What pump should I get for my sump?

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Matt724

Matt724

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2009
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Los Angeles, CA
I plan on building a DIY sump for my 40 in the near future, but the first thing I want to know is what pump I should get, I was thinking of the Quite One 800 which pumps 220 gallons per hour, that would be turning over my tank ~5x which is pretty much were I want it with a pretty good stock level. But I'm not 100% sure exactly how the water won't overflow with such a high load out. I mean if that much water is being pushed into the tank, how do I get that same amount out at the same exact time. I can't imagine the water falling as quickly from my overflow into my sump, back to the filter at the same rate it is pumped up from the sump into the tank. What i'm trying to say is I don't want to worry about it overflowing. So can anyone explain this to me? and 5x turnover is pretty good right?

All feedback much appreciated :)
 
Just get an overflow that is capable of 600 gallons per hour. It will be fine for your tank.

Also, keep in mind that the quiet one pump will put out a bit lower output that what is stated. At and average head height, you'll probably get about 125-150gph out of it. Which should do the job.
 
the quiet one is a terrible pump. ironically it's very noisey. I would suggest a supreme mag drive
 
dookie;3656095; said:
the quiet one is a terrible pump. ironically it's very noisey. I would suggest a supreme mag drive
Click to expand...


I actually liked my quiet ones. They were really quiet. I'd like to get a couple more.
 
Pharaoh;3656053; said:
Just get an overflow that is capable of 600 gallons per hour. It will be fine for your tank.

Also, keep in mind that the quiet one pump will put out a bit lower output that what is stated. At and average head height, you'll probably get about 125-150gph out of it. Which should do the job.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, so 3x turnover is good enough for some semi-messy CA cichlids? I don't have an oscar or anything, but Im not running a lightly stocked planted tank either. And does anyone have some really good cheap diy sump plans?
 
Since pumps that small are so cheap I would step up a little more to the 1200/ 296gph pump at 25bucks. That way you might get closer to 200gph at the tank. But you are still going to fall short on your target turn over rate after head height.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lifegard-Aquati...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca7df4ac8

You need to take your target turn over number (5) and mutiply the total tank and sump gallonage by that. For example 40g tank + 10g sump X 5 = 250 gph and then add 100-150 gph's for head height restriction. So you need a pump around 350-400gph at zero head to meet your turn over goals. In this example.

If it were my tank i would run the 2200 with out a doubt. I run one on my 50g and it keeps the debris in suspension very well. And keeps the tank fairly clean. I upgraded from the 1200 to the 2200 because of debris settleing in the bottom.

I now run the 1200 on 2 10g's and it works OK for a 20g. Again only my opinion.

The 2200 is about the price of 2 1200's though.
 
if you get an overflow that runs faster then your pump youll never over flow. Also remember that your overflows will only drain as fast as water is pumped to them. So say your overflow is rated for 800gph, but your pump is rated for 300 gph, your only going to flow at 300gph.
 
i have a normal pond pump at 600gals per hour and it is super quiet. it dosent lose much power at 3 feet head two. honestly I'd get a pond pump. you get much more power at much less cost. and yeah buy an overflow that is rated at least 100 gph more than your pump.
 
That pump should never have been put on the market for aquariums. It's max height is barely over four feet. At tank height (about four feet) it is barely a trickle. The QO1200 is the bare minimum for a 40g.

Have a look at the sticky thread about sizing a pump to your tank.
 
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