We have a 300g Marineland (two returns/overflows in the corners). When we bought it, we let the lfs select all the equipment, but now I am wondering if the pumps are strong enough. He hooked us up with 2 Sicce Syncra 4.0's and an Eshopps W/D sump. Last weekend we had an issue with one of our bulkheads and had to run a single pump for about 24 hours. It got me thinking, we need a back up pump because we have 3 tanks with sumps (the other two are saltwater) and the price of the 5.0 versus the 4.0 is about the same. 1) are two 4.0's sufficient filtration for a 300g; and 2) what would happen if we replaced just one of the 4.0's with a 5.0? We have a fairly heavy bioload in the tank (SA cichlids, ghost knife and clown loaches)
Proper Pump Size
- Thread starter LT Connell
- Start date
It should be fine to get a different model. Do you currently use ball valves to control your return? Another option would be to start switching over to DC pumps. This will allow you to have even more control return flow. Pump return flow is only one part of the equation. Your weir and overflow pipes need to be large enough drain. What is the gph for those pumps and what's your estimated head pressure. How much turnover are you looking to get?
You will want to know this to answer your question about the pumps.
I believe most aquarists vastly underrate the amount of flow most riverine fish can handle.
Above is the type flow maintained on my 180 gal, and the cichlids are un-phased.
Of course if your cichlids are angels or discus, or dwarfs like rams that live in shallow back waters, this may be too much, but for most, this is fairly wimpy.
I also agree a pump that produces and more, but I can throttle back with a ball valve is preferable.
Certain plants do well even when bending with the flow.