Pump Return Questions

Ok where to began....I have a tank that is about 37 gal want to set it up....also, reading around on these forums and decided I want a sump tank....I have a few 10 gal tanks lying around....is this ok size for a sump? I have a powerhead that push 270gph will this be a good enough pump to return the water? what size hose do you reccomened to use on the return and the intake....I was planning on using the siphon method with and overflow...what size hoses should I use on that? Can I use the return as a "current" instead of a powerhead in the show tank? If yes, can I reduce the size at the end of the pipe/hose to add more pressure to add current in the tank? As I'm doing this I'm drawing a blueprint of what I'm going to do but I need sizes and stuff I want to add 2 intakes 2 overflows and either 2 sumps seperate or 2 sumps hooked together with hoses or w/e .....Thanks for the help and sorry for the questions:-[ I'm such a noob....

PH-270GPH Tank size-36x12x20 Sump(2)-20x10x12

 

a 270 gph pump may be a little undersized for a return pump.

 

bump+

 

What kind of skimmer are you going to be using. I wouldn't run more water throught the sump than the skimmer has the abilty to work over. I run about 1000 gph on my 150 gallon. If I were you, I would go ahead and run the 270. A good rule of thumb is 5 - 10 times the volume of your tank for your return. And no I wouldn't depend on my return for flow. You want about 30-50 times turnover total.

 

I agree with Mr. Bogie. If your going to connect those two 10g tanks to the 37g DT, I would start with a RP of at least 800gph. I personaly would rather have a too big of a pump than not enough. The bigger pump can always be tuned down with a ball valve.


Luna

 

you got a good point there too luna.

 

Sorry, I didnt read throught the whole thread as I just realized you have MANY Q's. If I remember correctly, the smallest of any HOB overflow box has a flow of 600gph, which is a 1" drain pipe/hose. By using a smaller dia in hose, you'll be adding pressure which will decrease the flow to the sump. Any time that you "reduce" the recommended size of a pipe/hose, your reducing the flow by adding pressure. Thats either as the drain or return. If it were me, I would get a big RP so it can push the water through your DT, sump(10g) and a refugium(10g). As I stated before, if the RP is too big, you can always install a ball valve.


Luna

 

what if I went with the 1 ten gal instead of both of them

 

Then go with a smaller RP. Also take into consideration any head, 45 and 90 deg. angles. Estimate how many feet of head you will have, each 45 & 90 elbows is equal to 1' of head. Add it all up and add another 200gph and that should be a "safe" gph return pump.


Luna

 

Most people will stick with the 3 to 5x display tank volume rule when sizing a return pump. If you have a 37G then someting between 100 and 200 GPH at 4 or 5 feet of head is probably what you need. An 800 GPH pump at 0' head will probably still be a little big and yes you can valve the discharge but it will contribute to heat in such a small system.
I would look for something that does maybe 200-250 GPH at 5 feet head like a Mag 7 or Quiet One 2200 or maybe a better pump like an Eheim 1250.

Larger flows will create microbubbles in a small sump and with 10G sumps you have limited space for baffles and such. Keep the velocity (flow) down and make up the difference with low wattage cooler running powerheads like Koralias, Seios or Tunzes.

Powerheads generall will not pump against much head, they are designed more for circulation. What you have is probably much too small since it will be probably a trickle at 4 or 5 feet of head lift through a few fittings and elbows and up to the display.