How hard do you work your return pump

[Quietman]

I have my Tunze Silence DC pump running at 20-25% of max. I can run my UV in my return line as tank is <50gal. The extra flow came in handy when cranking up UV flow to treat dinos. Been running it for 5+ years now without a break.

 

[piranhaman00]

100% Jebao 4 years straight

 

[backbayreef]

I run 2 return pumps on the big tank. The primary one runs at 70% and the second one runs at 75% (~10x combined turnover). To me, reliability is more important than flow rate since wavemakers inside the tank do most of the circulation. The main return pump serves multiple reactors: UV(2), carbon, ozone, denitrator, more!

 

[LPS Bum]

Sicce SDC 7.0 at 70%.

 

[BryanM]

What percentage do you all run your pumps on? Do you like a bigger or a smaller pump? Is a heavy turnover your flavor or just enough gph to get by?

Lower turnover with powerheads in the DT like almost all of us run today.

 

[X-37B]

All return pumps are ac, so 100% and I control flow with a ball valve and gate valve.
I run 2-3× tank volume.
I also have quite a few backups, so I will be running ac returns for awhile.
Lol, I have 2 mighty jet dc's from 2 IM systems sitting in boxes waiting to be used.

 

[mboley]

I was thinking about this as I was setting up and dialling in my overflow. I have a 4ftx2ft tank with a 40 gal sump running a Reef Factory base pump 10,000 (2,642 gph). This is an external (1”)overflow (1,200 gph) with dual loc- line returns (3/4”).

Testing out the plumbing with the tank just with water I ran it on like 40% for a day. It’s quiet the flow is decent. I bumped it up to 55% -60%( maybe I should go higher?) and like the flow is really nice up top throughout the tank, but I would have to adjust my overflow pipes again because it’s a bit noisy (the ext box runs about a half inch under the bulkheads(dual) for water height, just under half full), but I think I like the higher rate flow, pushes through the sump good. The tank will live being mostly dominated by SPS. I do have two MP 40s that are going to run opposite ends but I do like the higher flow rate turnover. Maybe it’s not needed? Is there a thing as too much?

High circ pump flow rate not needed but plumbing noise is the only negative I think. I like the higher flow through multiple locline nozzles with ball valves for more control.

With this set up you can make adjustments to total flow and/or individual outlets. You also get the ability to change the flow direction with small adjustments to the nozzle direction or nozzle type. And creating more varied turbulence is easy by pointing a nozzle into the flow of an mp40, especially when it is set to Reef Crest. All benefits especially for an sps tank.

 

[mboley]

Lower turnover with powerheads in the DT like almost all of us run today.

Besides less noise what's the case for that set up? If it requires more powerheads that's a negative from a tank asthetics standpoint.

 

[BryanM]

Besides less noise what's the case for that set up? If it requires more powerheads that's a negative from a tank asthetics standpoint.

well, even trying to get to 20x turnover with a return pump only, I think the noise would be quite loud, and I don't think any SPS tanks could ever do this.

To combat the aesthetics issue Ive mounted my two gyres vertically on the back wall, which is working quite well for me.

 

[UncommonSense]

Besides less noise what's the case for that set up? If it requires more powerheads that's a negative from a tank asthetics standpoint.

Powerheads operate as a propeller, as opposed to a lift pump having an impeller!

Propeller pumps are purely for mixing purposes, but do so extremely efficiently! — extremely low power consumption per-gallon of flow!

 

[mboley]

well, even trying to get to 20x turnover with a return pump only, I think the noise would be quite loud, and I don't think any SPS tanks could ever do this.

To combat the aesthetics issue Ive mounted my two gyres vertically on the back wall, which is working quite well for me.

I didn't advocate for return pump only or 20x turnover? In my case I run 9-10 turn on a 30" long 50 gallon mixed reef tank. Circulation is 3 locline nozzles and an mp10.

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

I was thinking about this as I was setting up and dialling in my overflow. I have a 4ftx2ft tank with a 40 gal sump running a Reef Factory base pump 10,000 (2,642 gph). This is an external (1”)overflow (1,200 gph) with dual loc- line returns (3/4”).

Testing out the plumbing with the tank just with water I ran it on like 40% for a day. It’s quiet the flow is decent. I bumped it up to 55% -60%( maybe I should go higher?) and like the flow is really nice up top throughout the tank, but I would have to adjust my overflow pipes again because it’s a bit noisy (the ext box runs about a half inch under the bulkheads(dual) for water height, just under half full), but I think I like the higher rate flow, pushes through the sump good. The tank will live being mostly dominated by SPS. I do have two MP 40s that are going to run opposite ends but I do like the higher flow rate turnover. Maybe it’s not needed? Is there a thing as too much?

In my opinion you want less flow through your sump especially if running a refugium. This allows your water more time to be processed by the equipment and any mechanical filtration. Along with a quieter operation of you overflow and pump

But of course this is a preference seeing some feel higher turn over in sump is beneficial. Your power heads should be giving you all the in tank flow needed for corals ideally

 

[Science/G]

Oh yea 100%! I was in the industrial industry for many years prior to going into more automated equipment. Great pumps out there with a company to back them!

But unlike ourselves and others like us, most hobbyist will never run one. I still use a mag 7 for a mixing pump, most reefers now days probably never seen one :face-with-tears-of-joy: But the DC advanced over the past several years has been a blessing for our hobby, I run a Jebao DC12000 on my system and love it.

I ran Little Giant pumps forever on my larger systems. 802 power heads on small systems.

 

[Science/G]

My DC pump runs at 80%

 

[Marco_99]

well, even trying to get to 20x turnover with a return pump only, I think the noise would be quite loud, and I don't think any SPS tanks could ever do this.

To combat the aesthetics issue Ive mounted my two gyres vertically on the back wall, which is working quite well for me.

You don’t run anything on your tank ends, just the back wall?

 

[winxp_man]

130 internal gallons, and 20 internal for sump. Math is based off actual water amount not outside tank dimensions. Running a Vectra S2 at 60%. Have no idea on flow rate haha. Too lazy to run a test. One of these days I will. I do have a new Vectra M2 I will soon install.

 

[buzzfin]

Mine is oversized, running at about 50%.

 

[BryanM]

You don’t run anything on your tank ends, just the back wall?

Correct. Vertical, pointed at about a 30 degree angle in to the back wall to create a swirl around the sides and then to the front of the tank, and it seems to work quite well.

 

[LiquidSpace]

I’m running at 50% but probably going to bring down to 30% because the humming on my Vectra L2 is unbearable. And it’s quieter that my original!

 

[draj]

cor20 @ 70%