what size pump? (1 Viewer)

[cope]

building a 125 fish only tank.... I have a wet dry and a sump... not sure which would be the best for this set up.. I do have a skimmer as well...

I am wonder what size pump I need for the return line... is it twice the tank size per hour? do I need a 250 gph pump......

I am wanting to run a internal pump... taking a regular fish tank and making it into the sump and running pumps and not drilling the tank for external pumps...... I did a search and had not luck...

any help would be appreciated.. Cope..

I plan on purchasing large submersible pumps.. just need to know what size I should get..

 

[tmgrash]

I think i would run at least 750gph

 

[tektite]

Find out what your overflow capacity is. I think that a 1" drain is something like 600-700 gph? Though the more going through it the noisier it can become. You'll also have to figure how much head loss you have with all your plumbing...that'll let you estimate what gph pump you should look for. Much more than 250 gph.

 

[NarnyTheGreat]

I read on Melevsreef.com that while a 1" hole can get as much as 600 gph they normally only get about 300 gph. It also said that pushing most of the flow through the return is a bad idea as often this causes noise and air bubbles in the tank.

 

[tmgrash]

Find out what your overflow capacity is. I think that a 1" drain is something like 600-700 gph? Though the more going through it the noisier it can become. You'll also have to figure how much head loss you have with all your plumbing...that'll let you estimate what gph pump you should look for. Much more than 250 gph.

Agreed, I maybe wrongly assumed you had two overflows. Typically with FO tanks people want to keep more aggressive (messy) fish. You want to filter that pretty good. I wouldnt be looking for flow with the 750 gph, just would want that much running through my filtration. Make SURE your overflow can take it though.

 

[cope]

Thank you, I have gone FROM 13 tanks approx 900 gallons to SOON 3 tanks 350 gallons.... I have a bunch of extra stuff and I am trying to use that stuff to make this tank nice.. I have a reef tank and I thought maybe a fish only tank would be nice. These are all at my office. give people variety. Soon the challenge comes up to take 3 tanks down, move them out and set up the new tank.