Pump size for sump

[jhook]

Ok, after reading the sticky on how to size a sump pump, I think I have the correct size pump in mind. I will have a total volume in the aquarium of 303 gallons and want a turnover of 5 times per hour. At zero head height that would mean 1515.6 gph. The top of my tank will be at 5' and the sump will be on the floor. If I am correct in my thinking (and I most likely am not), then a 2400 gph pump should suffice.

Please correct me if I am wrong, and any suggestions on pumps and plumbing size is appreciated.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

You want flow similar to mine, with a similar head height.

I run two Jebao DCP 8000's at about 55-60% (only about 70 total watts) to get about 1600gph through my tank. I would recommend the same for you.

 

[Drstrangelove]

The top of my tank will be at 5' and the sump will be on the floor. If I am correct in my thinking (and I most likely am not), then a 2400 gph pump should suffice.

Please correct me if I am wrong, and any suggestions on pumps and plumbing size is appreciated.

Just gonna toss this out.

Assuming specs are accurate, pumps are not all alike at producing gph at varying amounts of head. One '2400' gph pump might produce much less gph at 5 feet of head than another. The only thing that is certain is that both will produce 2,400 at zero head.

You'll want to find the specs at 5 feet of head which in many (most) cases are located in advertisements, company brochures, instruction guides (pdfs) etc. Tedious but well worth it.

Here's an example of what I mean below:



Although the W40HDX is a 1,200 gph pump, it can't pump past 12.5 feet of head, while the W30HD 600 gph can easily reach 16 feet.

 

[JK47]

do you need an internal (submerged) or external pump?

 

[jhook]

do you need an internal (submerged) or external pump?

I'm looking at keeping it internal simply because I have never messed around with external before and do not want to potentially have the seals blowing out and spraying out of the sump.

 

[JK47]

I'm looking at keeping it internal simply because I have never messed around with external before and do not want to potentially have the seals blowing out and spraying out of the sump.

OK, great. Another option to look into is Laguna pumps. The 2900 model is an excellent pump for the price and power consumption. I use multiple of these pumps and have no negative feedback.

 

[jhook]

Ok, so I'll take a look at the jebao and laguna line of pumps. Any recommendations on plumbing size, or should 1/2" pipes be enough?

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Ok, so I'll take a look at the jebao and laguna line of pumps. Any recommendations on plumbing size, or should 1/2" pipes be enough?

My two returns are both 3/4", but I use 1" vinyl tubing to go from the pump up to the return bulkhead. I would recommend at least 3/4", but I think 1" will still be better.

If you get the Jebao, you will still have the ability to turn it up more, if you decide you want more flow. Also, they are very silent.

 

[jhook]

You want flow similar to mine, with a similar head height.

I run two Jebao DCP 8000's at about 55-60% (only about 70 total watts) to get about 1600gph through my tank. I would recommend the same for you.

How do you use both of them as returns? Two separate return lines?

 

[jhook]

And, you just answered my question on the returns as I was typing