Controllable Return Pump Options?

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Hello everyone! So I have a 55gallon display with a 20gallon sump and I am trying to find 2 return pumps that I can control and pretty much have them do variable patterns like wavemakers.
What are your guys opinions???? Please do not recommend anything that is crazy expensive. I already think the reef octopus ones are pretty expensive at about $280 a piece since I'll be needing 2. Thanks for any help and advice ahead of time!

 

[exnisstech]

Not a good idea to vary the flow on return pumps. Set them so the overflow is quiet and use power heads to create in tank flow to your liking.

 

[Fish Fan]

@SaltWaterTank_Noob and I have been in conversation privately and I have encourage them to post publicly because I am NOT an expert, and I’d really like the OP to get some good advice ;-)

@SaltWaterTank_Noob I would very much look towards @exnisstech ’s advice -)

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Not a good idea to vary the flow on return pumps. Set them so the overflow is quiet and use power heads to create in tank flow to your liking.

Aaahhh, I did not think of that! I just didn't want to have to buy 2 gyres but yeah that makes sense, thank you!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Not a good idea to vary the flow on return pumps. Set them so the overflow is quiet and use power heads to create in tank flow to your liking.

Question though cause now I am curious, why does it matter that the returns have a variable flow? It'll still be overflowing the proper amount into the sump.

 

[exnisstech]

It won't overflow the proper amount. It can only overflow the amount of water being pumped by returns. You want to vary that amount so the amount going into the overflow will be constantly changing. Maybe it would function but I don't know how you would ever get the overflow quiet. I'm not great at explaining things but I don't see how it would work well if at all.

 

[noobreefer2]

I love the Jebao pumps for both return pumps and gyre-controllable wavemakers. I used an Eheim AC return pump for about 3 years and then switched to the Jebao, which was half the price, double the flow rate, and quieter. I haven't had any problems so far.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

It won't overflow the proper amount. It can only overflow the amount of water being pumped by returns. You want to vary that amount so the amount going into the overflow will be constantly changing. Maybe it would function but I don't know how you would ever get the overflow quiet. I'm not great at explaining things but I don't see how it would work well if at all.

Wouldnt those controls give me the ability so that I would be able to set it to pump out any amount of GPH I want?? So instead of me doing like 400 consistent GPH, I would do like 800GPH but since they would be going on/off to make different patterns then it would probably still balance out to be 400GPH of overflow?
And as far as the overflow being quiet goes, I thought that was the purpose of the bean style animal system, was so that makes it quiet? Or am I missing something? Sorry.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I love the Jebao pumps for both return pumps and gyre-controllable wavemakers. I used an Eheim AC return pump for about 3 years and then switched to the Jebao, which was half the price, double the flow rate, and quieter. I haven't had any problems so far.

Oh ok awesome! How long have you had the Jebaos running for?

 

[exnisstech]

You can set the pumps to what ever you want but the flow has to be correct to match the flow rate of the overflow. Having them change speed or switch back and forth is going to change the flow which is going to caused fluctuations in the water level in the overflow. I don't know how else to explain it. The flow onto the overflow needs to be consistant it doesn't matter what type of drain your running. Jebao dcp pumps are cheap, I run 3 in different tanks and keep spares. Maybe pick up a couple and experiment

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

You can set the pumps to what ever you want but the flow has to be correct to match the flow rate of the overflow. Having them change speed or switch back and forth is going to change the flow which is going to caused fluctuations in the water level in the overflow. I don't know how else to explain it. The flow onto the overflow needs to be consistant it doesn't matter what type of drain your running. Jebao dcp pumps are cheap, I run 3 in different tanks and keep spares. Maybe pick up a couple and experiment

Ahhh yeah I sort of get you! How long have yours lasted?

 

[BryanM]

Question though cause now I am curious, why does it matter that the returns have a variable flow? It'll still be overflowing the proper amount into the sump.

IMO:

1). If you only use return pumps you have to run them a lot higher. 10x turnover or more... I can't even imagine trying to do this with SPS and some of the numbers I've seen - In the end I think it would get loud, fast.

2). You have more control with powerhead(s) in the display tank. And in this setup you can run pretty low sump to tank turnover very safely. I run 2.5x.

 

[exnisstech]

Ahhh yeah I sort of get you! How long have yours lasted?

