Return Pump Recommendation Poll

[Myka]

Originally Posted by ensquire

I think I should be looking for 10x turnover. Yes - No ???

6-7x turnover is ideal. Keep in mind the purpose of the return pump is to feed the skimmer (in the sump), not to provide flow for the tank.

I have a Poseidon PS3 on my 90, and it is a good match. I'm replacing this tank with one that is about 100 gallons, and I will continue to use the PS3. They are great pumps and deadly silent. These pumps are now called Blueline Velocity T3. If you want an internal pump though, I would recommend the Eheim 1262 or the Eheim Compact 3000 (or maybe the 4000? I don't have time to do the math for you) if you want a cheaper model.

[lockrookie]

for the 10 times flow is mainly for sps tanks and you can achieve that with a couple powerheads.. i almostmade this mistakewith the 180 i was going to bug a pump to double the pump o had now plus then i re read my old build smacked my head or being too stupid and now im planning either a ehiem 5000 or quiet one 6000

[Myka]

Originally Posted by lockrookie

for the 10 times flow is mainly for sps tanks and you can achieve that with a couple powerheads..

Flow through the sump has nothing to do with what type of corals are kept. As I said above, the purpose of the return pump is to feed the skimmer water to process. The skimmer can only process so much water, so increasing flow through the sump does no good. If you have a grossly over-sized skimmer then increasing the flow through the sump could possibly achieve a bit heavier skimming, but that would be negligible.

Powerheads are for provide flow for the corals and preventing detritus settling. For SPS corals you're looking in the 50-100x turnover range where LPS and softies are happy with 10-25x turnover.

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by Myka

Flow through the sump has nothing to do with what type of corals are kept. As I said above, the purpose of the return pump is to feed the skimmer water to process. The skimmer can only process so much water, so increasing flow through the sump does no good. If you have a grossly over-sized skimmer then increasing the flow through the sump could possibly achieve a bit heavier skimming, but that would be negligible.

Powerheads are for provide flow for the corals and preventing detritus settling. For SPS corals you're looking in the 50-100x turnover range where LPS and softies are happy with 10-25x turnover.

so i missed a zero at the end for sps i personally dont even have that much flow within the tank my new tank will have the option to turn on 2 more power heads if i choose but if he had 50 to 100 times in a 90 he must be careful of what substrate he adds to the tank.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by lockrookie

so i missed a zero at the end for sps i personally dont even have that much flow within the tank my new tank will have the option to turn on 2 more power heads if i choose but if he had 50 to 100 times in a 90 he must be careful of what substrate he adds to the tank.

What are you using for powerheads ? Substrate ?
I will be using Crushed Coral and oolite sand on the 90. I have sugar size in my 36 with a couple of K4s and with my gobie digging around, I do get sandstorms.

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by ensquire

What are you using for powerheads ? Substrate ?
I will be using Crushed Coral and oolite sand on the 90. I have sugar size in my 36 with a couple of K4s and with my gobie digging around, I do get sandstorms.

i like the look of sugar sand and make use of sand sifting stars and an orange spot goby right now in teh 90 i have a koralia 3 and 2 plus the flow from return pump but i dont have alot of sps..yet.. but my new tank the 180 will have 2 koralia 1050s and 2 koralia 750's unlessi can find another used koralia 3 to match one i own already.

should i have more flow ..maybe .. but thats what future upgrades are for.. nothings perfect thefirst time

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by Myka

6-7x turnover is ideal. Keep in mind the purpose of the return pump is to feed the skimmer (in the sump), not to provide flow for the tank.

I have a Poseidon PS3 on my 90, and it is a good match. I'm replacing this tank with one that is about 100 gallons, and I will continue to use the PS3. They are great pumps and deadly silent. These pumps are now called Blueline Velocity T3. If you want an internal pump though, I would recommend the Eheim 1262 or the Eheim Compact 3000 (or maybe the 4000? I don't have time to do the math for you) if you want a cheaper model.

Originally Posted by Myka

Flow through the sump has nothing to do with what type of corals are kept. As I said above, the purpose of the return pump is to feed the skimmer water to process. The skimmer can only process so much water, so increasing flow through the sump does no good. If you have a grossly over-sized skimmer then increasing the flow through the sump could possibly achieve a bit heavier skimming, but that would be negligible.

Powerheads are for provide flow for the corals and preventing detritus settling. For SPS corals you're looking in the 50-100x turnover range where LPS and softies are happy with 10-25x turnover.

Thanks for the input Mindy,
That will be next poll (Skimmer)
Looks like the 4000 will do the job based in RC calculator.

As for your second post, are you saying that for a 90 gallon SPS tank that a person should be looking for 4500 to 9000 GPH turnover ? If so looks like I need a couple of more powerheads.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by ensquire

Looks like the 4000 will do the job based in RC calculator.

It should, I run a 6000 on my 230g tank.

[ensquire]

Originally Posted by claymax

yeah what greg said, thse pumps are affordable powerful and controllable
what more could you ask for?

I am very interested in this one, Like the controllability and the fact that it's DC. My 4000 looks like it will work fine, but I think I will pick one up and play with it.

Originally Posted by lockrookie

i like the look of sugar sand and make use of sand sifting stars and an orange spot goby right now in teh 90 i have a koralia 3 and 2 plus the flow from return pump but i dont have alot of sps..yet.. but my new tank the 180 will have 2 koralia 1050s and 2 koralia 750's unlessi can find another used koralia 3 to match one i own already.

should i have more flow ..maybe .. but thats what future upgrades are for.. nothings perfect thefirst time

I can't wait to be up and running and needing my next upgrade
I will have 2 or 3 different layers of sand. 3 if I decide to use sugar.
Right now I have 4 K4's ready to go and a K3 or 2 kicking around. Lots of options. But everytime I see a MP40 my wallet starts twitching......

Originally Posted by fishoholic

It should, I run a 6000 on my 230g tank.

Good thing I put this poll up, my sump and skimmer would be overworked and not really doing what I need them to be doing.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by lockrookie

if he had 50 to 100 times in a 90 he must be careful of what substrate he adds to the tank.

I have about 50 times turnover in my tank plus a Tunze Wavebox. I would have more flow, but the LPS are already mad about this higher flow. I'm in the process of moving all LPS out, and will increase flow for the SPS. I had Caribsea Select sand in there that stayed on the bottom, although divots were made where there is heavy flow. The tank is mostly bare bottom now that I removed most of the sand (nothing to do with the flow). Caribsea Special sand is more coarse and is my favourite sand, it is the best sand to use for high flow. It is pricier than the others though.

Originally Posted by ensquire

As for your second post, are you saying that for a 90 gallon SPS tank that a person should be looking for 4500 to 9000 GPH turnover ? If so looks like I need a couple of more powerheads.

Is your tank SPS dominant? If you have any LPS or softies you will have to keep the flow on the lower end of the (4500 gph or so) or you will blow the tissue off the fleshy corals. If you just have SPS or almost all SPS look at two Tunze 6105 powerheads. That's what I'm going to put in my tank once all the LPS are out. They are a good fit for a 90 gallon SPS tank. I will also put my Tunze 6055 behind the rocks to provide flow in that area as well. That's about 8300 gph.

One thing to note, turnover calculations have changed since propeller-type powerheads have dominated the market. Since propeller powerheads provide gentler, wider flow patterns we can get much higher turnover than we could with impeller-type powerheads that provide a very direct, jet-like flow pattern.