what return pump for a 220 gallon???

Gwitness · Mar 27, 2016

I will be starting up a standard 220 gallon mixed reef once I move into my new place and I am just curious of what size pump I need for the tank? The sump will be directly under the tank.....I have 2 overflows, but I want only one return pump....I want an internal pump and as of now I have it down to the ecotech vectra M1 DC pump and the sicce syncra pro 1900 pump....Are these the correct GPH for what I am trying to set up?

Kershaw · Mar 27, 2016

Ou should be looking for 2200 gph and dont forget head pressure. Allot of the dc pumps loose allot of flow with head pressure If it was me. I would do a reflo pump, but it's external. If you want dc go with the l1 not the m1

Gwitness · Mar 27, 2016

Kershaw said:
Ou should be looking for 2200 gph and dont forget head pressure. Allot of the dc pumps loose allot of flow with head pressure If it was me. I would do a reflo pump, but it's external. If you want dc go with the l1 not the m1

I don't necessarily care about having a DC pump ....I just want a pump that is the right size for my tank, quiet, and reliable!! I know reeflo are great but it's inside of our new house and I'm just took nervous to have an external pump haha

Kershaw · Mar 27, 2016

Oh and if you have to much flow ou can build a manifold out of pvc to feed you reactors and what not.

Kershaw · Mar 27, 2016

here are the head pressure for the vectra pumps

Kershaw · Mar 27, 2016

Since they are dc I would go with the l1 and turn it down a bit. At least it's there if you need it. Good luck

Gwitness · Mar 27, 2016

Okay that definitely helps some cause it's only going up about 6-7 feet ....so it's definitely better to go a little above what I need than lower right?

Kershaw · Mar 27, 2016

I think so. I like high flow. I shoot for 10x tank volume.

Gwitness · Mar 27, 2016

Okay thank you! That all makes sense! Appreciate the help!

mfinn · Mar 28, 2016

I happen to like a slower flow.
With a 220 I would go for around 5x the tank volume through the sump.
I use a Vectra M1 as a return pump on my 240 but have it turned up just a bump past half way.
I also use a L1 as the closed loop pump.
IMO the L1 is way too much for just a return pump on a 220.

Gwitness · Mar 28, 2016

mfinn said:
I happen to like a slower flow.
With a 220 I would go for around 5x the tank volume through the sump.
I use a Vectra M1 as a return pump on my 240 but have it turned up just a bump past half way.
I also use a L1 as the closed loop pump.
IMO the L1 is way too much for just a return pump on a 220.

Got it!!!! Thank you!!! So the M1 would be perfect then??

mfinn · Mar 28, 2016

Gwitness said:
Got it!!!! Thank you!!! So the M1 would be perfect then??

I think it will work well for you.
You would be able to dial it down for a slower flow, as I happen to like, or run it higher, as others like. You can make your own choice.
It is a awesome pump that is about as quiet as you can make a pump that will push 2000 gph.

Gwitness · Mar 28, 2016

mfinn said:
I think it will work well for you.
You would be able to dial it down for a slower flow, as I happen to like, or run it higher, as others like. You can make your own choice.
It is a awesome pump that is about as quiet as you can make a pump that will push 2000 gph.

Awesome!!! What is the benefit of running it slow or fast??

mfinn · Mar 28, 2016

Gwitness said:
Awesome!!! What is the benefit of running it slow or fast??

That's a highly contested subject.

I like a slower flow through my sump mainly because it is quieter.
Before I got the M1, I could always use a smaller cheaper pump, that had the possible lower power use.