Recommended Flow for 60 Gallon Truvu with 20G sump

Hi, I have a 60 Gallon truvu with 20 gallon sump. I think the flow of my system is probably too low and I feel bad because I didn't know for so long--I bought this system used so assumed the equipment I got was adequate.

I'm using a Rio 1700 powerhead to cycle water. It's rated at 642gph; however it's pushing through a 5 foot tube up to tank so from specs sheet is this thing only pushing water around 200gph?

I'm reading on the web that you need to have 10x water turnover per hour and some systems have 15x. Does this mean for my 60 gallon TruVu & 20 Gallon sump I should be pushing 600-900gph?

I dunno, my calculations show my flow to be very low but do I really need to quadruble it? I'm worried it might turn my tank into a hurricane! Am I doing my calculations wrong? I'd also love recommendations on pump upgrades (something quiet and reasonably priced). Thanks for any info!

Link to Rio 1700 specs:
http://www.riopump.net/products_pumps/rioplus_models.html

 

yes you want 10-15x flow threw sump, and 40-50x flow in tank. so yes 600-900 would be a good return rate from sump. but you need flow within tank thats where the 40-50x turnover comes in. so for a 60g you would want AROUND 2700gph flow. this is if you are doing a reef.

 

i don't quite understand how flow in tank is different then flow through sump. am i correct in assuming that the 40-50x flow in tank is caused by extra powerheads such as my Koralia 4?

also, I notice you have 2x1000gph powerheads for your 55g tank--but how much tubing between your powerheads and tank? since this distance would decrease flow through sump could you walk me through how you did calculations for your tank (since our tanks are virtually same size). any recommendations on equipment appreciated also.

thanks so much for info!

 

No, I have 2x 1000gph powerheads in my tank blowing water around, i have a 700gph pump flowing water from sump to tank.

 

I have a 700gph pump (Mag7) Pumping water from sump to tank, then i have 2powerheads (seio prop pump powerheads 1000gpg). So 1000 x 2 +700= 2700gph so on my tank thats 49x flow overall in my tank. yes i do lose a lil gph on return line from Mag7 there is 3 foot if 3/4 inch tubing. I hope this help some. later

 

at 3 feet your Mag7 is only pumping out 500gph, not 700. And it's probably a little bit longer than 3 feet if you take into account curve of the tube plus piping into the tank so you're probably pumping in less than 500gph through the sump. Are you saying that a Mag7 isn't adequate for a 55g tank? I'm worried about having TOO much flow so that the fish don't have any quiet places without strong flow. thanks so much for correspondence.

here is a link to the Mag Drive specs that shows how strong pump is after taking into account the distance you are pumping in water:
Danner Mag-Drive Supreme Water Pump

let me know your thoughts. thanks!

 

yep, 500gph, i mesured my tube its just under 3 foot, my sump sits right behind my tank not under. that is a very usefull link, i find that a mag 7 on a 55g is fine if you upgreade to the mag 9.5 you have to make sure your overflow can handle it. as for the flow in the tank you just want to make sure there are no dead spots where junk can build up and get nasty. Flow on a reef is one of the most important parts.

 

thank you Dasko!

 

no prob man, stick with 3reef.