What pump should I buy for my sump?

[spitz006]

What size return pump should I get for running a sump for a 90 gallon freshwater tank? Not sure about the stock yet so assume something messy. Probably going to be a lot of fish. But just freshwater or light brackish. I don't want something so powerful that I need a chiller or something. Or that will be noisy.

 

[Midwater]

I just ordered a pump for the sump for my medium tank, which is 540 litres, which I think is only a little larger than your tank. I have ordered an eheim 3000.

Better to get something a little over powered rather than under powered.

I have also found that there a re a lot of cheap pumps, that give you great flow, but do not last particularly.

 

[fishdance]

If you will be deliberately overstocking the tank, make sure you buy a spare back up pump ready. Or use a two pump system for redundancy. Or independent air at a minimum. Do consider back up power as well.

Grundfos in line circulation pumps or any commercial grade pumps (not pet - aquarium brands). External pumps put less heat into your water.

 

[Backfromthedead]

I would get something rated around 2000 gph at 0' head. In this size I've had good results with:

Fluval sp4
Current usa eflux 1900
Jebao dcp-10000

 

[duanes]

The size pump (flow rate) really depends on what fish you want to stock.
If you want swamp fish, or placid water fish like discus, or Bettas you can get away with lower flows, less GPH.
If you want fish that come from streams, or riffles that require a higher oxygen content, and prefer moving water, such as Geophagines, Tomoichla, African Tiger fish, or other riverine species, you want a pump with plenty of power, and lots of flow, plenty of GPH.
Or in a similar case you can supplement the sumps pump with power heads.
On my riverine cichlid system of a 180 gal with sump, I use a 1500 GPH pump in the sump, but add a power head in the main tank to create strong riverine movement along the length of the tank.

 

[spitz006]

The size pump (flow rate) really depends on what fish you want to stock.
If you want swamp fish, or placid water fish like discus, or Bettas you can get away with lower flows, less GPH.
If you want fish that come from streams, or riffles that require a higher oxygen content, and prefer moving water, such as Geophagines, Tomoichla, African Tiger fish, or other riverine species, you want a pump with plenty of power, and lots of flow, plenty of GPH.
Or in a similar case you can supplement the sumps pump with power heads.
On my riverine cichlid system of a 180 gal with sump, I use a 1500 GPH pump in the sump, but add a power head in the main tank to create strong riverine movement along the length of the tank.

Thanks, I haven't decided the stock yet. I'm undecided between an overstocked peacock tank or just having a couple big fish like a datnioid and a big gudgeon or something. Either way, gonna need high filtration. But I don't want something noisy or too expensive.

 

[Uglyknob]

Too expensive might kick these out.

I use a Varios 8 for the sump and I use a Varios 6 for my water changes - so it acts as a backup just in case, cause the controller will connect to both.

A variable pump like that would give you some flexibility. Also, they are dead silent unless they get really gummed up.