deputydog95
Member
I left the hobby for a while. Used to have a large SPS tank. Now I'm back with the RSM250 which I've had running for around 8 months. Typically we were looking for a DT to sump turnover rate of 3-4 the tank volume per hour. One, you get less microbubbles. Two, you get more contact time in the skimmer with the protein rich water that was just freshly skimmed by the over flow filter grate. Lastly, it just wasn't necessary to have it move that fast through the system.
While we all agree you need agitation inside the tank, using return pumps does not seem like the right way to go.
The stock left pump is around 750gph and the right is around 350 or so gph. So, not counting head (which there really isn't any with this type of system) you're looking at around 1100gph total flow. Or a turnover rate of almost 17x per hour.
Annoyed with just how much flow was coming out of the left pump compartment and unable to throttle it back, I replaced it with a Sicce 550 gph pump and throttled it way back, and then put a hydror rotating nozzle on it. It's probably doing 200gph now.
Now I've probably got around 300-350gph (both pumps combined/right pump feeds the chiller), or a turnover rate of around 4.5, and I'm managing the flow inside the tank with ecotech pumps.
Much, much better.
Only downside is the pump power cord is very thick so I'm still trying to figure out how to run it to the outlet. I may remove the skimmer flap cover altogether and use that as a giant opening to route top off hoses and power cords, as I despise the little tracks and grooves they make you run the cords through.
While we all agree you need agitation inside the tank, using return pumps does not seem like the right way to go.
The stock left pump is around 750gph and the right is around 350 or so gph. So, not counting head (which there really isn't any with this type of system) you're looking at around 1100gph total flow. Or a turnover rate of almost 17x per hour.
Annoyed with just how much flow was coming out of the left pump compartment and unable to throttle it back, I replaced it with a Sicce 550 gph pump and throttled it way back, and then put a hydror rotating nozzle on it. It's probably doing 200gph now.
Now I've probably got around 300-350gph (both pumps combined/right pump feeds the chiller), or a turnover rate of around 4.5, and I'm managing the flow inside the tank with ecotech pumps.
Much, much better.
Only downside is the pump power cord is very thick so I'm still trying to figure out how to run it to the outlet. I may remove the skimmer flap cover altogether and use that as a giant opening to route top off hoses and power cords, as I despise the little tracks and grooves they make you run the cords through.