starting the 125 gallon setup

[Quagmire]

Vortech are new,but we have been waiting impatiently for them.Dont know if anyone has one yet,but from what a few of us have read they look fantastic.
As for head pressure loss,there are alot of variables to consider.The head loss for your pump itself(this should be on the box,marked for differant hights)The length and diamiter of your pipe,and the amount of elbows and outlet fittings.There should be a headloss calc in our library I think.I'll take a look around to see if I can find it.

Ohh and also,I agree that you dont need alot of flow from your takn to the sump if you go that way.But you do want enough flow to keep the crap from settling.Unless you go BB sump and clean it out when it gathers up.I have 800 GPH through my overflow.( even thats more than is needed) And a second pump in the sump to keep everything suspended,so the skimmer can take it out.
Couldn't find the calc in our library,Im sure its thre somewhere.Here another link.
Just figure out what pump and the legnth/diameter of the pipe you are useing,and add in the corners.

http://reefcentral.com/calc/hlc2.php