New 40 drilled 40 breeder questions...

[darksideretired]

Hello all,

 

Just picked up a drilled 40 breeder with a custom stand and 20 gal sump. Thought I had a mag 5 (ish) pump still left, but it turns out it is a mag 3 (350gph). I am planning mostly zoas and softies, maybe some sps eventually. Thinking this is not enough pump. What do you guys think? Less pump with power heads or more pump, less powerhead? I am thinking a 500 - 600 gph, which will probably be more like 400 - 450 by the time you figure in loss from pumping up 4ft or so from sump. Let me know what you guys think, first time doing a drilled breeder, very excited for sure.

[darksideretired]

Man, tough crowd here... Anyone have a suggestion on return pump? I was thinking around 500gph as it will mostly be softies and polyps and I will run power heads / wavemaker for added flow in the aquarium itself.

[tetraodon]

take a look at the sicce 2.5-3.0 good pumps, im using a 2.0 for my 30 breeder return line.

[jtwisconsin]

I am running the Scicce 3.0 (714 gph) for my return combined with a 700 gph overflow kit from glass holes. I chose this after reading several other build threads and seeing what others picked for a return pump. The pump is very quiet and I have been very happy with it so far.

 

I am also running two Jebao WP10 powerheads using a Jebao dual controller.

[tetraodon]

Hey jt sounds like my set up, except im using the 2.0

[GHill762]

I've never had a sicce but I'm using a mag5 as a return, and I have a mag7 sitting on the shelf that I used for a few months. both are noisy and never seem to quiet down.

[jtwisconsin]

I have a Mag2 that I use for a mixing pump and to move water during water changes, and it is much louder than the larger Sicce in my sump.

[Nickbruh510]

Expensive?= quieter

 

Economical= louder

 

Keep what you have just make sure you throw some sand in a ziploc and throw the mag on top of it so the vibrations don't rattle the sump or upgrade to the mag 7. Really sdepends what you want to do but def throw two wave makers with whatever you do:), if you keep your pump and use it more money for corals!

[darksideretired]

Thanks guys. Been doing this salt stuff for 25 years, but took a few years off and its always good to see what others are doing when setting up something new. Great advice, think I will set it up with the pump I have to cycle etc and see what I think, always easy to swap a pump. I am looking at the Sicce as I hear nothing but good for them, mag are reliable, but ya, do make a bit of noise. Thanks again all, much appreciated.

[Nickbruh510]

Place that mag on some vision to absorb the vibrations ???

[ajmckay]

I use a QuietOne 1200 - about 300gph. Not sure exactly what I lose with head loss (about 36") but it works pretty good for my tank. I prefer to have a lower powered return pump and use pumps in the display as primary flow generators.

 

I also like not having much splashing or noise so a slower return pumps helps with that too.

 

Since you already have the Mag3 why don't you set it up using that and then decide if you want to swap it out for something more powerful?

[HM3105]

So I may have misunderstood your question, if so sorry for this useless reply.

 

You are not really looking for the return pump to actually be the primary flow provider for the tank. You're going to get most of your flow with your powerheads (prop. style). You probably want to make sure your overflow can handle whatever type of pump you go with without having to throttle it back too much, I've been told that restricting the flow causes more pump wear AND noise.

[Esage]

take a look at the sicce 2.5-3.0 good pumps, im using a 2.0 for my 30 breeder return line.

Same here