Which return pump?

[rlablan]

I can tell I need more flow. I am thinking that I want a new sump pump. I have a rio pump that does about 1600 GPH. My tank is tall, and so by the time the pump pushes it up that high, (about 6 ft total) there is like no power there. The flow coming from the nozzles is like enough to a 20 gallon seahorse tank. It's barely anything.
I need more flow!
I was thinking of getting something about... I dk... like 3000 GPH?? I don't know who makes them that big or what... but...
What types, brands? Who likes what they have, or what they want?? What should I not get... I want something QUIET! and preferably not 700 bucks.
Also... I run submersible. That is a must.
My tank is a custom shape, over 30 inches deep, and the flow is coming from the adjustable flow nozzles on my over flow, about 2 or so inches from the top of the water. My tank is also over 2 feet wide, so getting flow to all areas is a challenge.
Thanks.

 

[posiden]

Give a little more on your return plumbing please. Pipe size, number of 90s, 45s, union, ballvalve.
I am just courious on your OF, how big is it? what are your bulkhead sizes?
Adding more flow depending on what you have in place now could open up a can of worms. I am just trying to open all things related.

 

[yerboy]

your not going to get a return pump that will provide enough flow in your display tank. You need to look into something like moded maxijets, Tunze, Koralia, or maybe even a vortec to supplement your flow.

 

[rlablan]

Well I had the tank made so I can have a return pump for my flow.
I have a koralia. I don't like it and it doesn't do what I want.
I work cleaning tanks and they are all my size tank, by the same builder and none of them have koralias.
on another note...
As far as the other stuff with the elbows and all...
It is all adjustable, I have those ball valves that I can close and open to adjust things. I don't have no 90s on my system anywhere. I have only soft tubing from the return pump. It is a straight shot, there are no kinks, knots, etc... It is just losing a lot of it's umph as it's traveling upwards.
I know what I want can be done. I am absolutely 100% sure, but I just wondered about a brand and size of pump. I am seeing dead areas, not just spots.
I also run a closed loop system that is not easy to upgrade, but it's doing about 800 gph.... Just so we know... But That aside, I still want something large and quiet for the Sump.
Thanks.

 

[posiden]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3150532
Well I had the tank made so I can have a return pump for my flow.
I have a koralia. I don't like it and it doesn't do what I want.
I work cleaning tanks and they are all my size tank, by the same builder and none of them have koralias.
on another note...
As far as the other stuff with the elbows and all...
It is all adjustable, I have those ball valves that I can close and open to adjust things. I don't have no 90s on my system anywhere. I have only soft tubing from the return pump. It is a straight shot, there are no kinks, knots, etc... It is just losing a lot of it's umph as it's traveling upwards.
I know what I want can be done. I am absolutely 100% sure, but I just wondered about a brand and size of pump. I am seeing dead areas, not just spots.
I also run a closed loop system that is not easy to upgrade, but it's doing about 800 gph.... Just so we know... But That aside, I still want something large and quiet for the Sump.
Thanks.
Ok, so your going up hill 6 feet with a flexible hose. It doesn't go through a 90 degree bend either to go into the tank or if it comes up throught the bottom it doesn't 90 to discharge the water?
What size hose are you running?
Is it vinyl or is it the flex (aka spa hose or spa flex)?
The difference in these two products is huge. 1/2" flex will flow more then 1/2" vinyl tubing. There is also the conectors that choke down flow with the vinyl.
Just to give you an idea of what I am talking about. I was testing a drain design and I was using a quiet one 4000HH which puts out 990GPH at zero head. I had 6 feet of 1/2" vinyl tube on it and it was only about 3 feet of head height. I was only getting about 300-350GPH out of the pump. The restriction of the vinyl and the size was that big of a deal.

 

[rlablan]

Thanks for the info and help.
The soft tubing I have is smooth inside and out, it's clear and has that metal mesh inside to make it strong and keep it's shape.
I can't see the measurements on it clearly, it looks like it is 1 1/4'' ?
That is run up from the pump to the bulkhead and it's converted to 1 1/2in PVC. That is a straight shot all the way to the top, until it splits to go to the left and right flow nozzles. (There is technically a 90 there, I forgot about that one)
And yes, it is a little bigger that a 90 angle but it's close to a 90 from the drain in my tank to my sump/fuge.
I just can't find any pumps that are submersible. I am not able to run external.
Any other info you need?
I just really don't want to have to have power heads all over my system. 2 or so for some dead areas is okay..... more than that and I will be unhappy.

 

[posiden]

What Rio pump do you have?
Is it the 1700? Or do you have like the 4600? You say the pump does about 1600GPH.
How many gallons might your tank be? just courious
If you have the Rio 1700 then given your head pressure your only pumping, maybe 200 GPH.
Ok I see in your profile it is a 200 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. Are you running a sump or a refug? By running either you will start to suffer the effects of running to much water through there. Given you head pressure I would run a MAG 18 or a MAG 24. They are submersible. The 18 should put you just over 1000 GPH on the return.

