Return pump size

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Barraboy21

Barraboy21

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 23, 2017
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Just after a general rule of thumb when it comes to sump return pump sizes. I currently have a 1300gph pump circulating a 320g tank. The sump is roughly 40g. Will this provide adequate turn over for a tank this size? Tank is stocked with 1x10' barra 2x10' cichla monos. At this point tank ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates <10. After any thoughts or advice.

Cheers.
 
Since you asked, I'll also ask: when you say you have a 1,300 gph pump do you mean:

1) the pump is called a 1,300 gph pump;
2) the pump is rated for 1,300 gph at zero feet of head;
3) the pump is rated for 1,300 gph at the head it is currently being used; or,
4) you measured the output and it's 1,300 gph.

If you meant (1) or (2) which is sometimes what people mean, it's likely turning over less, perhaps far less than 1,300 gph. If you meant (3) or (4) your flow is probably at or close to 1,300.
 
Drstrangelove said:
Since you asked, I'll also ask: when you say you have a 1,300 gph pump do you mean:

1) the pump is called a 1,300 gph pump;
2) the pump is rated for 1,300 gph at zero feet of head;
3) the pump is rated for 1,300 gph at the head it is currently being used; or,
4) you measured the output and it's 1,300 gph.

If you meant (1) or (2) which is sometimes what people mean, it's likely turning over less, perhaps far less than 1,300 gph. If you meant (3) or (4) your flow is probably at or close to 1,300.
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Pump is rated 1320gph @ 0 head so it will be less, how much I'm not sure. Sump is handling the current load no issues but would like to increase turn over soon. Was just after a general rule of thumb on what I should be looking at for turn over.
 
Just get two Jebao DCP 8000’s. They will do quite well for your tank. To answer your question about flow rate, you have a 320+40=360gal system. With this size setup, I would aim for six time turnover, which is 2160gph. To get this, you need a pump curve for your intended pump(s) and the estimate your head height to get the actual gph for your setup. Match this actual gph with your target in order to get the turnover you need.

Lastly, make sure the tubing/piping you use to plumb up to the returns is large enough to accommodate the flow without much resistance. For 2160gph flow rate I recommend 1” at a minimum, but 1-1/4” or 1-1/2” would be better.
 
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Fish Tank Travis said:
Just get two Jebao DCP 8000’s. They will do quite well for your tank. To answer your question about flow rate, you have a 320+40=360gal system. With this size setup, I would aim for six time turnover, which is 2160gph. To get this, you need a pump curve for your intended pump(s) and the estimate your head height to get the actual gph for your setup. Match this actual gph with your target in order to get the turnover you need.

Lastly, make sure the tubing/piping you use to plumb up to the returns is large enough to accommodate the flow without much resistance. For 2160gph flow rate I recommend 1” at a minimum, but 1-1/4” or 1-1/2” would be better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice, most helpful so far. I bought this tank from an aquarium store which was closing down and have set it up as they had. Its been a steep learning curve so far..... I checked out the jebao dcp 8000's like you mentioned. Much better head loss then the pump I have at the moment. I am thinking of using a single dcp 8000 in my sump to run a slow trickle tower set up due to the fact my tank is quite deep (1.2metres) and using a fluval fx6 to help circulate and suck up debris in the lower portion of the tank. This will give me around 5-6x turn over an hour. What are your thoughts on doing it this way?
 
Barraboy21 said:
Thanks for your advice, most helpful so far. I bought this tank from an aquarium store which was closing down and have set it up as they had. Its been a steep learning curve so far..... I checked out the jebao dcp 8000's like you mentioned. Much better head loss then the pump I have at the moment. I am thinking of using a single dcp 8000 in my sump to run a slow trickle tower set up due to the fact my tank is quite deep (1.2metres) and using a fluval fx6 to help circulate and suck up debris in the lower portion of the tank. This will give me around 5-6x turn over an hour. What are your thoughts on doing it this way?
Click to expand...

Go with a bit more pump. Skip the fx6 and get a wavemaker or similar to circulate the water. Jebao makes some nice “wave makers”
 
So I did a very rough design of my current sump set up which might help some more. Ive never come across anyone else running a set up like this. So the overflow is a bare pvc stand pipe @ 1 1/2-2' (Will have to measure when I get home) and the return line is 1' vinyl. The return actually runs up through the overflow pipe back up into the tank. So the overflow and return are coming up through the same bottom drilled hole. There is no weir to protect the standpipe so if it goes or leaks its going to be awesome.... I can see the massive potential for disaster with this set up however its a bit late to install a weir as my wife has already set the tank up. My other issue with this set up is if I am to run a huge volume of water through this overflow its going to be incredibly noisy. Has anyone seen a drilled tank set up like this before???

sump set up.png
 
Forgot to the mention that the pipe to the right is just a closer view of the standpipe and return set up.
 
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