dangerfish
Member
I am making a a 75g reef tank what gph do I want (also I was thinking about getting a hydor is that a good brand).
What GPH do I need
- Thread starter dangerfish
- Start date
robertmathern1
Member
hydor is a decent brand depending on what you are thinking of. For a reef I like at least 30X tank volume. So you looking for around 2250GPH. Now you can accomplish this a few different ways. Do you run a sump? I typically try to get a return pump close to the GPH of the skimmer. The rest with power heads. There are many options you can take and its up to you.
dangerfish
Member
So 2250 for a a 75g reef tank ( not sure if this is what you were asking but I will have a refugium and I will be drilling the tank)
dangerfish
Member
And how much power heads do I need
robertmathern1
Member
What I was asking is if you are running a sump with a skimmer. I like to run my return pump at about the same GPH as my skimmer pump then the rest in power heads.
pegasus
Well-Known Member
It's not necessary to limit your flow through the sump to match your skimmer pump, as it will never cycle all of the water going through the sump. The key is to turn over the tank water several times per hour. If the sump has a refugium, you'll want to slow the flow a bit to allow the live sand or mud and macro algae time to absorb some of the nasites and allow pods and such a safe "refuge". Flow through a sump without refugium is typically 10X the tank's water volume. In your case, 750 GPH. You'll need to take this into consideration when choosing your bulkheads, drain pipes/hoses, and return pump sizes. If you go with a refugium, the ideal flow would be 4-6X tank volume, or 300-450 GPH.
If you're shooting for 30X (total) turnover, and 10X is a result of your overflow/sump, then you simply compensate for the other 20X with flow inside the tank. 20X x 75 gallons = 1500. Two 800 GPH powerheads should be sufficient for this, as flow rates for powerheads are typically "best-case-scenarios". Personally, I find two 800 GPH powerhead to be inefficient for my 40 gallon breeder, so I have 4 in it. If you choose to use a wavemaker for you Hydor(s), be prepared to hear some noise. I had 4 Hydor Koralia Evolution 1250's in my 125 gallon tank with a Red Sea Pro wavemaker, and that lasted about a week. The constant clicking and clacking when the pumps started drove my wife and I crazy! I sold them and bought 4 Sicce Voyager 3 pumps, and the sound of silence was/is beautiful. Not sure if Hydor has come up with a quiet, DC powered pump or not. Another viable option that won't break the bank are the Jebao powerheads with controllers. I have four of them. The DC motors run quiet, and the wavemaker options are quite nice. Just my 2c...
If you're shooting for 30X (total) turnover, and 10X is a result of your overflow/sump, then you simply compensate for the other 20X with flow inside the tank. 20X x 75 gallons = 1500. Two 800 GPH powerheads should be sufficient for this, as flow rates for powerheads are typically "best-case-scenarios". Personally, I find two 800 GPH powerhead to be inefficient for my 40 gallon breeder, so I have 4 in it. If you choose to use a wavemaker for you Hydor(s), be prepared to hear some noise. I had 4 Hydor Koralia Evolution 1250's in my 125 gallon tank with a Red Sea Pro wavemaker, and that lasted about a week. The constant clicking and clacking when the pumps started drove my wife and I crazy! I sold them and bought 4 Sicce Voyager 3 pumps, and the sound of silence was/is beautiful. Not sure if Hydor has come up with a quiet, DC powered pump or not. Another viable option that won't break the bank are the Jebao powerheads with controllers. I have four of them. The DC motors run quiet, and the wavemaker options are quite nice. Just my 2c...