Controllable Return Pump Options?

[Bill333]

I'll second the vote on the Jebao DCP pumps. I've had mine running for years; dead silent and no problems whatsoever.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

55 gallon, with a 5k gyre, would be a lot :) I'm assuming its no where near running at 100%.

That said, you can easily set return pumps up in the 2-3x range, and let the in tank powerheads do the majority of tank turnover work.

Wait, is a lot a good thing or bad? Lol
Right, the overflow I will have is a 1600GPH.
I also think I'll only be doing softies.
Yeah ok perfect, that's what I was thinking.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I'll second the vote on the Jebao DCP pumps. I've had mine running for years; dead silent and no problems whatsoever.

Awesome!!! Wow I'm glad, BRS should definitely talk about them then

 

[Jesse Sunday]

55 gallon, with a 5k gyre, would be a lot :) I'm assuming its no where near running at 100%.

Yes, that's likely too much flow for your tank... I have two Reefwave 45s in my 5-foot tank, and I don't even run them at 100% (well, I do for 20 minutes a day to stir up detritus, etc.)

I'm going to make it with 2 return lines, it's not an AIO tank. Should it not have 2 return lines?? I had been told 2 return pumps is best.
Oh ok then yeah, that's pretty much about how many GPH I was thinking of going with anyway on each.
There will also be a gyre in the tank that does like 5000GPH. I just wanted to have extra in case I need it. I might not even need it variating if the gyre is doing what I want it to.

Ah, you're building the tank, I understand now. Two return lines doesn't necessarily mean two return pumps. I have a single return pump in my main (130g) tank, but there are two nozzles that the "returned" water comes back into the tank via. You could use one return pump and split the return into two pipes/nozzles.

 

[Uncle99]

Wwwooowwww that is impressive! Awesome! Ok I like the sound of that! Hopefully more people will chime in on those!

Third solid vote for Jebao 20,000, 3 years, 15,000, 5 years, 10,000, 2 years. Still running, yearly clean.

If I use a variable flow, my sump return would fluctuate turning on/the ATO incorrectly so I can’t see how that would work.

The return flow should be constant, it doesn’t have to be super fast, whatever your overflows can take silently.

Use Gyres for sheer flow (top if you have Acros) and wave makers for “back and forth” wave making.

Love the Jebao, my tank is all them. Good value for dollars.

 

[TX_REEF]

Aaahhh, I did not think of that! I just didn't want to have to buy 2 gyres but yeah that makes sense, thank you!

You can get plenty of flow from a single appropriately sized wavemaker in a 55 gallon, no need to buy multiple.

 

[exnisstech]

Awesome!!! Wow I'm glad, BRS should definitely talk about them then

BRS videos are about pimping promoting products they sell.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Yes, that's likely too much flow for your tank... I have two Reefwave 45s in my 5-foot tank, and I don't even run them at 100% (well, I do for 20 minutes a day to stir up detritus, etc.)



Ah, you're building the tank, I understand now. Two return lines doesn't necessarily mean two return pumps. I have a single return pump in my main (130g) tank, but there are two nozzles that the "returned" water comes back into the tank via. You could use one return pump and split the return into two pipes/nozzles.

Right, I don't plan on running anything at 100% since that's what I've seen on BRS' videos.
Yes.
I am going to be using 2 return pumps so one is a backup just in case and they will each have the 2 style nozzles.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Third solid vote for Jebao 20,000, 3 years, 15,000, 5 years, 10,000, 2 years. Still running, yearly clean.

If I use a variable flow, my sump return would fluctuate turning on/the ATO incorrectly so I can’t see how that would work.

The return flow should be constant, it doesn’t have to be super fast, whatever your overflows can take silently.

Use Gyres for sheer flow (top if you have Acros) and wave makers for “back and forth” wave making.

Love the Jebao, my tank is all them. Good value for dollars.

Oh ok awesome! Looking like that's the way to go!
Hhmm yeah that's what I was thinking about the sump being the only thing that would possibly be affected but I have wayy more overflow then I need so I think i am safe to have as much water as I want in the sump that's why I think it would work in my situation.
Well the new gyre cloud has the 8 possible adjustable pieces with the all new screen so it doesn't just have to do the old style sheer top flow anymore, that's why I'm going with it cause now it can act as a wavemaker and sheer flow on top, bottom, or center of the tank.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

You can get plenty of flow from a single appropriately sized wavemaker in a 55 gallon, no need to buy multiple.

Right but i was mainly thinking just so that i can get variable flow from the back IF for whatever reason I notice my new gyre not getting to all the places like it's advertised to be able to do with the 8 adjustable sections.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

BRS videos are about pimping promoting products they sell.

lol I was told something similar , glad to confirm it, that's funny but sucks cause they are leaving a bunch of good product out of the picture for us to see, kind of breaking trust for me.

 

[exnisstech]

lol I was told something similar , glad to confirm it, that's funny but sucks cause they are leaving a bunch of good product out of the picture for us to see, kind of breaking trust for me.

Its just business.

 

[Fish Fan]

I believe the BRS videos have value, but clearly their purpose is to sell products, and they will never tell you about a product they don't stock. Again, that's just business.

I like their videos, but I always suggest coming to R2R and asking before you purchase anything. Most of the time you don't *need* what you think you need, or like with these Jaebo return pumps, there may be a better/cheaper option that is not in the BRS line of products.

