Return Pump Suggestions
 

Hello Everyone!

Well, Im in search of a return pump for new setup. Im looking for somewhere between 900 and 1200gph return, preferably around 1000. Something with a dry run cut-out would be nice as well. So far, the pump I like best, although the flow is a little higher than I would like, is the Poseidon PS4.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...duct_ID=wp-ps4

It doesnt matter whether the pump is in-line or submersible. It has to be quiet however.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Chris

What size tank and plumbing?

if your thinking about a ps4 consider a blueline, the ps4 adds a lot of heat to water.

I see someone else likes the Blueline Pumps.. :wink:

The tank will be a 51g, but I already have two SEIO 1100's to accompany the return, I dont need a powerful return, but I still want some push. Plumbing will be 1" output split into two lines, I would like to use some sort of wavemaker on the return. In the tank, there will be locline for the return outputs.

Any idea where the best place to look at Bluelines is?

Thanks!

Chris

Sent you a pm Chris. :wink:

Thanks!

also look at maybe adding a wavysea to your return.. they kick booty.

http://www.wavysea.com/productinfo.html

Very neat, thank-you for the suggestion Willow! Unfortunately what I really want to do is target certain areas in the tank, while still having randomized flow patterns. As SCWD would be the ideal, but I cant get one like that which would work on the water volume I want to put through it. I am not sure if I would want to dish out the $$ for an OM 4 way.

Thanks!

Chris

Anyone think a single SCWD would be ok to use on a Blueline 1100? I know they say then can handle 1400gph, but not sure how this would do. Or For even more variability I was thinking of splitting the return into two lines, then into 4 with the Squids. I will also have the SEIO's running in the tank, these are just for preventing dead spots and some randomization in current. I dont mind 400-550gph out of each output at a time.

Thanks for any input!

Chris

How big is your sump going to be? Don't try to push too much of your water turnover through the return pump for numerous reasons. I would go with a much smaller pump.

I should elaborate on those reasons I guess!

1. Potential micro bubble problem, flow through sump is too fast to allow air bubbles to pop at the surface before hitting the return pump

2. Overflow safety/backup. I like to use two overflows and only push the volume that 1 can handle, then in case one plugs/jams up then the other one will still handle the volume

3. Try to match your pump to your skimmer flow requirement, and plumb the overflows right into the skimmer for optimal skimming efficiency.

Im not sure on exact sump size yet, but likely 22" front to back, 16" tall, and im not sure of the length. Im in design stages of the main tank ATM, will probably get into stand design tonight and see what length we have to work with. Since this pump is in-line(so it seems), I will need extra length in the stand for it. Im not sure the dimensions of the pump(will be getting them soon). I will try to make the sump 30" long, it might end up around 24" however. Will likely have 12"-13" of water depth in it.

My overflow will be coast to coast style on the rear, but will be 8" from each side of the tank, and stick out 3 inches(20" is two more inches than required for 1200gph of flow), while being 4" deep. I will likely have dual 1 1/4" drain pipes for the overflow, I MIGHT go 1 1/2" if I get the larger pump size.

Actually, now that I think about it, I may increase the tank's front to back width by an inch or two, due to the overflow sticking out a bit.

I could go with the 800gph version of the pump, and still use dual squids, or use a gate/ball valve on the larger pump to hold it back(add 'head' pressure) cause I would still like a little more than 400gph out of each head, and go with the 1150gph pump. Not sure if this would stress the pump though? But thats what head pressure does and I believe this is pressure rated. If I were to do this, would I put the ball valves just before the current enters the tank, or just after the pump output?

I guess I've rambled on enough. Thanks for the help!

Chris

Edit: In terms of current, I want this turnover rate, because I've been dissatisfied with the amount of water movement and two dead corners in my current tank. Im also not sure if I want to add a CL instead to fix this problem or not. Thanks.

The overflow could not run the skimmer, unless you mean plumbing them into the sump chamber containing the skimmer?

What skimmer are you using? I mean dump the overflow water right into the skimmer as the water source for the skimmer, and use the pumps as recirculating pumps and not feed pumps. Depends on the type of skimmer.

Its a massive spray-injection skimmer running off a Mag 9.5, so I cant dump right in unfortunately. I can just do it conventionally however, and put the skimmer in the first chamber.

Ya that is the best you can do.

