Pump Sizes

[uksub]

Hi Chaps
I was thinking about tank recirculation rates and pump sizes.
I'm in the process of setting up my 180g / 40g sump FOWLR system, it's reef ready with only one 1 1/4" return drain line, I have a mag 7 pump. My question is, is a mag 7 big enough for a 180 g tank. I've heard a mag 12 would be better. But I worry that if I spent the extra on the larger pump, it might pump too much water for the one 1 1/4" drain return I have...
Heeeeeelp!!
As always, thanks in advance

[BlueHalo]

Hi Chaps
I was thinking about tank recirculation rates and pump sizes.
I'm in the process of setting up my 180g / 40g sump FOWLR system, it's reef ready with only one 1 1/4" return drain line, I have a mag 7 pump. My question is, is a mag 7 big enough for a 180 g tank. I've heard a mag 12 would be better. But I worry that if I spent the extra on the larger pump, it might pump too much water for the one 1 1/4" drain return I have...
Heeeeeelp!!
As always, thanks in advance

loaded question lol. if your talking about "turnover" of water its fine (for a sump) if your talking turnover and laminar intank flow probably not, pump location(height it needs to pump) how many bends and elbows,size of pipe etc all decrease total gallonage, like most things knowing what you plan to keep is half the battle, fine tuning then becomes more scientific ;;

[Ninong]

Hi uksub,

If I understand you correctly, your 180-gallon tank has a single drain and it is 1.25" diameter, right?

If so, that is what limits your pump choices, assuming your overflow weir is adequate to deliver the same capacity as your drain, which would almost certainly be the case. I can't imagine a tank manufacturer building a tank with an overflow weir that was not capable of keeping up with the drain.

If your tank sits on a standard size stand, then your head is a minimum of 4.5' without counting additional head resulting from plumbing fittings, especially tees and elbows. You probably have approximately 6.5' of head or thereabouts.

Your Mag-7 pump delivers 700 gph @ zero head, 400 gph @ 6' head, 300 gph @ 8' and 120 gph @ 10'.

A Mag-12 pump delivers 1200 gph @ zero head, 950 gph @ 6' head, 700 gph @ 8' and 600 gph @ 10'.

A Mag-9.5 pump delivers 950 gph @ zero head, 700 gph @ 6' head, 600 gph @ 8' and 400 gph @ 10'.

In my opinion, your Mag-7 pump is inadequate for your aquarium. Either the Mag-9.5 or the Mag-12 would be a better choice. Your 1.25" drain can definitely handle the Mag-9.5 and can almost certainly handle the Mag-12 but you would be pushing it close to its capacity with the Mag-12.

Good luck!



P.S. -- Danner Mfg website

[uksub]

Great post! Thanks Ninong....

Someone just happened to mention that a mag 7 might be a little small for my setup.. I think I will see if I can find a mag12 going cheap some where. When I plumbed up the tank I added a 'T' on the flow side of the pump, so I have a by-pass I could use to take any excess back to the other end of the sump....
I have another quick question I was hoping some one might be able to help with. I'm currently running my tank with fresh water, cycling it just to check and adjust the plumbing and get stuff right before I stock the tank with rock, substrate etc.
When I first had it running, I was very pleased with how quiet the whole system seemed to be, no noise from the sump and after I added a bit of filter sponge down the 2" dia tube I have in the return weir there really was very little water noise from the return weir area.
Unfortunately this morning I added a 1" ball valve to the return line right above the sump, now I have noise as the water flows from the 2" dia tube through the valve to the sump. I've tried fiddling about with the filter sponge location and generally prodding it about, got the noise down a bit, but it's still much more noisy than before I had the ball valve...
Anyone know of a way to keep that noise to a minimum??
Thanks in advance

[leebca]

It appears that you are putting together your system yourself on a piece-by-piece basis. This is more of a do-it-yourself (DIY) kind of project. It's one way of setting up a system and can be very cost effective. Just don't forget the fundamental requirements and start up process: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium. Some equipment info is given in that post and 'targets' for system performance. There are book references to that end, too.

You will get more and maybe better advice from those who are doing what you are doing, or who have done what you are attempting, in another Forum here on Reefland. You'll find here on Reefland there is a forum for these kinds of questions and frequented by people who do these kinds of DIY projects.

You'll get more help by posting your questions/putting posts in the DIY Forum. Go here: DIY - Reeflands Forum

Good luck!