Sump return pump

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by mcmetz, Jun 21, 2006.

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  1. mcmetz

    mcmetz Plankton

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2006
    Messages:
    1
    hey everone,

    I have a quick question i have a 60 gallon tank that i am in the process of buildin a sump for. since there are no LFS were i live i drove down to petsmart to pick up a return pump. I got a Top Fin pump with 250 gph flow rate. I was wondering if it will be ok to use in a saltwater tank, because it says its for pond use.

    thanks
     
    mcmetz, Jun 21, 2006
    mcmetz, Jun 21, 2006
    #1

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  2. Black_Raven

    Black_Raven Scooter Blennie

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2004
    Messages:
    1,220
    Location:
    Woodbury, MN,Minnesota
    Take the pump back if you can. You will need alot more than a 250gph pump for a return pump. Check out pumps on line at www.marinedepot.com ,
    www.petsolutions.com , www.thatfishplace.com and premiumaquatics.com to name a few online companies. Figure on a Mag 7 or Mag 9, Rio hyperflow 12 among others depending upon how many gph your tank will be dumping into your sump. These pumps I mentioned pump anywhere between 700gph to 900gph. How ever you must take into account the head pressure that the pump has to pump against. (each 1' of height = 1' head pressure and every 90 bend in your return line = 1' head pressure) As head pressure increases the gph drops off. That 250gph pump can probably pump 2-3 feet and probably at 100gph or less. Marine depot has charts for the Mag pumps showing the gph at various head pressures.
     
    Black_Raven, Jun 21, 2006
    Black_Raven, Jun 21, 2006
    #2
  3. asilefx

    asilefx Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2006
    Messages:
    258
    Location:
    Kenosha, Wisconsin
    I have a 1,300 GPH pump in my 75, I know it's not running that high. Even my 700 wasn't enough.

    If you need a good price check out ViaAqua pumps, I got my 1,300 for about $45 on drsfostersmith.com
     
    asilefx, Jun 22, 2006
    asilefx, Jun 22, 2006
    #3
  4. Urban_s

    Urban_s Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2006
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    Location:
    Kalispell, MT
    On this topic. How would I go about matching my return to my overflow?
     
    Urban_s, Jun 22, 2006
    Urban_s, Jun 22, 2006
    #4
  5. Diver_1298

    Diver_1298 Eyelash Blennie

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2004
    Messages:
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    Location:
    Lakeland, Fl
    The first thing you need to know is what your return (overflow box or otherwise) is rated for. Then find the pump you want to buy that should have a slightly higher gallons per hour (GPH) rating than the overflow. Figure out where you are going to place the pump and how high up it has to pump to put the water back in the aquarium.

    For example: You buy a overflow rated for 600 GPH. Then you buy a mag7 pump that is rated for 700GPH. As you pump the water up 4 feet to the top of the aquarium and back in the flow rate goes down. If you look at the pump curve for a mag 7 that is pumping up 4 feet of head pressure. The flow rate for the mag7 is now at 480 GPH. So now you have 120gph to spare :) or to put it another way your overflow is capable of returning all the water your pump can give it.

    Jim

    Look under the flow rate vs pumping height graph and you can see what I am talking about.
    http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_powerheads_pumps_danner_mag_drive_supreme.asp?CartId=
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2006
    Diver_1298, Jun 22, 2006
    Diver_1298, Jun 22, 2006
    #5