new tank= new sounds

The problem with that much gph is it is totally unecessary and a waste of electricity/money. The flow needed through the sump should only be as much as your skimmer can handle anything more is a waste.

 

That doesn't make sense. The skimmer will grab up as much as it needs no matter how much Gph is running through the sump.

 

The point is that all you need for flow is to match the flow of your skimmer. That is the main point of having a sump (to remove DOCs). Now, if you also have a 'fuge, you do want some "raw" water for that as well, but this can be far less flow than to the skimmer section. As Vinny mentioned, anything more and you are just wasting electricity and generating extra heat. You should increase flow in a tank through powerheads or closed loops instead of return pumps.

 

Your lfs told you 1300gph was a good flow thru the sump, on what's this, a 125g right?

That's a lot of flow thru the sump, and 10X is not enough for a reef tank.

Turn over is TOTAL gph of water moved in your tank.
Intank water movers- there are many types, kinds, systems, etc. is what you want.

I currently have about 40x on my 125 mixed reef, with about 400-600 of that thru the sump, and I don't think I have enough flow!

 

I would just ditch one pump keep it as a back up and put the one pump to both returns. You will have plenty of flow through the sump. Do you have a skimmer?

 

I agree. 10x the DT volume is ALOT of flow through the sump. I think if you were pushing 10x the sump volume you would be doing alright.

As for flow, you definitely want tons of random flow in the tank. wave makers are your best option here(or a closed loop). Your return lines will provide some in-tank flow. But, think of the overflow/returns more as part of the filtration system, than the flow system.

40x in tank is not unheard of. heck Ive heard of even higher numbers than that!

 

Thanks guys for all the info and suggestions, I realize that in this hobby/passion there are a million ways to do something as simple as moving water... I am still learning, I always learn something new every time I come one here! I think I will re-plumb my system and run only 1 of the return pumps, I always had planned on running a couple power heads, I wasn't trying to get All my water movement with just the return pumps. Again Thanks for all the help I"m sure it won't be the last time.... maybe someday I can return the favor...

 

Hey it's what the forums are for and we are more than happy to help! We were all there at some point and sadly for me it took about a year before I found a good local forum and any real good help...

 

Did you redrill the hole?

 

I was thinking.... Don't the drains into the sump control how much water flows thru it ,and not the return pumps? I took a video of my sump to give you guys a better Idea of what I got going on. I had to use city tap water to fill the tank,so I'm cycling the water before I add the sand to the tank and the sump. I will be putting sand into the 2nd chamber of the sump making it a refugium. I can't get the video to post, so here is a direct link... Flow thru my sump - YouTube