Hi Dave,

If you plan to use a SCWD on your return line, plan on the Mag 9.5 or Mag 12, because the
unit will reduce your output by 20%.

You also must take into consideration how high the water must be pumped into the tank from
the pump. 3', 4', or more.... it changes the output quite a bit. Add a few elbows, check
valves, etc.

I have a Mag 9.5 on my 55g for my return pump, but it goes into a 1" line that has a single
output. It is pushing about 800gph or so into my tank, and I can't run it fully open as my
overflow box can't keep up. By adding an extra Tee into the return line, with an elbow and
a ball valve, I redirect some of the water right back into the sump. And I also feed a
little water into my refugium from that return line, too.

http://www.melevsreef.com/return.jpg

If you use a Sea Swirl, you might not need as powerful a pump because there isn't as much
flow restriction through those, compared to the SCWD.

Marc


Dave wrote:

Hi Marc;

Thanks (as always) for your reply.

I had sent email to the guys at Lifereef and Sea-Swirl ... Ed at
Lifereef recommends a pump between 500 and 900 gph for the Slimline
prefilter/overflow box I was considering. I was considering the 1/2"
Sea-Swirl model but they say the maximum flowrate for that model is
550 gph (the 3/4" model has a max flowrate of 850 gph).

- Dave

Marc Levenson wrote in message ...
Either a Mag 9.5 or a Mag 12 would work with that setup.

Marc


Dave wrote:

Hi;

Basic question, but I can't seem to find consistent info ...

I have an undrilled 55 gal tank and am about to add a sump to it ...
figure I'll use a Lifereef prefilter/overflow box.

What do people recommend I use for a return pump? What would be a
good flowrate? Would 500 gph be too much or not enough or just right?
;-) I'll likely send the output thru a SCWD or SeaSwirl.

- thanks
Dave

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