Return pump size for 125 gallon
- Thread starter Sadrobots
- Start date
The nice thing about dc pumps these days is you can oversize them and then limit the flow to dial it in. What kind of water turn over are you looking for? I bought 2 of these Amazon.com : Jebao DCP-8000 DCP Sine Wave Water Return Pump : Pet Supplies for my 300G and only run them at about 40W each as that is all my returns can manage.
If you plan on using a UV sterilizer on the output flow of the sump you may want to figure out which UV sterilizer to use and the degree of sterilization you're looking for which will in turn help determine hose sizing which in turn will help establish flow rate which will in turn help you sort out pump choices.
If you haven't spent much time sizing pumps before note that you can always throttle exit flow rates but you can not throttle input flow rates... and necking down the size of the outlet nozzle normally doesn't effect flow volume but it will speed up flow rate at the nozzle.
The other option would be to build your sump and then pump back into the tank w/ your current canister. Fill the canister w/ pool balls and you'll have a pump and a polisher and you won't have had to size or pay for any of it. If you go that route don't forget that pumps pump but they don't suck... so you'll want to locate the canister at, close to or below the water level of the sump. If you mount it above the sump the canister will struggle to pull water up from the sump and may not do it at all.
And yeah, pool balls are amazing and when they get dirty you can just toss 'em in the wash machine on rinse cycle.
If you haven't spent much time sizing pumps before note that you can always throttle exit flow rates but you can not throttle input flow rates... and necking down the size of the outlet nozzle normally doesn't effect flow volume but it will speed up flow rate at the nozzle.
The other option would be to build your sump and then pump back into the tank w/ your current canister. Fill the canister w/ pool balls and you'll have a pump and a polisher and you won't have had to size or pay for any of it. If you go that route don't forget that pumps pump but they don't suck... so you'll want to locate the canister at, close to or below the water level of the sump. If you mount it above the sump the canister will struggle to pull water up from the sump and may not do it at all.
And yeah, pool balls are amazing and when they get dirty you can just toss 'em in the wash machine on rinse cycle.
To me, more important than tank size, are the type fish you are going to keep for how you size a pump.
If you are going to keep riverine fish that like a bit more flow than some, such Geophagus cichlid, Roseline or other stream dwelling barbs, or high flow African Tiger fish, a more powerful pump may be needed. You may want a flow of at least 1500 GPH.
If you are going to keep ox-bow placid water fish, like Angelfish, oscars, Arowana's, some gouramis and/or even less flow for swamp fish like bettas. A 500 GPH pump may be adequate.
But I prefer always getting a stronger pump than usual, then either throttling it back with ball or gate valves, or splitting up the outflows with a manifold.
You can use a Tee to run a valved off slow flow thru a UV (to enhance detention time) one one line, while at the same time having a high flow thru another line, or two. for adding a venturi tube to promote oxygenation for riffles type fish.
I use a 1500 GPH pump in the sump for a 180 gal, and run a manifold to spread flow throughout the width of the tank, and running a strong flow along the length of the tank for riverine cichlids.
Some plants even prefer different (stronger, or lessor) flow types
The tank above is for riverine cichlids Cribroheros rostrum, and Vallisnera plants. As you can see the plants bend with flow.
Below video of flow from a 1500 GPH Sicce pump, for moderate flow riverine fish, like largish tetras, medium size cichlids, and gobies.
. Flow
Below a strong flow line with a venturi tube , to add extra oxygenation
If you are going to keep riverine fish that like a bit more flow than some, such Geophagus cichlid, Roseline or other stream dwelling barbs, or high flow African Tiger fish, a more powerful pump may be needed. You may want a flow of at least 1500 GPH.
If you are going to keep ox-bow placid water fish, like Angelfish, oscars, Arowana's, some gouramis and/or even less flow for swamp fish like bettas. A 500 GPH pump may be adequate.
But I prefer always getting a stronger pump than usual, then either throttling it back with ball or gate valves, or splitting up the outflows with a manifold.
You can use a Tee to run a valved off slow flow thru a UV (to enhance detention time) one one line, while at the same time having a high flow thru another line, or two. for adding a venturi tube to promote oxygenation for riffles type fish.
I use a 1500 GPH pump in the sump for a 180 gal, and run a manifold to spread flow throughout the width of the tank, and running a strong flow along the length of the tank for riverine cichlids.
Some plants even prefer different (stronger, or lessor) flow types
The tank above is for riverine cichlids Cribroheros rostrum, and Vallisnera plants. As you can see the plants bend with flow.
Below video of flow from a 1500 GPH Sicce pump, for moderate flow riverine fish, like largish tetras, medium size cichlids, and gobies.
. Flow
Below a strong flow line with a venturi tube , to add extra oxygenation
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