 

[areefer01]

I personally fall into the camp that return pumps demand a higher priority in the total reefing budget as it ties to installation costs. Return pumps do not change if we are being honest so whatever you decide upon today chances are likely it will work for you down the road should you change things like doing an upgrade. Even though we say no, we will not upgrade, we do at some point in time. Reefs mature if we are successful. I personally feel increasing the budget gives one more room to buy quality products or products that otherwise may not be considered.

Few things to consider besides functional needs are installation, maintenance, access, and shared use. Return pump, skimmer pump, or a manifold. Buy a spare of whatever you end up using and now maintenance is silly easy because you can take any that can use the same pump offline and swap with one off the shelf. Super easy because they share the same connection fittings.

Now some here have said that the pump has been running great for X number of years. I do not doubt that. I've been there and done that, I'm busy. Well maybe lazy. Both. In any case my point is that pumps need maintenance and we should accept that. Especially to mission critical things like return pumps. New, out of the box, clean, they are moving like they should. Month one, two, three, or eighteen things start to change and the flow isn't the same. No matter how much we want to believe it deep down we know it is dirty. Film, life, micro fauna, whatever we want to call it - it is there. Example below for reference.

Note - I am not budget shaming or anti cleaning shaming just tossing out thoughts as I reply. Budget, look at what can use the same pump, connection, fittings, possibly buy a spare, and make your life easier.

Film, stombus snails, bristle worms, small crustaceans, and aiptasia on the body (not shown).

 

[Fish Fan]

I personally fall into the camp that return pumps demand a higher priority in the total reefing budget as it ties to installation costs. Return pumps do not change if we are being honest so whatever you decide upon today chances are likely it will work for you down the road should you change things like doing an upgrade. Even though we say no, we will not upgrade, we do at some point in time. Reefs mature if we are successful. I personally feel increasing the budget gives one more room to buy quality products or products that otherwise may not be considered.

Few things to consider besides functional needs are installation, maintenance, access, and shared use. Return pump, skimmer pump, or a manifold. Buy a spare of whatever you end up using and now maintenance is silly easy because you can take any that can use the same pump offline and swap with one off the shelf. Super easy because they share the same connection fittings.

Now some here have said that the pump has been running great for X number of years. I do not doubt that. I've been there and done that, I'm busy. Well maybe lazy. Both. In any case my point is that pumps need maintenance and we should accept that. Especially to mission critical things like return pumps. New, out of the box, clean, they are moving like they should. Month one, two, three, or eighteen things start to change and the flow isn't the same. No matter how much we want to believe it deep down we know it is dirty. Film, life, micro fauna, whatever we want to call it - it is there. Example below for reference.

Note - I am not budget shaming or anti cleaning shaming just tossing out thoughts as I reply. Budget, look at what can use the same pump, connection, fittings, possibly buy a spare, and make your life easier.

Film, stombus snails, bristle worms, small crustaceans, and aiptasia on the body (not shown).

Nice looking 'fuge ;)

 

[areefer01]

Nice looking 'fuge ;)

True. Very true. To be honest I do not run filter socks or any pads which probably would limit or prevent this. Those need to be changed and I prefer things to float naturally believing it is food. I don't know - it works for me. I did want to share what "I" mean by dirty. The pump was still running but I knew it was not optimal :)

Hope your evening is well.

 

[Fish Fan]

True. Very true. To be honest I do not run filter socks or any pads which probably would limit or prevent this. Those need to be changed and I prefer things to float naturally believing it is food. I don't know - it works for me. I did want to share what "I" mean by dirty. The pump was still running but I knew it was not optimal :)

Hope your evening is well.

Friend, I was just joking around :-) I wasn't criticizing your maintenance practices, I promise :-)

 

[Fish Fan]

@exnisstech, if you're around, please, would you please help me help the OP here?

The OP has been talking to me privately, and I am trying to convince them that I am not an expert :) That's first and foremost.

The OP wants to model their circ around something Josh from WWC said sometime around 8:50 minutes into this video. The idea is to place a gyre on one side of the DT and push water into the overflow on the other side. I'm sure Josh knows what he's doing, but I'm not familiar with this return setup. To me, this is going to cause a cyclical flow of water around the tank. I don't see this setup making chaotic flow patterns.

If you have a chance, please check out this video at about 8 minutes and 30 seconds. This is what @SaltWaterTank_Noob would be very interested to see what you think here:


Thank you in advance!

 

[exnisstech]

@exnisstech, if you're around, please, would you please help me help the OP here?

The OP has been talking to me privately, and I am trying to convince them that I am not an expert :) That's first and foremost.

The OP wants to model their circ around something Josh from WWC said sometime around 8:50 minutes into this video. The idea is to place a gyre on one side of the DT and push water into the overflow on the other side. I'm sure Josh knows what he's doing, but I'm not familiar with this return setup. To me, this is going to cause a cyclical flow of water around the tank. I don't see this setup making chaotic flow patterns.

If you have a chance, please check out this video at about 8 minutes and 30 seconds. This is what @SaltWaterTank_Noob would be very interested to see what you think here:


Thank you in advance!

Sorry I didn't watch the video, youtube isn't my thing.
I think if he / she wants to see how it works they should just do it and see for themselves. There's no substitute for experience.

 

[Lisavo112]

I am using an aqua excel controller on my 160 gallon Red Sea max. How do I find the balance between the flow rate and the valve control to quiet the down flow. It is so loud. I am a relative newbie and I bought the set up used.