Low water flow

[mathewkofalk]

I went ahead and bought a dc return pump that has variable speeds. What I am wanting to try is low flow threw return but high flow with wavemakers. My question to all of you is how low could i run the return before I would start having issues, also any imput from others that have experimented with this could give me some pointers.

 

[ReefCheif]

This is what Im doing on my 75 as well. I currently have the big return hooked up to help the water cycle faster and such, but i plan on going to the smaller return once I get my WP25s. Needless to say Im folling along and look forward to hearing some input here.

 

[Off The Deep End]

Don't quote me on this but if my memory is correct you want it to cycle your tank 10 times per hour so 75g tank would need 750gph. It also depends on what types of coral you have in your tank, SPS dominant requires more flow than a softie tank. HTH

 

[Off The Deep End]

Hopefully someone that hasn't been out of the hobby for a year will chime in and correct me if im wrong

 

[Off The Deep End]

Sorry for the triple post

To answer your question, when you drop your return flow down all you are doing is increasing contact time(rock, cheato, mangroves, skimmer) in your sump so if you are getting nuisance algae you might slow it down to increase nutrient removal but you will still want adequate flow in your tank so add your wave makers or powerheads. hth

 

[mathewkofalk]

yeah for sure but i will be splitting a pump rated at over 3100 gph and i have one 75 gallon 2 2 foot by 2 foot tanks and a 3 foot by 4 foot tank all plumbed together with a calcium reactor and prob will run carbon and gfo off it too just seeing how low till it actually becomes a problem in any of my tanks. From reading I have done I see people do 75 gallons with a mag 3. I think the ten times rule is being challenged to allow more filtration time. Mind you my sump is a 100 gallon Rubermaid so i will have loads of rock and algae and such also my G4 X. but from what i see I have achieved half the flow with pump at 4 bars out of 6 so I think i could add some equipment still but flow will be closer to 4 or 5 times turn over not 10.

 

[Off The Deep End]

Now you are talking flow from your return pump and not overall flow in your tanks, if you add wavemakers or powerheads to your tanks you will then be able to create a higher turn over(10x, 8x, 5x) in the tank even though your return turnover rate is only 4x to 5x without having to worry about getting a bigger pump. in my opinion I think this would work for you and give you a better filter quality through your sump. hth

 

[jda123]

I roll about 4-5x through my sump.