Should I get a 500 gph or 700 gph for my return pump?

I have recently bought a 90g drilled tank and am currently building my sump. The question I have is the size of pump I'll need. I am between a Mag 5 or 7. The distance between the sump and DT is approx 5 ft with no bends or 90 degree angles. Would a Mag 5 (500gph) pump be enough or should I get the 7 and use a ball valve to control the flow?

 

With 5 feet of head neither would be optimal, the 5 would just trickle and the 7 would probably only have 200+/- GPH at that head.

Something in the Mag 9.5 range would be better but personally I wouldn't recommend Mag pumps for several reasons. They are noisy, run hotter than average and draw more power than more efficient pumps. Look at pumps like an Eheim 1262, Ocean Runner 3500 or WaterBlaster HY-3000 or 5000 for much better options. I ran an already used Ocean Runner 3500 for 9 years with zero problems, great flow and only 53 indicated watts power onsumption on my Kill A Watt meter. I recently switched to a Water Blaster HY-5000, have half again more flow and it draws an honest 50 watts and is totally silent.

 

Couldn't agree more with AZ,I started my 65 with a 550gph,pffft.Switched to a mag 7,better,but still wish I went with a bigger more efficient pump.At 5 ft head,I still have no need for my ball valve,it's fully open.I will definately be upgrading mine in the near future.

 

I used a mag 9.5 for my 92 bowfront and it was pretty decent flow. I wouldn't recomend anything smaller than the 9.5 either. With 5 feet of head the other two pumps won't cut it

 

The other question is are you going to run a thing else off it? Perhaps some reactors or a chiller?

 

Always go with the larger pump if you can, you can always valve it down

OR do what I plan on doing and go with the new Reeflo BH "blowhole" series pumps because they actually have a 3 way switch built into/onto the pump motor housing that allows you to adjust the amount of output with the simple turn of a dial AND they can pump up to 26ft of head for the BH850 and 30ft of head for the BH1450!!!

http://www.reeflopumps.com/

http://www.reeflopumps.com/blowhole3speeds.html

 

I saw the BlowHoles at RAP, and was pretty impressed...they had both models running.

Starrookie,

My wife (Renee@LionfishLair) is from Topsail/St. John's...

 

Thanks for all the input, I will definitaly go with something a little bigger then the Mag 7. Right now I don't plan on running any reactors on it, maybe in the future I will but as for a chiller I have no need as our climate barely impacts the tank itself.

Greg, that's awesome your wife is from here. I'm not originally but my wife is also.