Oh and I don't consider anything "massive" unless it is bigger than my skimmer :mrgreen:

Comparable to other spray injection skimmers, its large, haha. What do you have?

You'd asked about flow/volume plans for the sump, I appologize for the long reply post to that, im trying to consider whether my planning is adequte, any input? Would the pump cause too much flow for my anticipated sump size? Thanks!

Chris

Depends on the length of the sump, and the number of baffles you install. I run an ASM G6 (48" tall, 3xSedra 9000 needlewheel pumps)

I would drill the tank and run your in-line pump as a closed loop and use a way smaller pump for your return, like 400gph after head pressure.

Oh I can't resist Rory - I want to talk big skimmer - my Bubble King 500 should be here next week!

Wow, what did you pay for it with shipping and all?

Lots and shipping was free because I already have a BK 400 ext.

You running internal or external? Is it worth the extra $$$ over other skimmers?

You can pm if you want more info as I don't want to hijack this thread.

How big will the BK be Ruth?

I will likely have minimal baffles. Maybe 2 or 3, otherwise, the sump will be fairly open. I'll push for 30" lenth. I guess I should think about the 800gph pump instead. Im not to keen on a CL right now, but can give it some thought. I really want the skimmer to have lots of new water though, would 400gph really be adequate through the sump in a system with a volume of say 118g? If so, I guess I could use the blue-line as a CL and a Mag 7 as a return?

Thanks for all the input!

Chris

No worries Ruth, these are good questions, feel free to hijack!

Ruth, your skimmer will qualify as massive. Especially because it is so FAT! :mrgreen:

Here is a page with the dimensions

http://www.captiveoceans.com/mm5/mer...de=Bubble_King

And those MSRP prices WOW.

What corals do you plan on keeping in this tank (this will determine the CL pump) The mag 7 would be a good return pump IMO. Is your skimmer custom or can you look up a manufacturer suggested feed rate?

I am pretty sure I posted pictures of my BK 400 in a previous thread I did on it in product reviews. The 500 that I am getting will be external and these things are monsters. I think it is 22" X 28" by 32" tall. IMO these skimmers outperform anything I have ever used or seen. They are incredible skimmer but they are big $. I believe in skimming heavily and for me, it is worth the price tag. They are very quiet, and FWIW, energy efficient. I am going to run the 500 on my 230g tank until I get my 300g cube set up.

Yeesh, that is going to be a beastly skimmer!

Im keeping SPS and LPS. I want more than 31x per hour turnover rate because I find the current is fairly light in the tank right now(75g). Would anyone know if its possible to dial back the flow on the blue-line with a ball/gate valve or something else? I really like what I've seen about the pump and would love to be able to use one. Dialing back the 800gph pump just a tad(100gph, minus head pressure that would already be there) would be perfect.

Thanks!

Chris

Dialing back a pump 100gph will be fine. Remember to add up your head pressure (include turns, linear length, and vertical height)

Strange the bubble kings are so fat compared to other skimmers, I wonder how this affects performance I always though taller was preferable so you get more bubble dwell time. What is the needlewheel pump gph the bk 500 runs off of?

It looks like the BK's have a larger rectangular chamber underneath which allows them to have bubbles stay in the water longer, then it looks like theres some sort of bubble realease thing in the main chamber?

Well, the head pressure might bring it down to 700gph anyways, so that would still work.

I decided what I would like to do is go with a Blueline 800, with 700 or so gph through the sump, then a mag 5 on a closed loop.

Thanks,

Chris

The BK's are fat because of the pump. RD pumps don't handle pressure very well from what I've read and a taller reaction chamber would just cut down on the efficiency of the unit. Being fatter compensates.

I think there is a little more to it than that. Here is a link to the BK home page from Germany where they are built if you want more information.
http://english.royal-exclusiv.de/index2.htm

Hummm, I'm not really pulling more out of that site than what I had initially stated. It's mostly splitting hairs on the forums.

Anyway, there's a thread on RC about a DIY needlewheel Dart that Spazz is working on and there's some pretty detailed info on the workings of BK in there.

are the poseidon pumps the same as the Blueline velocity pumps?

Looks like they are!

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/pumps.php?product_ID=wp-ps2

I was thinking about going with a velocity... guess I'll stick to the NS and HD series blue-lines.

(Have made changes to original specs/design etc...) thread no longer applicable. Thanks.

Chris

Chris are you coming out next saturday? You can check out the Blueline then. :wink: