Help me choose the right sized sump return pump.

EyeInMi · Mar 31, 2013

Hello everyone. I'm setting up a 92 gallon corner tank. I have a proflex 3 sump. a CPR siphon overflow that is rated at 600 GPh flow rate. I'm trying to decide if the pump I have ( a rio 2100) will work or if I need a larger pump. The pump will be in the sump and will have a pump height of 4.5-5.5 feet. The Rio 2100 is a 692 gph rating but at a 4 ft height it is only 375 gph.
I know I need to match the return pump gph to the 600 gph rating on the overflow but do I use the pump rating at 0 ft height or at 4-5ft height?
Or should I buy a stronger pump like the quiet one pro 3000 that has at max 819 gph and 650 gph at 5' height with the ability to adjust it down?
Any thoughts and recommendations are appreciated.

Thanks guys

Planedoc · Mar 31, 2013

You want to stay under the rating of your overflow or your tank will... Overflow. You should be looking to pump 400 to 600 gph. That overflow is borderline to small for your tank. Your best going with the quiteone and throttling it back. You will have reserve capacity for running reactors.

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Eric B · Mar 31, 2013

Yes what Planedoc said stay under the 600 gph and I always use a slightly larger pump and place a ball valve in line to throttle to where I want the flow.

Reefing Madness · Mar 31, 2013

Its easier to compensate for a higher flow return pump. You T off the return line, one going back to the sump with a ball valve, using this to fine tune your return. You can always come close, but under, and your overflow will still work well, it will just be waiting on water, depending on how close you get. I'd go with the larger pump and T off, makes life easier, especially when you have to buy a new pump, and your old one isn't available or you want a different one later on down the road.
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

sucker_fish · Mar 31, 2013

Like said above, i would go with a bit of a larger pump and use a ball valve to control flow into the main tank, a lot of people like the eheim 1260 return pumps and the water blaster pumps from coral vue / reef octopus are good as well. Just my opinion though..