Vectra Pump selection

[bobyboy]

I'm currently piecing together a 180g display with a 60g remote fuge, attached 60/80 frag tank, 50g sump with roller mat, and a external Skimmer.
Everything will be in a 8x10 room with the largest head pressure spanning from the sump to the returns on the fuge/180(maybe 3-5ft). I'm planning to plumb the returns external if I use 2 and have them run to a manifold that'll feed the system. This is just for water turnover as I have 2 Mp40's for 180 and a Mp10WqD for the frag.

I currently have
- Vectra L1
- 2x Vectra M1

Here's my question.

Is a single L1 sufficient for that setup?

Or would I be better off using the 2 M1 pumps?

Or use the L1 with a single M1?

Any input would be great.

 

[hijinks7]

I prefer 2 pumps in case one dies you'd still have flow to the sump.

 

[bobyboy]

That's what I was thinking, would the 2 M1 pumps be enough?

 

[hijinks7]

So with 2 m1s it lists 2000gph with 0 head. So a standard sump you are looking at maybe 1500gph at 100%. So with two you are looking at 3kgph at 100%. So it really depends on what turnover rate you want to go through your sump.

I generally like to buy a pump oversized and run it at 50%.

 

[watdachuck]

I have a 170 gallon peninsula and I currently run a single L1 Vectra for the return and refugium off a manifold. I only run the pump at 35% its maximum output (~6 times turnover per hour). Outside of the concern over a single return pump failing, I would say you have plenty of flow available with a single L1.

I run an M1 on my LifeReef skimmer and set it to 95%.

 

[Potatohead]

I would use two pumps set up in such a way that if one fails you still have some display tank turnover. L1 would work but is probably overkill in that scenario.