Opinions on Pump?

hitch

hitch

New Member
I just bought a used tank from a friend, Its 150Gal tall. She used it for a Fish/Reef tank which always looked great.
It has in the back a built in overflow (reef type?) through which water goes below to a wet/dry filter, a large protien skimmer hangs on the side of the wet/dry filter, through a pump (which is the only missing part) then through an Ocean Clear filter, through a chiller, and then back up to the tank through mounted nozzles.
She had a Turbo-Sea 790P High Pressure pump for this tank along with 4 powerheads.
I would like to know what is the best pump to get is that is good quality and quiet and if I need a bigger pump.
Thanks in advance,
Hitch
 
coachklm

coachklm

Active Member
well we need to know what size the overflows are.. i'll look up the stats on that pump and find a better one with same stats.....
Turbo-Sea 790P
Photo 3/4" inlet/ 3/4" outlet 793 gph at 0 ft., 20.7 ft Max Head
this is a very small pump for a 150g... i'd work with a sequence dart if you have the cash...
what is the size of the overflows and how many are there??
 
hitch

hitch

New Member
Excuse my ignorance/noobness but, what is a sequence dart?
There is only 1 large overflow in the back left corner of the tank.
The built in overflow in the tank itself takes up a large space, about a 6"x5" rectangle.
Water runs over the teeth at the top of the overflow and then there is a snorkel like pipe that comes up from the bottom of the tank inside the rectangular overflow area. The water goes through the snorkel and the opening is about 3/4" - 1"
The hose running from the bottom of the tank to the wet/dry is about 1" opening (I'll measure when I get off work).
I did notice when the tank was up and running that there didn't seem to be a large volume of water going through the wet/dry. Her tank was very well kept and never had any problems when I bought it.
There is the Ocean Clear (not sure on the specs) canister filter that I was told requires the pump to be a "High Pressure" model.
I really appreciate any advice, thanks again!
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
The snorkel, sounds like a durso stand pipe, good thing. You probably have just a 1" drain and that pump is what you need. 1" drain will only handle 600 gph and with head pressure the pump pretty close I'd bet. Do you have the return in the OF box also? If so you could make both drains and get about 900 gph (1"-3/4") and then increase the pump size and go with over the top returns (OTT). Coach is right for a 150 reef you should have about 15x turnover min. So you're looking at 2250 gph. You will have to suppliment with a CL or powerheads.....
JMO
HTH
Tim
 
hitch

hitch

New Member
The return IS in the overflow box also. A hose runs up the inside to 2 adjustable jets near the top of the overflow.
That's interesting, make the return and the drain both drains?
Then run return jets over the top of the back of the tank?
I currently have 4 large power heads my friend gave me with the tank.
So overall the Turbo-Sea 790P High Pressure pump will work but really isn't enough turnover for a reef tank?
You recommend I should go with a larger pump, but to do that I need more drain flow?
Thanks for all the advice!
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
Yep, I've done that before on a couple of older tanks where flow was not enough. You just need to cap off the returns in the OF. 900 will get you closer to where you need to be. A mag 12 will do the job after head pressure. It may cut down on some PH in the tank but not get rid of them. Do you know what the PH's are rated for? With the OTT system you will be able to go with 1" supply line which will add a bit more flow/less headloss.
Tim
 
hitch

hitch

New Member
So if I go with your advice and make 2 drains.
What kind of pump do you recommend?
Something for 900gph right?
Will the Ocean Clear filter be a problem?
I do not know what the power heads are rated for, I'll have to get that when I get home.
I like your idea, do you know where to look for an OTT return system/jets/etc?
Thanks Again!
 
turningtim

turningtim

Active Member
You want something that will get you about 850 at the tank. So the pump rating will be bigger. B/c pump are rated at 0 head pressure. You must take head pressure into account when sizing return pumps.
As far as returns go make one, some spa flex and elbows from HD or Lowes does the job.......
Don't know what the Ocean clear is I'll have to look it up.
Tim
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Originally Posted by Hitch
The Ocean Clear is a Canister based mostly mechanical filter that uses a filter element to filter very fine particles from the water, It works very well and has a space in the middle of the filter for carbon/Phosguard/etc.
This link has a picture and a description.
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro...r-filters.html
No, the filter will not be a problem for you. I run mine 24/7, its a great filter. I have a 1500gph pump on mine.
 
hitch

hitch

New Member
Ya, I know..
It came with the tank and is permanently mounted below, after seeing how clear the water was when the tank was running, I think I'll keep it.
In case anyone was wondering, here's what came with the tank:
150Gal Glass Reef Tank Tall :happyfish:
Stand
CoralLife Lights/Hood (not sure the model, 4 HO Dual Smart bulbs in it, fans built in)
Large Wet/Dry Sump/Filter
Large Protein Skimmer (hangs off sump)
*No Pump*
Ocean Clear Filter
Large Chiller
2 Large Powerheads (thought it was 4 before)
Everything is in good shape,
all for $1,000.
My friend replaced this tank with a 215Gal tank.
 
boatbuilde

boatbuilde

New Member
An Iwaki MD55RLT would work great on your setup.
plenty of head pressure to run the Ocean Clear. If the flow proves to be too much for the drains you can always throttle it with a valve without damage to the pump.
I have one doing just that on a 75gal but I ditched the canister filter ages ago. Screwed on a

[hr]
brand PVC gate valve directly on the pump outlet. Been running this way for 5ish years, 24/7 other than hurricane induced power outages that is.
Iwaki pumps are expensive but IMO one of the best pumps on the planet.
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Originally Posted by TurningTim
Ah, you mechenical filter guys! Hopeless...........

Tim

This thing keeps the water Crystal Clear, trust me. I clean the thing out once a week also, never any build up in the tank to hinder the inhabitants.
 
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