Recommendation on a good pump.

[Ducksmasher]

I got a tank being drilled now, two 1" drains at the local shop. 55 gal. Im going to run a sump with filter stack/skimmer/bubble trap/return pump section with multiple ball valves/isolated refugium. Building the sump tomorrow. Have had the tank running with fish (hog choker, large sea stars, mottled purse crabs, calico crabs, and a midshipman) for a few weeks, saved the water and fish in trash cans. I got some odd fish I know.. caught them in my shrimp net. I used gulf water for the tank from 40 miles out. I can get a bunch more from there too!

Question is, whats a good pump for the return pump, and what would be a good pump for a homemade 4" skimmer?

[cuttingras]

Maxi Jet 1000 Power Head



something like this maybe? not sure how powerful it need to be, but maybe a bigger one that you can adjust the flow?

[aquaboy]

Not strong enough Cuttingras. I would go for a mag drive 5.

[Ducksmasher]

i was thinkin maybe a 1200 gph, that way i could divert return flow to the refugium and excess back to the sump or possible future reactor. just didnt know if the danner was a good pump, or if there was a better one out there?

[aquaboy]

Mag drives will run for years without any problems, and are pretty quiet. You dont want to overdo your flow. 600 gph is recommended return flow for a 55 and is what i have on mine. if your gonna divert to fuge, just get like 700 gph or so.

[cuttingras]

Originally Posted by aquaboy

Not strong enough Cuttingras. I would go for a mag drive 5.

this is a protein skimmer pump, not a return pump....yeah mag 5 or even 7 for return

[Ducksmasher]

cool, thanks!

[aquaboy]

Question is, whats a good pump for the return pump, and what would be a good pump for a homemade 4" skimmer?

Guess we were both right, you bout skimmer pump, me bout return

[cuttingras]

Originally Posted by aquaboy

Guess we were both right, you bout skimmer pump, me bout return