External return pump help.

[Matt Miller]

I'm pretty sure my return pump is overheating my water, so its time to upgrade. I'm looking in the $100-200 price range preferably, it will be in the sump under my 110g tank.

Does anyone have the octopus one?
Like it, don't like?

 

[mcarroll]

Are you in a tropical climate? Do you use high power lights? What return pump are you using now?

Generally, a $50 Quiet One will do the trick for a tank that size. Pick from the 2200, 3000 or 4000 depending how tall your stand is.

http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Q1-AQUARIUM-Lit.pdf

 

[Matt Miller]

Are you in a tropical climate? Do you use high power lights? What return pump are you using now?

Generally, a $50 Quiet One will do the trick for a tank that size. Pick from the 2200, 3000 or 4000 depending how tall your stand is.

http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Q1-AQUARIUM-Lit.pdf

No tropical, I'm in Ohio and it's pretty cold.
I have 2 16" Wi-Fi SBReeflights and my whites are only up to 15% during the day.
My temp went up shortly after the new LEDs so I thought that was it but the temp haant gone down hardly any since I turned down the lights.
I put my hand on the return pump and it's almost too hot to hold on to, that's why I'm thinking it's the culprit.

 

[alton]

Pan World 50PX or PXX. It depends on how much GPH you are looking for?

 

[Matt Miller]

Pan World 50PX or PXX. It depends on how much GPH you are looking for?

That I'm not real sure about, I think I would like pretty high but the option to dial down would be nice too.

 

[Salty1962]

Pan World 100px is a good reliable pump.

 

[mcarroll]

No tropical, I'm in Ohio and it's pretty cold.
I have 2 16" Wi-Fi SBReeflights and my whites are only up to 15% during the day.
My temp went up shortly after the new LEDs so I thought that was it but the temp haant gone down hardly any since I turned down the lights.
I put my hand on the return pump and it's almost too hot to hold on to, that's why I'm thinking it's the culprit.

Seems hard to imagine you have an actual heat problem with a tank in your location that runs LED lighting.

It's possible you have a pump problem – can't say on that. ;) I do recommend the Quiet One as an economical replacement – good warranty too.

 

[Matt Miller]

Seems hard to imagine you have an actual heat problem with a tank in your location that runs LED lighting.

It's possible you have a pump problem – can't say on that. ;) I do recommend the Quiet One as an economical replacement – good warranty too.

Yeah I was stumped, I think the hear kicked an algae bloom in. It happened about the time I got the new LEDs so I just thought the lights.

I do like the sound of the pan world ones but I'm afraid to end up with too much return flow, no controller either.
Same with the quiet one, no controller.
I think I'm going to try the Jaebo 10,000, the price is reasonable and has a controller so I can dial it in.
Thanks for the help everyone, it's tough being new to this and trying to keep things running. I was wanting to slowly upgrade but I haven't even been running here 6 months yet
[emoji4]

 

[mcarroll]

No controller needed – target the flow you want and just buy the right pump. The one I spec'd gives you the flow you mentioned. :)

IMO, skip the whole idea of a controller or changing the return flow.

Instead design the right flow into your pump choice before you buy.

It's pretty easy in most cases.

For my recommendation earlier, I assumed:

• 2x-4x the display size for your actual return flow rate. In other words, between 220 GPH and 440 GPH of actual flow.
• the main flow in the display tank is from powerheads
• the tank is 5' high
• that you have a sump under your tank with the return pump in or next to it
• that the return is a more or less straight shot up to the tank

If that's a good description of your tank, then the pumps I suggested (or similar) would all be good. No valves or controllers needed.

If you have any doubt, post up the details of your plumbing and we can see if the estimates and your requirements "stack up". :) :)

Will need to know:

• a pretty close estimate of the amount of vertical space between the sump and the return
• the total length of plumbing the flow will go through
• the number and type of fittings the flow will go through
• corrections to any other assumptions I mentioned

Hope this helps! :)

 

[Matt Miller]

No controller needed – target the flow you want and just buy the right pump. The one I spec'd gives you the flow you mentioned. :)

IMO, skip the whole idea of a controller or changing the return flow.

Instead design the right flow into your pump choice before you buy.

It's pretty easy in most cases.

For my recommendation earlier, I assumed:

• 2x-4x the display size for your actual return flow rate. In other words, between 220 GPH and 440 GPH of actual flow.
• the main flow in the display tank is from powerheads
• the tank is 5' high
• that you have a sump under your tank with the return pump in or next to it
• that the return is a more or less straight shot up to the tank

If that's a good description of your tank, then the pumps I suggested (or similar) would all be good. No valves or controllers needed.

If you have any doubt, post up the details of your plumbing and we can see if the estimates and your requirements "stack up". :) :)

Will need to know:

• a pretty close estimate of the amount of vertical space between the sump and the return
• the total length of plumbing the flow will go through
• the number and type of fittings the flow will go through
• corrections to any other assumptions I mentioned

Hope this helps! :)

That's pretty much what I have except it goes up about 18" to a T for dial return.
I also plan on replumbing most of it in the future but that's for another day.

I came for advise and would be silly to not listen.

 

[mcarroll]

The dual return adds a fair amount to the total plumbing length, but no additional base head pressure....probably would not change the estimated flow rate very much in your case.