Return pump and overflow suggestions for a 300g mixed reef

[Rooles]

One thing you may want to ask yourself is how much would it cost to replace a 300 gallon display should a pump fail.

• New tank, today
• 1 year anniversary
• 5 year anniversary
• 10 year anniversary

Return pumps play a vital role in the big picture much like a bcd, regulator, and air tank does in scuba diving. In short, it is life support. Abyzz may have an upfront sticker shock but look at the energy use and warranty and see how that may factor in to your reefing budget. Likewise look at the other options and then make a decision.

Maybe it is running one brand at X cost or maybe picking something in the middle and running two for redundancy. Maybe match return pump with skimmer for maintenance and emergency.

BTW I would encourage this same exercise for internal flow. So much better to design it in right from the start rather than wasting money by triage later with band aids...

Good luck with whatever you choose.

I like the idea of going with two return pumps allowing for redundancy.

What do you recommend for internal flow?

 

[wrasse man]

I've been using Current USA Eflux 3170GPH pumps for years. Dead silent at 100%, don't generate heat, bullet proof, and cheap. I have one that i bought in 2016ish, was on a 240 gallon cichlid tank. It's still running today on my mixing station today. The 240 has been saltwater for 3 years, with another 3170gph model and just keeps on going. Great thing is you can buy the "pump only" for standby replacement or get the full set with controller.

Pumps in my opinion are expendable gear, meaning eventually they are gonna go down no matter how much you pay. If i had crazy head height i needed to span, i would be all in on a high dollar pump. But my set up with a sump under cabinet these things work great. My ten year old pump still pushes my water change a 50’ distance from the garage to tank without issue.

I’ve considered getting an Ecotech L2, but i could get 3 Current USA pumps for the price of 1 L2.

 

[UncommonSense]

I like the idea of going with two return pumps allowing for redundancy.

Two return pumps, each on independent plumbing, each on a different GFCI outlet (and ideally each on a different circuit breaker) is absolutely best-bet for life support redundancy!

What do you recommend for internal flow?

There are plenty of good options here!

These days; considering electrical safety, and the prevalence of choice… I’d recommend anything DC, meaning you can have it running off a backup battery/UPS without the risk of electrocution that UPS plus 120V pumps has!

(This advice is keeping in mind that an in-line GFCI device plugged into a UPS/backup battery isn’t functional, as there is no bonded neutral reference… basically, backup power [which isn’t wired into the home electrical] means no GFCI protection… thus, low-voltage DC powerheads on backup power with no GFCI protection do make sense from a life support perspective!)

 

[areefer01]

I like the idea of going with two return pumps allowing for redundancy.

What do you recommend for internal flow?

I'm in the redundancy camp as well.

With regards to what I recommend, I don't really. Too much personal bias. I do not mean that in disrespect just that our needs and budgets are so different. I was really just trying to put emphasis on the design up front to the best of our ability so we don't band aid it later. Buying more equipment to add to or replace. I've added that cost up and much to my surprise something I balked at due to the cost I ended up spending by adding over time.

I had a difficult time envisioning frag to colony and coral placement. Oddly enough I am working through a upgrade from 210 gallons to 370 now and addressing flow is my primary goal.