I just broke down my tank with a DCP 3500 still going strong after 5 years if my memory is correct. I have a dcp 5000 that has been running 25 months and a dcp 15000 that has been running for a year. They are very quiet and I've never even cleaned any of them because I'm lazy and don't like crawling around to get to them.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

IMO:

1). If you only use return pumps you have to run them a lot higher. 10x turnover or more... I can't even imagine trying to do this with SPS and some of the numbers I've seen - In the end I think it would get loud, fast.

2). You have more control with powerhead(s) in the display tank. And in this setup you can run pretty low sump to tank turnover very safely. I run 2.5x.

1. Yeah thats what I was thinking but maybe not 10x cause the guy on BST said 3x was fine BUT if im using them variably then I would probably put them to like 6x or 7x. What do you mean, Why would that matter for SPS and what numbers are you talking about?
2. Oh yeah for sure but I'm just thinking I don't want to buy 2 gyres. Right exactly!

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I just broke down my tank with a DCP 3500 still going strong after 5 years if my memory is correct. I have a dcp 5000 that has been running 25 months and a dcp 15000 that has been running for a year. They are very quiet and I've never even cleaned any of them because I'm lazy and don't like crawling around to get to them.

Wwwooowwww that is impressive! Awesome! Ok I like the sound of that! Hopefully more people will chime in on those!

 

[BryanM]

1. Yeah thats what I was thinking but maybe not 10x cause the guy on BST said 3x was fine BUT if im using them variably then I would probably put them to like 6x or 7x. What do you mean, Why would that matter for SPS and what numbers are you talking about?
2. Oh yeah for sure but I'm just thinking I don't want to buy 2 gyres. Right exactly!

Generally display tank turnover rates for LPS are in the 10-20x range. SPS I've seen some people as high as 100x... Higher flow for SPS is predominately to blow off waste.

So trying to accomplish either of these with just return pumps, to me, is not desirable.

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Hello everyone! So I have a 55gallon display with a 20gallon sump and I am trying to find 2 return pumps that I can control and pretty much have them do variable patterns like wavemakers.
What are your guys opinions???? Please do not recommend anything that is crazy expensive. I already think the reef octopus ones are pretty expensive at about $280 a piece since I'll be needing 2. Thanks for any help and advice ahead of time!

I am just curious about what 55g tank has two return lines. What model tank do you have? What's your setup look like so far?

As most have said here, you want your return pump(s) to be steady... but if you're insisting on alternating, I could see something like a Syncra Silent 2.0 Pump (500gph) on each return line, potentially running each for 2-5 minutes then switching to the other.

BUT, that would be a complicated system for something that should be a simple solution.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

Generally display tank turnover rates for LPS are in the 10-20x range. SPS I've seen some people as high as 100x... Higher flow for SPS is predominately to blow off waste.

So trying to accomplish either of these with just return pumps, to me, is not desirable.

Woah, I've not heard that at all yet but it's not JUST return pumps. I'll have a gyre in there that does like 5000GPH I believe so the other 2 return pumps are just for extra at 400gph each

 

[BryanM]

Woah, I've not heard that at all yet but it's not JUST return pumps. I'll have a gyre in there that does like 5000GPH I believe so the other 2 return pumps are just for extra at 400gph each

55 gallon, with a 5k gyre, would be a lot I'm assuming its no where near running at 100%.

That said, you can easily set return pumps up in the 2-3x range, and let the in tank powerheads do the majority of tank turnover work.

 

[SaltWaterTank_Noob]

I am just curious about what 55g tank has two return lines. What model tank do you have? What's your setup look like so far?

As most have said here, you want your return pump(s) to be steady... but if you're insisting on alternating, I could see something like a Syncra Silent 2.0 Pump (500gph) on each return line, potentially running each for 2-5 minutes then switching to the other.

BUT, that would be a complicated system for something that should be a simple solution.

I'm going to make it with 2 return lines, it's not an AIO tank. Should it not have 2 return lines?? I had been told 2 return pumps is best.
Oh ok then yeah, that's pretty much about how many GPH I was thinking of going with anyway on each.
There will also be a gyre in the tank that does like 5000GPH. I just wanted to have extra in case I need it. I might not even need it variating if the gyre is doing what I want it to.