Return pump?

S.O.MLemos · Sep 8, 2017

So I'm getting close to finishing my tank build and I'm ready to order the return pump but I'm just not sure what the perfect flow rate would be. It's a 55 gallon with a 20 gallon refugium and will be stocked as a peaceful reef tank loaded with coral so I was thinking somewhere around 500-700 gph. The overflow is built to handle over 1000. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated. Want to order it this weekend. Pictures are a couple weeks old so the plumbing and refugium isn't quite finished in them but it is now.

Big G · Sep 8, 2017

Reef Octopus varios 2. Plenty of power. I use one on my 90 gallon to push up from my sump. Very quiet. Zero vibration. Customer service and parts if you need it unlike some pumps that are around. Cheers!

sbash · Sep 8, 2017

Sounds like you are on the right track, what pumps are you looking at currently?

S.O.MLemos · Sep 8, 2017

sbash said:
Sounds like you are on the right track, what pumps are you looking at currently?

Well I was thinking of just starting with a cheap jebao adjustable flow and then use it for a back up down the road once I order a better one. I do like the reef octopus ones since it's the same brand as my protein skimmer and media reactor but they are just so dang expensive

Big G · Sep 9, 2017

Yeah, I started my 90 with a Jebao DCt-4000. Pushed a bunch of water. I mean really powerful. But it made a real annoying whine at every power level. So, I moved it out into the garage and use it on my mixing station and as a backup if necessary. I know what you mean. I hated to part with the cash, but it was the best move I've made on my tank. I understand the newer model from Jebao is much improved. But the price has gone up. Cheers!

Xclusive Reef · Sep 9, 2017

Looks really nice clean setup but i see you only have one drain? what is for some reason it gets clogged? you have no back, u will have water all over your floors. just something to think about. As far as return I would look into the reef octopus Varios 6.

S.O.MLemos · Sep 9, 2017

Xclusive Reef said:
Looks really nice clean setup but i see you only have one drain? what is for some reason it gets clogged? you have no back, u will have water all over your floors. just something to think about. As far as return I would look into the reef octopus Varios 6.

I highly doubt my drain will ever get clogged since it has an overflow box with lid and a strainer on intake but if it ever does my refugium is built to where the return pump compartment would run out of water before my tank overflowed(which is why I want a return pump with automatic shut off feature). Good lookin out though. I'll post updated pictures soon....as far as the various 6, it's only a 55 gallon lol not sure I want a tidal wave tank haha

mfinn · Sep 9, 2017

For a 55 gallon tank I would look for a pump that would give you 275 gph to 350 gph after head loss.
If you are looking at the RO VarioS pumps, I'd suggest the #2 or #4.

jimsreef17 · Sep 9, 2017

Looks like a nice build. I like how you hid the piping behind the white trim. Will you need to access those ball valves though? Following your build.

S.O.MLemos · Sep 9, 2017

jimsreef17 said:
Looks like a nice build. I like how you hid the piping behind the white trim. Will you need to access those ball valves though? Following your build.

Even though floor slides work wonders I thought of that afterwards and I'll be customizing the back trim to be quickly removable before I fill it. I'm learning things as I'm going, spent Labor Day under my house reinforcing the floor just to be safe. Might have gone a little overkill but it's better than a disaster

jimsreef17 · Sep 9, 2017

S.O.MLemos said:
Even though floor slides work wonders I thought of that afterwards and I'll be customizing the back trim to be quickly removable before I fill it. I'm learning things as I'm going, spent Labor Day under my house reinforcing the floor just to be safe. Might have gone a little overkill but it's better than a disaster

I've been thinking the same think about beefing up my floor joists in the basement under the tank. But I am putting it against a wall that has a carrying beam under. Kind of torn there.

S.O.MLemos · Sep 9, 2017

jimsreef17 said:
I've been thinking the same think about beefing up my floor joists in the basement under the tank. But I am putting it against a wall that has a carrying beam under. Kind of torn there.

Yeah everything I build I tend to overkill and my dad used to make fun of me for it and say "we don't get tornadoes around here" but nothing I've ever built has fallen apart or failed

Idoc · Sep 9, 2017

I have a Varios6 in my 75g...i think it is a little big, but it can be dialed down. I have 5ft head pressure with it rated at around 750gph at that level. I wanted a varios4 but they were sold out at BRS. This pump is dead quiet, though! Look on the Varios website... good graphs showing the gph at different head heights.

jimmyzhou · Sep 9, 2017

S1. Or m1 by ecotech

S.O.MLemos · Sep 17, 2017

jimmyzhou said:
S1. Or m1 by ecotech

As soon as I hit the lottery I'll go all ecotech equipment lol

jimmyzhou · Sep 17, 2017

S.O.MLemos said:
As soon as I hit the lottery I'll go all ecotech equipment lol

S1 is 200 some thin. Return pump and skimmer is heart of tank don't be cheap on those thin man. Other stuff can be cheap is fine

S.O.MLemos · Sep 28, 2017

Finally arrived!

Big G · Sep 28, 2017

S.O.MLemos said:
Finally arrived!

If you put a silicone hot kitchen pad underneath your pump in the sump, and use a short section of soft silicone tubing coming out of the top of the pump to connect to your pvc return line, you will have an absolutely quiet pump with zero vibration. Here's the soft silicone link: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/white-soft-silicone-tubing-sold-by-the-foot.html
Cheers! Enjoy your build!

S.O.MLemos · Sep 28, 2017

Big G said:
If you put a silicone hot kitchen pad underneath your pump in the sump, and use a short section of soft silicone tubing coming out of the top of the pump to connect to your pvc return line, you will have an absolutely quiet pump with zero vibration. Here's the soft silicone link: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/white-soft-silicone-tubing-sold-by-the-foot.html
Cheers! Enjoy your build!

You think a short piece of flexible pvc will have the same effect? Cause I have lots of it and it works with the pvc fittings and cement.

sbash · Sep 28, 2017

S.O.MLemos said:
You think a short piece of flexible pvc will have the same effect? Cause I have lots of it and it works with the pvc fittings and cement.

Not in my experience, I tried this same thing a long while back and it did not really help. It was better than sitting on the glass, but barely. Now, I put sand in a (zip lock) freezer bag under the pump and it works wonders...