Help calculated return pump intensity

[rodrireef]

Hello, I'm new to reefing and would appreciate any help calculating what intensity level to set my return pump. I have 425 Red Sea. Display tank: 91 gal. Total system water volume: 114 gal. We have a ReefRun 9000 DC pump set to 50% intensity. I feel like 50% is a bit high because my return chamber is constantly low, making the ATO dispense anywhere from 0.6 gal - 1.5 gal per day, and that's where my ATO sensor is (in the return chamber where the ReefRun pump is). Is this normal evaporation? I live in the SE but my house thermostat is set to 70-72F. My aquarium thermostat is at 80F. I don't have a lid at the moment but it's on the way from TopLids to help with evap.

According to BRS, if I want at least 5x to 10x the tank's total water volume per hour, 114 gal x 10 = 1,140 GPH.
So if my ReefRun DC pump is a 9000, would this be the correct math? 1,140 / 9,000 = 0.126 = 12.6% ??

TIA

 

[BryanM]

Hello, I'm new to reefing and would appreciate any help calculating what intensity level to set my return pump. I have 425 Red Sea. Display tank: 91 gal. Total system water volume: 114 gal. We have a ReefRun 9000 DC pump set to 50% intensity. I feel like 50% is a bit high because my return chamber is constantly low, making the ATO dispense anywhere from 0.6 gal - 1.5 gal per day, and that's where my ATO sensor is (in the return chamber where the ReefRun pump is). Is this normal evaporation? I live in the SE but my house thermostat is set to 70-72F. My aquarium thermostat is at 80F. I don't have a lid at the moment but it's on the way from TopLids to help with evap.

According to BRS, if I want at least 5x to 10x the tank's total water volume per hour, 114 gal x 10 = 1,140 GPH.
So if my ReefRun DC pump is a 9000, would this be the correct math? 1,140 / 9,000 = 0.126 = 12.6% ??

TIA

Do you have wavemakers in the DT? If yes, you can safely lower the return pump significantly lower. 3x is common, and plenty of chats about even lower.

I am running my return pump at 1x.

Return pump flow shouldn't even be considered in the overall flow for your tank. That's the job of powerheads in the DT.

 

[rodrireef]

Do you have wavemakers in the DT? If yes, you can safely lower the return pump significantly lower. 3x is common, and plenty of chats about even lower.

I am running my return pump at 1x.

Return pump flow shouldn't even be considered in the overall flow for your tank. That's the job of powerheads in the DT.

Thank you for the feedback! :)
Yes, I have two MaxSpect Gyre 300 series wave makers. So if I lower it to 3x, my return intensity will be 3.8%?
114 gal x 3 = 342.
342 / 9000 = 0.038 = 3.8%

 

[BryanM]

Thank you for the feedback! :)
Yes, I have two MaxSpect Gyre 300 series wave makers. So if I lower it to 3x, my return intensity will be 3.8%?
114 gal x 3 = 342.
342 / 9000 = 0.038 = 3.8%

While that pump is labeled a "9000", it pumps anywhere from 1000-2500 gph, at least that is what I read on BRS's website. Redsea's website is obnoxious.

To me, without doing the math past 3x114=392, and the lowest setting on the 9000, you're basically at 10x.

I sometimes fail at math, but I think this is right, and if so, that pump is sort of too large. 10x is fine, but it will likely be noisy, not from the pump, but likely from the water going back in to the sump.

 

[Uncle99]

Hello, I'm new to reefing and would appreciate any help calculating what intensity level to set my return pump. I have 425 Red Sea. Display tank: 91 gal. Total system water volume: 114 gal. We have a ReefRun 9000 DC pump set to 50% intensity. I feel like 50% is a bit high because my return chamber is constantly low, making the ATO dispense anywhere from 0.6 gal - 1.5 gal per day, and that's where my ATO sensor is (in the return chamber where the ReefRun pump is). Is this normal evaporation? I live in the SE but my house thermostat is set to 70-72F. My aquarium thermostat is at 80F. I don't have a lid at the moment but it's on the way from TopLids to help with evap.

According to BRS, if I want at least 5x to 10x the tank's total water volume per hour, 114 gal x 10 = 1,140 GPH.
So if my ReefRun DC pump is a 9000, would this be the correct math? 1,140 / 9,000 = 0.126 = 12.6% ??

TIA

From a return point of view, I set intensity so that water is just falling into the returns and silent, what ever that turn is it is.

This ensures the sump return can keep up with overflows and prevents overfills.

At the end of the day, you can only return the exact amount you’re taking out. This will create stability in the return section and prevent false ATO fills.

I move a ton of water through wave makers.

Half a gallon to one and a half evap is not abnormal.

I’m 200 and lose 3.5 gallons per day.

 

[DanyL]

Note - the 9000 refers to liters, not gallons.
You also need to take into account efficiency at different heights if you want to correctly calculate this.

As for your question - the X10 advice was given back in the day because wave makers didn’t exists or weren’t as popular yet, however there’s no problem to utilize the return pump for added flow, in fact a lot of SPS growers do so, including me, in addition to the wave makers (which still move a lot more then the return pump).

That said, the maximum and minimum flow you want is one that satisfies both - (1) display water line, and (2) noise from drain.

Everything in between is to your choice, with some mild differences in filtration rates.

Your evaporation is normal, and it depends on relative humidity, so it also usually changes across seasons and geographical locations. It has little to nothing to do with your return pump.

 

[rodrireef]

Note - the 9000 refers to liters, not gallons.
You also need to take into account efficiency at different heights if you want to correctly calculate this.

As for your question - the X10 advice was given back in the day because wave makers didn’t exists or weren’t as popular yet, however there’s no problem to utilize the return pump for added flow, in fact a lot of SPS growers do so, including me, in addition to the wave makers (which still move a lot more then the return pump).

That said, the maximum and minimum flow you want is one that satisfies both - (1) display water line, and (2) noise from drain.

Everything in between is to your choice, with some mild differences in filtration rates.

Your evaporation is normal, and it depends on relative humidity, so it also usually changes across seasons and geographical locations. It has little to nothing to do with your return pump.

Thank you so much. I had no idea it was 9000 liters. :anguished-face: This helps me immensely!

 

[rodrireef]

From a return point of view, I set intensity so that water is just falling into the returns and silent, what ever that turn is it is.

This ensures the sump return can keep up with overflows and prevents overfills.

At the end of the day, you can only return the exact amount you’re taking out. This will create stability in the return section and prevent false ATO fills.

I move a ton of water through wave makers.

Half a gallon to one and a half evap is not abnormal.

I’m 200 and lose 3.5 gallons per day.

Thanks for all the info! The false ATO fills were definitely happening. I appreciate your help!