Possibly dumb question about return pump sizing

[Ayrity]

I am adding essentially another sump or large separate refugium to my system. It will overflow into my sump I have now, and return to the tank. In doing so, i am adding about 28 more gallons to my system which is a 65g dt and 20g sump. So I'm going from roughly 70g of volume to 100g. I'm currently using a sicce 3.0 pump. Do I need to upgrade that because of the increased volume of water for turnover rates or anything?

 

[Quietman]

Not directly...the only reason you need another pump is if you want to increase flow rate. Usually refugiums have very low flow rates. But if you find that the flow isn't sufficient in tank or fuge, then sure upgrade. But you don't need to just because of added volume.

 

[DangerDave]

It's only a dumb question if you don't ask. You only need a bigger pump if you want a higher turnover rate.

 

[Ayrity]

Not directly...the only reason you need another pump is if you want to increase flow rate. Usually refugiums have very low flow rates. But if you find that the flow isn't sufficient in tank or fuge, then sure upgrade. But you don't need to just because of added volume.

Makes sense. It's not actually a fuge, it's for increased water volume and a place to install a clarisea. But just so I didnt have to get into it. Isnt turnover flow based on total volume? Or is it based off dt volume only? I guess that's my real question.

 

[Ayrity]

It's only a dumb question if you don't ask. You only need a bigger pump if you want a higher turnover rate.

I agree! See my reply above this one for my real question if you dont mind...

 

[Quietman]

Makes sense. It's not actually a fuge, it's for increased water volume and a place to install a clarisea. But just so I didnt have to get into it. Isnt turnover flow based on total volume? Or is it based off dt volume only? I guess that's my real question.

Usually it's based on DT only. However, don't get too wrapped in any hard and fast numbers.

 

[DangerDave]

There is no one right way to do this. I can give you an example of how my system works. I want to have some dwell time in my 65g sump to allow water to have access to the skimmer, marine pure, and the oxydator. This is complicated by the multiple tanks I have draining into it. I have 4 tanks and a secondary sump. I turnover my display (160G) 4x an hour. This drains out of the display, through the 40G secondary sump, into the main sump. I have a small 20g frag tank that I turn over 5x an hour, that also passes through the secondary sump. I have two 50G frag tanks I turn over 2.5x an hour each. These drain directly into my sump.

 

[mfinn]

No need to go with a bigger pump.

 

[Ayrity]

There is no one right way to do this. I can give you an example of how my system works. I want to have some dwell time in my 65g sump to allow water to have access to the skimmer, marine pure, and the oxydator. This is complicated by the multiple tanks I have draining into it. I have 4 tanks and a secondary sump. I turnover my display (160G) 4x an hour. This drains out of the display, through the 40G secondary sump, into the main sump. I have a small 20g frag tank that I turn over 5x an hour, that also passes through the secondary sump. I have two 50G frag tanks I turn over 2.5x an hour each. These drain directly into my sump.

Wow. Is your secondary sump just for water volume?

 

[DangerDave]

Wow. Is your secondary sump just for water volume?

It's there because I added the big sump later.

 

[Ayrity]

It's there because I added the big sump later.

Ah ok. Was it just easier to add it rather than replace? Sorry if I'm asking too much, just curious about other people who did things similar to what I'm doing now

 

[DangerDave]

Ah ok. Was it just easier to add it rather than replace? Sorry if I'm asking too much, just curious about other people who did things similar to what I'm doing now

No sweat, I love talking about it, that’s why we’re here. it just worked out to be a functional way to add the larger sump with minimal plumbing required.