Im really in a turmoil here, Im creating my sump and dont know which pump to get as a return. The marineland maxi jet 400 which is 105gph, or the 900 which is 245 gph… I do not want over kill but i need to have a steady flow in both direction, the tank from the sump is about 3 ft drop, any help suggestions?
More important question is what will they put out at 3ft head loss? I think that is too small of a pump, I don’t think it will even make 3ft? I could be wrong though, just doesn’t seem right.
At what rate of gph is your drain? There are different ways you can adjust the flow in either direction.
neither of those will be great for a return really, you lose alot of power climbing 3 feet of head.
just an example, my magdrive 9.5 is 950 gph rated, at 4 ft of head its rated something like 700 gph. and they do have a point where the weight of the water will stop the flow and the pump will just hold the water at that level.
i’d consider an actual return pump (im assuming the maxijet is just the powerhead)
you can kill 2 birds with one stone with a good return pump, it can replace an unsightly powerhead cluttering your nano display if you pick one that returns and has the flow of your powerhead.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280389355283&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
that is the pump. a for rate of drain? how would i know? I am very new to this, i dont have and tubing yet im trying to piece it together now…
how fast you drain is up to the pump, i think what he ment was the max capacity of your drain/overflow, some can only handle 700gph or your DT will flood and empty your sump. but most ppl dont do that because they try to cut the cost and get a weaker pump.
20 dollars? your going to get exactly what you pay for in that deal…
shop here instead
you buy that cheap you pay more because when you have to buy the 85 dollar pump because your 20 dollar one was bad or broke now you’ve spent 105
example, i was cheap and bought the seaclone 100 skimmer for 100, so when i bought a good one for 180 my skimmer now cost me 280 … lesson learned… DONT BE CHEAP!!
here is a chart on flow rates
i think the mag 3 or 5 would be good, you can always ball valve it to restrict the flow
screeech, this is for your 6g tank not your 24 gallon?
well i’d look for quality still, even the mag 1.9 is better quallity than eshi… i mean ebay.
mag does seem a hell of alot better!!!
1.5 140gph
1.9 190 gph…
would the 1.5 be better? or because of the steep climb the 1.9 so it would even out to 1.5?
i’d use the 2, its more flow, you can cut it back if its too much with a ball valve and its the beef’d up housing
How is the water returning to your sump? Sorry I’m not following the other threads, but in determining the size of the pump this is the most important question. If you have a drilled hole what is the diameter of the inside of the bulk head? What size pipe or tubing are you using? If you are using a HOB(Hang on back) over flow box then what is it rated for?
There are two calculators on RC that might be helpful if you use them properly.
• Drain/Overflow Size Calc
• Head Loss Calc
Keep in mind you can always slow the amount of flow if you install a ball valve in the line returning water to your display tank.(essentially increasing the head pressure and slowing your gph) Do not restrict the flow on the input side of the pump as it will likely put strain on the pump creating excess heat and shortening the life of the pump.
You need to test what you create repeatedly to make sure you have no problems in the event of a power failure.
This page may be helpful in understanding what you trying to create as well.(not a holy bible of sump building by any means, but can be helpful in the learning process)
http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html
Please as more questions if you need. Better to ask questions now before the carpet is wet.
ok maybe im confused here lol.
I have a 5.5 gallon tank i am going to put under my six. I will have a line of tubing going down to the sump tank being fed by gravity. in my sump tank i will have the return pump pumping back up into the six gallon tank. the tubing going up to the six gallon tank will be atteched directly to the tank using a u-bend, ← i thinjk thats correct… does that sound right?
do i need an overflow box? in that website… I wanted to do more like a closed loop system… now im even more confused lol.
in a closed loop system will ball valves be the regulator in determining my tank and or sump will not overflow? I can use tubing or pvc? or have to use pvc? when the return pump pumped water back into the tank i wanted a y connector to distribute the flow will i still be able to do that?
u need an overflow box, if u have a tube attatched, either the siphon will be faster, or the pump will be faster, and one tank will be drained, the other will be flooded. in a overflow box, it only removes, what is put back in the tank.
a closed loop is for circulation, both the intake and output of the pump are hooked to the tank through bulk heads, or up and over.
with taht size thank, sump would be most ikely useless, i would just get a aquaclear 70 HOB filter. u can fit a small heater, and cheato in there, hell even the new aquatic life skimmer may fit in there.
with the eclipse six i cant fit anything more in or around. it has built in filtration and i have a power head in it also a heater, the tank is cluttered, and weekly water changes arent enough. I love my nano six but need to add more volume, with the new 5.5 i can clear out everything filter heater powerhead etc… the return lines will do the circulation. And an additional turn over rate on my water is what i need. I just have never seen a sump plumbing in person to completely grasp how to do it myself.
That pump comes out to :247 GPH at 0 head, 75 GPH at 3’ head. IMO 75 gph for that (6 gal) tank is about right. Comes out to 12.5x through the sump
AFA having a sump vs. not whatever works for you.
You will need either an overflow box and siphon tube or have to drill the tank to get the water out to the sump.
AFA having a sump? whats AFA?
also this as an overflow will work? Eshopps PF-300 Overflow Box - Up to 75 gal.
if that works, i will have the overflow box HOB of the tank, which dispences water to the sump , then in the sump the return pump pumping the water back in… Is that all? If not am i missing something?
lol sorry, AFA = as far as
[quote=“michaelangelo, post:18, topic:2021”]
also this as an overflow will work? Eshopps PF-300 Overflow Box - Up to 75 gal.
if that works, i will have the overflow box HOB of the tank, which dispences water to the sump , then in the sump the return pump pumping the water back in… Is that all? If not am i missing something?[/quote]
That overflow would work and give you plenty of flow, not sure if there is a smaller option out there.
Yup thats about the gist of it.