Return pump ?

[Shaun Mack]

Hi,

I'm setting up a 75 gallon reef ready tank. I have a Reef Octopus NWB 150
Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer it has an output of approx. 530 gph.

Should my return pump match the output of the skimmer ?

 

[ColaAddict]

Your return pump doesn't have to match your skimmer pump. The usual rule of thumb for return pumps is 10x your total volume of water, so every hour you are turning your water over 10 times, for aerating and filtering, alot of people go under that, but see how your tank does. So for example, you'll need a pump rated at 750gal/hr, depending on how high your tank is, you might need a stronger pump, because the flow rate decreases with height.

 

[Shaun Mack]

Thanks..

The tank is 21 inches high. So I should go with a 750 gph return pump?

 

[snowboard]

If I were you try to get the highest gph that your overflow can handle. The higher the turnover rate the better. But if you are shooting for around 10x you might want it a little higher than 750, just because it will lose power even at 1ft off the ground

 

[Shaun Mack]

thanks

 

[Shaun Mack]

Do you guys have any suggestion on brands of pumps ?

 

[MMreef]

Go with Eheim 1260 or 1262,they are not cheap but will last you forever and they don't have start up issues like some other models.

 

[Shaun Mack]

Thanks..the Eheim 1262 looks like a great pump. thanks again

 

[MMreef]

I am using 1262 on my 120 gal.with no problems at all,you will not be disappointed.