Return Pump--how powerful

[Susan Edwards]

So I've got a 125 with dual mega overflows. Each drain is around 600 gph per the website. I'll have 1 pump, returning water to each overflow. That means I need a minimum of 1200 plus whatever head I lose in pmping upward (no more than 4-5 feet at most) and whatever tee's and elbows. Plus some extra for a manifold.

Looking at the jebao DCP's. Seems like 8-10000 should be good? Is it better to go higher? They are controllable.

 

[hijinks7]

I like to go as high as your space/budget lets you. The pump will last longer running at a lower power but it's also dead quiet running a DC pump at low power.

 

[mfinn]

If you get a DC pump it's not a bad idea to get a little bigger one, and let it run at a slower than maximum speed. IMO

 

[mfinn]

Maxing out the overflow is a really bad idea.

 

[Brew12]

So I've got a 125 with dual mega overflows. Each drain is around 600 gph per the website.

With a 125g tank I would want to max out around 5x flow or 625gph total. Because of head loss you need to refer to a pump curve to see what the flow would be for a given pump. If you get a DC pump you are likely looking for one with a max of around 1000gph.

Maxing out the overflow is a really bad idea.

+1 on this. That 600gph is the max rating when operated as a Durso, not the recommended rating.

 

[Susan Edwards]

@Brew12 so is it 600 gph or 1200 (600 x's 2) I was looking at the jebao dcp 8000 which is max 2110, so that should take care of the max 1200 from 2 overflows plus the head, a T and a few elbows and manifold with 3 balls. And run it lower? Or should I go one size larger, the dcp 10000 at max 2640. Next size up is too big as I need to fit into 6x8 space.

https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-Sine-W...17247470&sr=8-1&keywords=jebao+dcp+10000&th=1

 

[mfinn]

You don't want to push 1200gph through a overflow that's only rated a max of 1200gph.
For a 125 gallon tank, 5x to 6x the tank volume is plenty.

 

[mtraylor]

I would go big no matter what kind of pump you get. Go external as well. Less heat transfer. I would get a dart or a nice DC pump that will run your tank and manifolds with one pump.

 

[lbacha]

Something to think about if you go with an oversized D.C. Pump is make sure the brand you get defaults to the same speed in a power outage. If it comes back on at max and your overflows can't handle it you will get wet

 

[Brew12]

@Brew12 so is it 600 gph or 1200 (600 x's 2) I was looking at the jebao dcp 8000 which is max 2110, so that should take care of the max 1200 from 2 overflows plus the head, a T and a few elbows and manifold with 3 balls. And run it lower? Or should I go one size larger, the dcp 10000 at max 2640. Next size up is too big as I need to fit into 6x8 space.

https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-Sine-Water-Return-DCP-5000/dp/B01MQQZC67/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517247470&sr=8-1&keywords=jebao+dcp+10000&th=1

It is 600gph per overflow so 1200gph would be the absolute max but I recommend much less.