Thanks reefwars, that's quite informative.....as a rule of thumb, some of the advice I have been given on pump size is consider 10x display tank, with consideration on pump lift, so if you check pump specs that will give me 1200 gph with a 5' pump lift I should be in the ball park, but again that is just someone's opinion, and as they say with opinions, they are like asses, everyone has one, lol

I think if i calculate as you suggest, with consideration of pump lift, I think I would still be close to the same numbers.

I like the idea of the dc pumps with controller, so I can fine tune the pump to ramp it up or slow it down, to me it seems like a good way to go.

thanks
Randy