 

[rlablan]

You know... I can't remember what rio it is.... :/
It was cheap. I do remember that. like 60 bucks... if even. And I know that it does 1600 GPH without any restriction... I can't remember model or anything and I lost the box.
My tank is a custom 200 gallon, with approx. 40 gallon custom sump.
dimensions are 33'' deep... 51'' lenght and 31'' width. The over flow was built from the maker of the tank, and I don't know the exactly ghp of it, only that it is a good amount for the tank. It is interval, obviously, and it is a trapazoid shape. There is 1 drain and 1 return hole.
I think at this point, I have a guesstimated 1000 GHP give or take 100 or so...
I would like to double that, maybe a bit more, after all of the plumbing and such. So If that means that I have to buy a pump that does 2000GPH and I only get 1000 GHP to the tank, that is fine with me.
I would like to get rid of any koralias or anything like that, and have just the closed loop and the internal overflow stuff.

 

[posiden]

So it sounds like a MAG pump will suffice. If you don't want powerheads in the tank, then upgrade the CL pump.
Powerheads are used a lot and are kinda nice because they don't cost much money to run. The route you are suggesting is going to cost you more money every month in electricty. If this doesn't matter to you, then upgrade the CL pump and put in the Mag drive return pump.

 

[rlablan]

Yeah I don't care....
Hhahaha if I was concerned about money I would have bought a painting and put it on the wall... haha instead of a saltwater tank...
What size mag drive? and are they quiet?? I don't know anything about them... what is a good site to order them from??
I plan on upgrading the CL pump, but it's REALLLLYYYY hard to get too, and it's a little giant 4. I was gonna go for like a 6 or 8... but this one is working fine and the flow from it is nice so I am not concerned. It's just the sump one literally.... I could breathe through a straw harder than this thing....
Thanks very much for your help... I really really appreciate it.

 

[chrisnif]

I'm very new to salt/reef etc, but I had a situation previously where i had to pump large water volume with about 15 foot head before and found that a pond pump more than sufficed for that. It was a 2500 GPH at 0 head rated for 1000 gph at 10 feet and I got about 750 gph at 15 feet, just my suggestion

 

[rlablan]

Yeah thanks Chris. I was thinking the same thing actually.
Anyone know of what brand types? which are submersible? and of course... which will be quiet?? I know stuff made for ponds is often not something that is made for indoors per-se, so it may be a bit louder.
Where can I get something like that, with the big of a GHP and about how much do you think it'll cost?

 

[posiden]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3151234
Yeah thanks Chris. I was thinking the same thing actually.
Anyone know of what brand types? which are submersible? and of course... which will be quiet?? I know stuff made for ponds is often not something that is made for indoors per-se, so it may be a bit louder.
Where can I get something like that, with the big of a GHP and about how much do you think it'll cost?

Well....I have no direct experience with the larger MAG drive pumps so I cant say if they are quiet or not..........I also cant tell you where a good place to buy them is, as I am one of those people that likes to keep my money local. Sure I might pay more for the same thing but, I feel good about helping out the local guy.

 

[rlablan]

Yeah I don't have anyone locally that will carry those things..... I will have to order.
I will look into those... thank you very much for all the advice and insight.
Spanko also wants me to look into the vortech MP10s..... I just don't want any more power heads!!

 

[posiden]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3151724
Yeah I don't have anyone locally that will carry those things..... I will have to order.
I will look into those... thank you very much for all the advice and insight.
Spanko also wants me to look into the vortech MP10s..... I just don't want any more power heads!!

See, everyone just wants you to spend less cash. The vortecs would be a lot more less descrete then any othe powerhead.
If I had to guess, I would say Marine depot or Dr. Fosters and Smith. I really can't say like I stated eairler.
Can you look at your current Rio pump? It should say on there what model it is? Like the 1700??

 

[ironeagle2006]

I am using a Mag 12 on my 150 High and with my return line I get close to 1000 GPH in flow m,easure with a flowmeter this is thru 1 inch clear tube return. There is a Mag 18 if you want even more flow at 4 feet it is listed at 1375 GPH. They are submersablie that is how I run mine and have no issues with it at all.

 

[rlablan]

So I looked at the pump and it's rio32 hf and it says it's 1920 GPH.
There is no way I am getting even half that. I mean from 2 inches away from the nozzle, you can't feel even a slight bit of movement.
Where could I acquire one of these flow meters?
Yeah, the mag 18 sounds like it could work but it says that it is rated for like.... less than this stupid rio. Maybe it's like half dead or something? I have only had it for about 6 months but from what I hear, that is their life span.
Oh and where did you get your mag pumps?

 

[ironeagle2006]

Mine I got from a LFS. If your local is a good one they could orderyou one. I will send you some places that have them.