Return pump and plumbing questions

Steve Maxwell · Nov 6, 2015

Hello,

I have a 75G that I'm going to be setting up. So far the equipment I have is an eshopps R-200 sump/refugium (3rd generation), a Synergy Reef Overflow (16"), and a reef octopus Classic 150SS protein skimmer. The overflow has 3 - 1" bulkheads...2 will be plumbed into the 2 - 1" bulkheads in the sump/refugium and the other I'll run as an emergency line to the equipment compartment of the sump/refugium. So seeing as I'll have 2 - 1" lines draining into the sump/refugium that will put my gph at approx. 1,200, correct? Now here are the rest of the questions:
1) assuming my pluming will cause approx a 600 gph flow loss, I need to find a pump that will put out roughly 1,800 correct?
2) any recommendations on a very quiet return pump (aquarium will be right next to TV in living room)
3) I'm having the tank drilled for the overflow, should I have it drilled for the return line as well or should I just purchase a U return pipe? What are the benefits of each?
4) Should I split the return line into 2? I'm planning on an overall flow of at least 1500 gph in the DT so I cold also use some more powerheads to make up the difference (might want to go more than 1500 gph)
5) The owner of my LFS suggested that I might want to run the return plumbing through 3/4" plumbing instead of 1"...opinions?

Thanks in advance for the help!!!!!

Baaron530 · Nov 6, 2015

First it sounds like an amazing setup in the works. If you running a bean animal style drain it will flow amazing amounts of water my last tank setup that way would flow well over 2000gph, I don't think you need it but it will handle it and that will be almost silent. As for returns I would drill the tank for them it makes the look so much cleaner and I would run 2 it's easier to plug a return than drill one later if both are not needed and I would use 3/4 returns also. For the return pump I would go with a DC pump, they are super efficient, quite and less heat

Steve Maxwell · Nov 6, 2015

Whoops...I forgot. I want to use the refug to grow pods and throw some miracle mud and/or cheato back there. Is that going to be too much flow in the refug for pods?

mfinn · Nov 7, 2015

If I understand your return pump/drain plans correctly, you plan on using the maximum amount of drain capacity.
I would dial that back a little to at least 3/4 of capacity.
Any little blockage in either drain will cause problems.

In fact I like a slower flow through the sump on my tanks.
If it were me I wouldn't go more than 500 gph on a 75.

Stick with one return line. Keep things as simple as possible.

I like a single hole drilled up in one of the corners for a return line bulkhead. I would make the return line all 3/4" and use a loc-line nozzle in the inside. Loc-line doesn't come in anything bigger than 3/4".
Keeps it a little cleaner looking instead of plumbing over the top.

mfinn · Nov 7, 2015

Steve Maxwell said:
Whoops...I forgot. I want to use the refug to grow pods and throw some miracle mud and/or cheato back there. Is that going to be too much flow in the refug for pods?

Pods will handle a ton of flow. I added a small tunze powerhead in my refugium. Makes the chaeto grow better.