Sump pump size????

Hi,

I have been in this hobby for a couple years now and I am going to start a sump system but I have no idea what size pump to use. I can tell you some details about my tank and maybe someone can help me out.

Details below:

44G Marinland Pent 22" X 22" X 24"
Eshopps PF-300 over flow (300 GPH)
Eshopps RS-75 sump (10 Gallon capacity)
Aqua C Remora skimmer using MJ1200 pump(290ish GPH)
BRS Phosphate Reactor with GFO also using MJ1200 pump

I just bought the reactor last week because I have a terrible hair algae problem and my phosphate were the only thing showing up high . So I need to hide this reactor. PLEASE if anyone can tell me what size pump to look for that would help me out tremendously.

Thanks,

 

I'm right there with you. I'm having troubles sizing mine as well...

 

well logically you dont want your pump to be stronger than 300gh no? otherwise it will run dry in the return compartment

following this as well

 

Would 300 gph be an adequate amount of water flow. It would be about 6.5' X's an hour.

 

Well, the flow is really based on what the Overflow can handle not what the pump can do. You have to account for head of the water flow up and any angles in the piping. So you won't buy a 300 GPH return pump, you'll buy one slightly bigger to account for your head height/any angles.

What reactor did you buy?

 

It's just a single carbon/GFO reactor from bulkreefsupply.com. It had a little better rating then the TLF Phosban 150 so that is why I chose that one. Also I cannot go underneath my tank because my stand is too small to house the sump, so I will have a cabinet right beside the tank that will contain my sump with my intake tube closest to the tank. I can't justify spending $250 on a new stand for my tank when I plan on going bigger eventually. So I guess I would probably wanna look at going with a 400 GPH pump, considering the angle the return pump line will be at?

 

Dont worry about angle too much. A 4' rise is a 4' rise, even if it takes 8' to get there at a angle. If you get a larger than 300 gph pump Id recommend getting a ball valve so you can throttle the return line back if needed. Not that my method is the best but I have the flow turned way down through my sump to maximize skimming and reactor efficiency. Plus it cuts down on the gurgle my drain line has

 

What he said! Definately go a little bigger on the pump, put a ball valve on the return pipe, and run it into your fuge area (if that sump has one). Then to make sure your not going to run your sump dry and overflow your DT, just play with the ball valve til it all matches up and runs even