Too big of return pump?

[cvrle1]

Currently undergoing planning for all equipment hat I want to get once I start with setting up my 120G tank, and have a question on return pumps.

Tank is 120G with most likely 40B as sump. Plan on having 5X turnaround, so looking at 600GPH. Sump will be below the tank in the cabinet, so I dont have to deal with too much head pressure. I am thinking about 4ft absolute max, and even that's more than it really will be.

Was looking at few different pumps, but not sure if they are overkill:

Jebao
DCP10000
DCP13000
DCQ10000

All of these will give me about 1500GPH, which is clearly a lot. I was thinking about using manifold at some time as well, so I will need a bit more flow for that. I can throttle down the return on the pump via gate valve, but not sure if that is best way of going about it.

With all this in mind, should I be thinking about one of these pumps, or should I get lower powered model like DCP5000, which would give me around 800 GPH.

Thanks

 

[Angrywalnut]

Not overkill. I use a 12000 dialed back to 30 watts with the controller. You will be surprised at how much the head pressure affects these pumps. You will be better off
to oversize IMHO. Figure with head pressure you will get about 1/2 of what the flow chart claims. Your figuring 4ft of head, ad a couple of elbows or 45 and your at 6, barbed fitting ad another 1 or 2 Especially if your plumbing does not stay at the pumps output size.
For example I used 1 1/2 inch pipe with long radius elbows to 1 inch at tank and can barely hit 800 GPH with pump at full power. I also aim for 3-5x turnover.
Currently using the larger pipe at 30 watts, I get 380GPH with another 25 going thru reactor.

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

look into adjustable pumps like vectras that you can dial down via the controller easily. You can get the first generation ones S1,M1,L1 ( S1 being the smallest to L1 being the largest) for a pretty good price for the quality of them.

 

[sstanley223]

I have a DCQ 10000 on my 125g. Running at 45% is the sweet spot for me. I wanted an oversize pump for future add on accessories via manifold

 

[Aardvark1134]

Add about 2ft of head height for turns and plumbing restrictions not just the height. Then look that head height up on the pumps chart to see what the flow is at that head height. Any pump worth having will have a graph showing the output at different head heights. Example graph