 Pumps in a 55 gal
I am having trouble finding a calculator to figure out my pump size and gph in a 55 gal. tank. I'm thinking 4 pumps, #1 on my aqua ev 120 skimmer and they reconmend a mag 5, #2 to return the water to the main tank from the sump, and #3&4 to circulate the tank "ie power heads like maxi-jet" I have heard I need to move 10 to 20 times the tank size in a hour, so that will be 550 gal. or 1100 gals. I will have a distance of 3 to 4 feet between the tank and the refug/sump below. The water will exit the main tank through a overflow in order to get to the refug/sump. I have been planning on using 1" pvc pipe to plumb with. The skimmer instructions say to work right no smaller then a mag 5 or rio 2100, but that is only 500 gph. where does the the" tank circulation" come from? the return pump or others. My thinking is I am returning, lets say 1100 gph and using a 500 gph skimmer pump. my skimmed water will not keep up with my returned water therefore draining the retun sump dry before the skimmer can dump into it. or does the phase I have been reading mean just the circulation pumps in the tank circulate the 10 to 20 times a hour. I hope I did not confuse everyone, because after writing this tread I am more confused, thanks. | 
