Return pump??

[sailfin tang]

With a 240 tank and a 65 sump.
Two 1" returns and two 1 1/2" drains.
How many times should the water pass thru the sump per hour?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Sailfin Tang
How many times should the water pass thru the sump per hour?
It doesn't really matter that much and depends a lot on what equipment you're keeping in the sump. Heaters would need some circulation to keep the display warm, skimmers benefit from turnover as well. For me I like at least 5X.
Keep in mind that the flow from sump to tank is a lot less efficient than a closed loop. You should probably have a flow rate of at least 15X - 20X in the display tank but not all of that needs to go through the sump.

 

[sailfin tang]

Keep in mind that the flow from sump to tank is a lot less efficient than a closed loop.
Can you explain that please, I'm not sure what it means?
Yes, I think I will have the turnover in the tank handled with wave2k's on both ends.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Sailfin Tang
Can you explain that please, I'm not sure what it means?
What exactly would you like me to define.

 

[sailfin tang]

Ha yeah I'm pretty new to all of this.
The line "Keep in mind that the flow from sump to tank is a lot less efficient than a closed loop" is what confuses me.
I guess I don't fully understand what a closed loop is.

 

[bang guy]

Ahhh, OK sorry about that.
A closed loop is where water comes from the tank to a pump and back to the tank without ever leaving the plumbing. This is more efficient because the weight of the water coming down helps push the water back up. This is good for producing waterflow without powerheads and for in-line heaters.

 

[sailfin tang]

Ok well my plan is to have the drains drop into one end of my 65 sump and pump out the other end back to the dt.
I'm not really looking for the returns as a way to increase flow or turnover I guess.
To turn the sump 5x I really only need a pump that returns about 300gph @ 5 feet?
Is that right?

 

[geoj]

Let me see if I got this right 240 times 5 = 1200 gph
or is it 5 times the sump 325 gph and why do you like 5 times

 

[sailfin tang]

Earlier advise said that the sump should turn over 5x per hour.
The return pump then should be pumping around 300gph if the sump is a 65 gallon.
I'm getting confused, am I not thinking this through the correct way?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Sailfin Tang
Earlier advise said that the sump should turn over 5x per hour.
The return pump then should be pumping around 300gph if the sump is a 65 gallon.
I'm getting confused, am I not thinking this through the correct way?

You're on the right track. Remember though, the display tank requires a large turnover rate for a reef. 20X+ is ideal.

 

[sailfin tang]

Thanks
I have two Wave2k's coming one for each end.
They are supposed to turnover about 4000gph ea.
I am hoping that will do it in the dt without anymore powerheads.