload.

Eric

[riot]

I run a eheim 1262 for my main return and another 1260 thru my chiller thru my skimmer then back to my sump. The rest is by my 2X tunzes 6000.

If you want to use the md55, you have to watch out for the MASSIVE flow thru your overflows- see if they can handle that, plus the sound, plus if you have enough space in your sump to run the MD55 as its external.

[bloodlamb]

I believe that you do not need that much flow on the return pump. Just enough to drive your equipment and skimmer is enough. Maybe NET 2-4x turn over per hour. This will reduce the noise of the overflow water splashing etc.

Use tunze or close loops for higher total flow in the tank.

[southpaw23]

Thanks for all the replies guys...kinda forgot about the thread when i didn't get replies earlier....

About the MD55....does anyone know what the flow rate is on it? And would anyone know if my overflow will be able to handle it? My overflow compartment currently is at 6x7" in space and has a 1.25 inch durso pipe for the drain to the sump. I was planning on Tee-ing off the return to run my FR and if the flow was still too strong in the main tank...i was thinkin of either tee-ing off the return again in the main tank to space out the flow or possibly look at incorporating a SCWD into the system...Oh and how much heat does this guy produce...i hear that it runs quite hot...

Any thoughts and comments on this idea? Else, i was thinkin maybe just going with an MD40 for a the return. And if anyone has any other recommendations for return pumps that won't burn a hole in my pocket yet still reliable...i'm open to suggestions. I konw that the most common response is to have a very reliable pump therefore not sacrifice on the money and get at good one like an eheim but at 240ish...it's a lil on the high side....but still considering....