Return pump or power heads?

[solereef50]

Which is more important? I'm thinking I want to upgrade one or the other or both. I have a 50 gal (24" x 24" x 20") a no name 500 gph return pump came with it, I doubt it does 500 gph. I am thinking of replacing it with a Sicce 4.0. I also have (2) Koralia nano 425 gph power heads with a smart wave controller. I love the movement the controllable Tunze power heads produce. I've tried moving mine around to achieve that but failed. Maybe I'm being picky...
What do you guys think?

 

[KorL]

I would upgrade the power heads. I recommend either tunze of ecotech. Or if on a budget jebeo's. You'll notice a big difference in water movement in the display. I'm sure of it.

 

[Jimbo662]

+1 on the powerheads first...good flow in the tank is higher on the priority.

 

[rjcranor]

I would definitely go with the Jebao I have a 50 gallon breeder and have a wp25 in mine works great.

 

[mfinn]

I would get Tunzes powerheads. I have them with a controller on both my tanks.

 

[evan.lundberg4]

I would also do the power heads first. Depends on how much money you want to spend but I can tell you the Vortecs are really nice. I personally don't think you need a big massive return pump. On the flip side though there are done really nice efficient return pumps available now which would be a nice upgrade in the future.

 

[YodaHart]

I would do 2 jebao wp-10 powerheads. The 25's will be too much for. 2' tank.

 

[Tylermacdonald15]

Get a new power head. I prefer slower flow through the sump so your 500gph is probably fine. I use ecotech vortechs, there amazing. I would get 1 mp40 or two mp10. I would probably get two mp10 to create more random flow than one mp40 could do

 

[PatW]

You really do not need that much flow through your sump. You just need enough turnover for efficient skimming and for heaters to work. You should have enough.

Like everyone else, I think you will see more improvement with better power heads.

 

[AZDesertRat]

What is the wattage of your return pump? Some are not very efficient so draw more power than others 24/7/365 and also create heat due the inefficiency.

Your present powerheads are very efficient and probably only consume 3 to 4 watts or power so myself I would look an an efficient return pump and pocket the electrical savings and apply that to better Jebao powerheads down the road.

 

[TJ's Reef]

I'm going to go the other direction here because: If one of the PH's were to fail not much of a negative effect and would have the luxury of time to get a replacement. On the other hand if the Return Pump were to fail this could be a whole other story with a 'not so happy ending' so really depends on ones priority and faith/trust of a primary piece of equipment. So my suggestion would be to replace the return first with a quality pump like Eheim then take a look at a pair of Jebao WP-10's for DT flow. Personally I think as far as aesthetics go two directional output WP-10's on back wall or back corners directed where you need/want would be less of an eye sore than having to two bulky dry side's sticking out on either end of the DT..... and then of course their noise issues.

Cheers, Todd

 

[solereef50]

Well I decided to go with a Tunze 6055 and controller. I think I will upgrade my return pump next moth and keep the current one as a back up.

Thanks for all your guys' input.

 

[mfinn]

Well I decided to go with a Tunze 6055 and controller. I think I will upgrade my return pump next moth and keep the current one as a back up.

Thanks for all your guys' input.

I think you are going to like that choice.
I have a pair of the 6055's on a 7095 controller on my 50.