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Post by Rigor on Oct 28, 2014 18:14:42 GMT -5
Starting a new project, and it will be a huge one. I recently purchased a 300 tall tank. 96*24*31. What size pump would you all recommend?
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Post by Rigor on Oct 28, 2014 18:35:44 GMT -5
And this will be a reef tank of course.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 28, 2014 19:17:53 GMT -5
What kind of skimmer are you thinking about going with? Edited- sorry I was thinking internal flow.
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Post by maineultraclassic on Oct 28, 2014 19:21:12 GMT -5
You want to turn over the display volume 3-5 times per hour.
So a lot depends on your head height, what else you going to run off your return line, how many outputs on the return, and so on. Then you have to decide between internal pump or external pump......external will give you more options with more power for that size tank. Go with the biggest sump you can and the biggest skimmer you can......it makes things easier down the road.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 28, 2014 19:37:58 GMT -5
Rule of thumb for system turnover rate, not including powerheads from everything I've always read or been told should be a minimum of 10 times the total water volume per hour and up to 20 times the total volume per hour. Opinions can vary and what works for one tank may not work for another.
Some Examples would be-
75 gallon tank- minimum of 700-800 GPH main pump
220 Gallon tank- minimum of 2200-2400 GPH main pump.
I break that mold with my tank, I had 2600gph going through a 75 gallon tank, now that same 2600gph going through a 125 gallon tank. So multiple turnover rates can be made to work.
If it were me, I would look for a main pump with a minimum output in the range of 300+ gallons per hour. The bigger the better though. You can always valve a pump back or divert excess flow through reactors or other things.
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Post by Syntax on Oct 28, 2014 19:48:45 GMT -5
10x was the standard formula 15 years ago wasn't it? Now, you will see many (RC threads) recommend to match your return with your skimmer pump output, with the theory that all your sump water will be conditioned before it enters the display again. Slower return as I understand from multiple RC threads and Mike Paletta allows for better nutrient absorption by charto.
In the end it probably doesn't matter that much, IMO. Successful reefs have been kept for many years with every conceivable variation of flow.
I would look at a pump that reduces power consumption if you choose to throttle it back on the return side.... Such as a Reeflo.
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Post by maineultraclassic on Oct 28, 2014 20:34:41 GMT -5
Exactly..........that 10-20x turnover was old school thinking before we had wavemakers/powerheads to create flow in the tank, the return pump was the only source of flow so it had to be huge.
3-5x the display volume thru the sump per hour is the current recommendation, it's only for filtration. Then you get wavemakers/powerheads to create in tank flow.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 28, 2014 23:19:27 GMT -5
"In the end it probably doesn't matter that much, IMO. Successful reefs have been kept for many years with every conceivable variation of flow."
That's a true statement if I ever saw one lol. What it comes down to is there are a bunch of ways of making flow rates work in a reef tank if you know what your doing and have your system matched accordingly.
Ive tried the low turnover system before and I wasn't happy with it. I seem to get better results with high system turn over because I like to keep my tank severely minimally aquascaped with live rock and over stocked with fish so most of my filtration comes from a huge skimmer and enough water flow to feed it and my 4 chamber sump/ refugium. The other reason I like higher GPH return pump is it takes the place of two in tank power heads. I still have a little detritus that settles at the bottom of my refugium but my sand bed in my display tank stays clean and my skimmer cup stays full. Plenty of people disagree but It works for my tank.
I'll admit, as much of a research addict as I am, I either forgot or was unaware that people are now recommending 3-5 times the total water volume turnover rate. One advantage to buying a larger pump is the ability to have it as a multi purpose pump. Like having it feed multiple tanks, reactors, ect.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Oct 28, 2014 23:40:00 GMT -5
Just been reading a bunch of posts on reef central about recomended turnover rate and it's pretty split between low turnover and high turnover still being recomended. Seems the general consensus is If the main pumps flow rate is matched to the flow rate of the skimmer along with bioload, both ways should work. Low turnover systems are cheaper though at least.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Oct 29, 2014 7:38:54 GMT -5
I've tried all the above and I recently bought a jebao DC9000 for my return pump on a 75g display if that tells you anything. With DC pumps everywhere right now you're best bet would be to get a pump that you know has a happy medium so you don't have to upgrade or downgrade. Plus they use less watts This pump maxes out at 3140gph at 0 head. Since it has 6 speed settings and you can go from 900gph to 3140gph. So you'd be able to go anywhere between 3x turnover to around 10x turnover depending on head hight. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00INTDJDA/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SL500_SS115&simLd=1Should note though that reviews are mixed on these. Some people love them and some don't. Sent from my SM-N910R4 using proboards
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Post by gotareef on Oct 29, 2014 7:51:54 GMT -5
glad to see you finally made it to get the tank... hahaha j/k everything I have always been told and tried to do is match your return flow to your skimmer. flow inside the display should be 10x-20x this is achieved with powerheads.... this is the general rule I go by, but allot is going to depend on the sump... I am guessing you will be using a 125g or larger? (easy had one cheap!) a 125 should give you enough room so you wont have to worry about micro bubbles ect... with that big ass tank for flow I would go with 4x wp40's (or the new rw series not sure what is equivalent) return pump get a big dc12000 and run it on a manifold (to run future reactors,refugem... TANKS
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Post by Syntax on Oct 29, 2014 8:07:44 GMT -5
Manifold, something like this:
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Post by gotareef on Oct 29, 2014 8:42:42 GMT -5
kind of... but use gate valves on each line so you can adjust flow individually
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Post by Syntax on Oct 29, 2014 10:45:01 GMT -5
those are plugs before reactors were installed.
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Post by Rigor on Oct 29, 2014 13:21:01 GMT -5
Wow good advice. All around.
Rob I finally made it down. FYI a 300 tall weighs 700lbs empty. Holy crap is that thing heavy.
I plan on, and have always used a manifold system on return. I also plan on building a coast to coast overflow.
I just got this beast in the house the other day. I would like to start a build thread soon. But right now I am cleaning the turkey crap out of it (inside joke w/Rob). Yes there were turkeys taking shelter in this tank.
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