Pump Question

[chunchma]

I am in the process of planning a 58 gallon Oceanic reef tank. It is a reef ready tank and I already have a Lifereef sump. I am now working on the issue of water movement. I have built a pvc spray bar that will sit behind an egg crate and pvc platform that will support the live rock.

Here's my question - if you look at the attached diagram, I'd like to share a pump for my spray bar and 1/2" Sea Swirl. I already own a Mag 5 and was wondering if that would be enough to power them both? When you look at the diagram, it's important to note that if the Mag 5 is sitting in the sump, it will pass through aprox 5' of hose on it's way to both the spray bar inside the tank and the Sea Swirl.

Any adivce would be greatly appreciated!

 

[chunchma]

Would buy a stronger pump support both?

 

[Anonymous]

Mag 5 for the return or on a closed loop? Mag 5 is not enough for the return IMO.

I have a 58.

I run a mag 9 on the return.

I also have a closed loop running a Panworld HD40 (790 GPH) through an Oceansmotions Squirt to 4 returns in the tank.

I also have 2 maxijet 1200's as well.
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grapefruit

 

[ChrisRD]

Using the Mag 5 to power both will work, but as Rob said it will be very weak. Going with a larger pump would give you more flow, but you'll still be limited by the capacity of your overflow/drain. Also, pushing most of your flow through the overflow/drain with your return pump will not be as quiet as using moderate flow through the sump and additional circulation devices to up the flow in the display tank (ie. powerheads, closed loops, etc.).

Have you considered maybe setting up the spray bar as a closed loop with the Mag 5 and then getting a Mag 7 or Mag 9.5 for your sump return (through the SS)? That would allow you get a lot more flow in the tank without having to put it all through your overflow/sump.