800 GPH dual Sicce 9.0 enough return?

[AquaForge]

Hey Reefers, I just finished setting up my new IM 150 EXT Lagoon. I am running a pair of Sicce 9.0 2500GPH pumps in my basment. Total distance to the tank is 12 feet accounting for bends. One of the hangups is the IM installed bulkheads for the returns are 3/4 inch. I am running 1 inch pipe so its 1 inch all the way to the 3/4 bulkheads. I have both pumps running 80% power and this is all I get. At 100% I get around 400 GPH per pump. My goal is SPS dominated mixed reef, is this going to be enough for the return? I have 3 Max Spect 330 Gyres and 2 powerheads for flow in the tank. Kind of concerned spending this much and getting no where near the 1000 that the Sicce chart indicated I should be getting per pump at the head I have (out of the 2500).

 

[Cichlid Dad]

12 foot headspace is a lot for any pump. The more headspace you need to overcome the more expensive the pump will be. IMHO you are getting great value for your dollar.

 

[AquaForge]

12 foot headspace is a lot for any pump. The more headspace you need to overcome the more expensive the pump will be. IMHO you are getting great value for your dollar.

Is it enough flow?

 

[twentyleagues]

You dont need or want a ton of flow through the sump. Power heads or wave makers in tank will/need to be the majority of your flow. I think through the sump you are good. In tank sounds like you are good but corals and their placement matters.

 

[AquaForge]

You dont need or want a ton of flow through the sump. Power heads or wave makers in tank will/need to be the majority of your flow. I think through the sump you are good. In tank sounds like you are good but corals and their placement matters.

Ok great! I spent a ton of time last night looking for bigger pumps. I did a DIY sump and can’t drill it so the pumps have to be internal. Otherwise I would go with my tried and true Iwaki.

 

[twentyleagues]

Ok great! I spent a ton of time last night looking for bigger pumps. I did a DIY sump and can’t drill it so the pumps have to be internal. Otherwise I would go with my tried and true Iwaki.

I like to run between 400-800 gph through the sump for maximum skimmer/fuge contact time. I'm not current on all the power heads and tank names, when I was last in the hobby years ago people always listed gallonage of tank and min max flow of power heads. I have no idea what size a IM 150 ext actually is or how much flow a max spec 330 puts out. But I know what 666 gallons per hour is (lol @ your return flow numbers) that should be perfect for max dwell for the skimmer and if you use a fuge. In tank, time will tell based on how much flow the powerheads you listed create and where they are and where your corals are.

 

[AquaForge]

Sorry Ill clarify:
IM 150 EXT - Innovative Marine 150 Gallon External Overflow (Lagoon) 48x36x20
MaxSpect 330 Gyre X3 - 2400GPH Laminar flow
My other power heads ~ 2000GPH

Oh and hail satan?

 

[lbacha]

Those flow meters are lowering your GPH as well especially in a high pressure setup like this. I like using them to gauge flow through UV, reactors, etc but find on the returns they just lower the flow and are unecessary (you can gauge the gph by turning you pumps off and putting a mark on the tank at the water level then turn them on and see how long it takes to raise the water level one inch. You just calculate the volume of 1” of your tank and you have your GPH)

 

[twentyleagues]

Sorry Ill clarify:
IM 150 EXT - Innovative Marine 150 Gallon External Overflow (Lagoon) 48x36x20
MaxSpect 330 Gyre X3 - 2400GPH Laminar flow
My other power heads ~ 2000GPH

Oh and hail satan?

yeah you have more than enough flow in numbers. You just need to place them appropriately for the corals. I have 2 icecap gyres that are way to much for my current tank but while I played with them I noticed a cool function. There is a setting that alternates flow so one is stronger then the other and the flow alternates from side to side so there is a constant turbulent area that moves across the tank. Wow that was alot hope it makes sense.