pump selection

i went to my trusted lfs and asked them about pump, i told them i wanted something that has a lot of power pushing a lot of water 1100 gph in fact, they told me, for a 120 (48*24*24) water flow through my sump dont have to be alot, just my internal flow, it would be better off for me to go with either a mag 7 or mag 9.5 i was gonna get a mag 12 or eheim 1250 ,something in that line. i will have around 6000 gph internal flow. is the slower the better for the system or should i get some w high power. Assuming im not going to teed off any water to anywhere, with around 5 feet head, what is my choice

 

If your planning to have a refugium connected to the system, you should have a slow flow. Theres different ways to set up a tank when it comes to a return pump. I have a Magdrive 18 on a 90g but I dont have a refugium or any pumps in the DT for circulation. Most ppl have a smaller return pump to push the water around enough and have more pumps in the DT for circulation(refugiums). It all depends on what your going to implement on your system. I'm assuming that your 120 has two overflow chambers, if so, You'll need to have two return pumps if you want a decent flow.

 

I always choose a little larger then I need and then dial it down if needed with a gate valve. I would much rather have too much then not enough. Especially if you are going to add reactors later on you will need extra flow for that. I run my sump pump to a manifold then run the returns, chiller, skimmer, and all reactors off of it.

 

Larger is no harm But all tanks are limited to the amount of water that can be pumped by the amount of water that can drain out. And you have what I'd call an honest LFS all you want to pass through the sump is 4 to5 x's the tanks volume per hr.. in your case about 500 to 600GPH tops.. .

But also like mentioned if you up size the pump it can be used to run the skimmer and any reactors. Also you have to consider the amount of height the pump will be pushing the water up verticialy and the amount and type of all if any pipe fitting's. and then the outlets inside the tank.. So for your tank at say 5 ft head then a Mag. 9.5 would never do.. A Mag.14 might But I'd go with a Mag. 1800 I ran and still have a 135 with 6ft of head on a 1800 and its runs perfectly has been for 10 yrs now..Agian its all Depends like I said how many outlet drains and inlet supply lines to tank you have it all adds up..

 

i might go w external w the panworld that pushign 1110 gph i might get some reactor but dont know yet for now,