jgr
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I am in the process of setting up a 75g reef tank. I currently have 3 Maxi-Jet 1200s (300 GPH), an overflow that is rated at 800 GPH, and a sump that will probably hold around 20 gallons. I'm guessing that the total system size will be 85 gallons.
Other posts suggest that I should be moving 10 - 20 times the amount of water in the tank per hour. That would translate to 850 - 1700 GPH.
My principal question is what pump would you suggest? I had been planning on either a Mag 7 (450 GPH @ 4') or a Via Aqua 3600 (600 GPH @ 4'). With the Maxi-Jets, this would give me either 1350 or 1500 GPH. But then I went to visit my LFS and he suggested that I get a Mag 3.5 or Mag 5. I told him that this seemed a little too low, but he claimed that with the 3 Maxi-Jets, any more than the Mag 5 would make the tank too turbulent for clams, soft corals, etc and that I might also run into a problem with small bubbles.
So, here are my other questions:
1. Are his points valid? My impression is that they are not.
2. If they are not, will either the Mag 7 or the Via Aqua 3600 be sufficient? Or would you suggest another pump?
3. If I use the Mag/Via Aqua, will a single outlet for the return from the sump be sufficient, or should I have two outlets to reduce the force of the outcoming water?
Thanks so much for the help. This forum is a fantastic resource.
Other posts suggest that I should be moving 10 - 20 times the amount of water in the tank per hour. That would translate to 850 - 1700 GPH.
My principal question is what pump would you suggest? I had been planning on either a Mag 7 (450 GPH @ 4') or a Via Aqua 3600 (600 GPH @ 4'). With the Maxi-Jets, this would give me either 1350 or 1500 GPH. But then I went to visit my LFS and he suggested that I get a Mag 3.5 or Mag 5. I told him that this seemed a little too low, but he claimed that with the 3 Maxi-Jets, any more than the Mag 5 would make the tank too turbulent for clams, soft corals, etc and that I might also run into a problem with small bubbles.
So, here are my other questions:
1. Are his points valid? My impression is that they are not.
2. If they are not, will either the Mag 7 or the Via Aqua 3600 be sufficient? Or would you suggest another pump?
3. If I use the Mag/Via Aqua, will a single outlet for the return from the sump be sufficient, or should I have two outlets to reduce the force of the outcoming water?
Thanks so much for the help. This forum is a fantastic resource.