Please reccommend a return pump for 2 tank system

[Tazmaniancowboy]

I'm finally gathering all the equipment to hook up my tanks. I have a basement sump (good ol' 100g rubbermaid)so I will be pumping up to main floor and then horizontally about 5 feet in each direction to two separate tanks. one tank is my 120g and the other tank is the 200g deep dimension tank. Both have dual corner overflows, I believe the 120 is rated for 600gph each and the 200 is rated for 700 each. I will be pumping into a manifold with 4 outlets, 1 to each tank, one to my skimmer, and one for future (probably just water changes.) The pump I need should be reasonably quiet being it is going to be near my wife's door to her home office. Obviously I'd like to consider reliability and electric consumption as well.

Any thoughts comments and reccommendations appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Taz

 

[DaveK]

I wouldn't attempt to run a skimmer from the main return pump. I recommend you get a separate pump for that. It will be a lot easier to control the skimmer, and you usually want to connect a skimmer to the area of the sump where the "dirty" water from the tanks enters the sump.

As for the return pump, since this is a basement setup, you will need a pressure rated pump. You'll likely be raising the water 12 feet or so. I would consider something like an Iwaki MD100RLT, but there are plenty of other good pumps out there. You may also find that using two pumps, one for each tank, may be the best approach. With some cross connecting and a few valves, you'd also have some backup, in case one of the pumps failed.

Since you be moving a lot of water "uphill", you are going to find that power consumption will be high. The electric company will love you. There isn't much you can do about this.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

Thanks for the reccomendation. I have the Iwaki 100. It was set up on my old system with basement sump on a 120 alone. It did ok for the 120, but it was full bore and the overflows had room to spare. For this reason I do not believe that this pump will handle another tank with the 120 wich is what I'm doing. I'll probably use it for a little while I set up the new system, but I'll need to find a better pump. Both of the overflows are rated for 600gph on the 120 and 700 a piece on the 200 for a total of 2600 gph! I know the iwaki does not put out even close to this. Am I thinking this wrong?

I will toy with the idea ov a pump for each tank, but all options are still open.

Come on somebody has to have some experience with this type of situation and have some input!

Taz

 

[DaveK]

If you need to go larger than the Iwaki MD100RLT, I'd consider the ReeFlow Manta Ray or Tiger shark pumps. They are large pressure rated pumps.

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

I think I am going to go with a hammerhead gold. I hear of many who like the reeflo pumps. The gold is more money, but I feel it is worth the 5 year warranty and the electric savings being throttled back. There should also be room for future expansion if I ever need it! Man I wish we were doing a PA group buy! I knew I should have bought a pump during the last one, but didn't know what I would need or what I was doing.

Thanks for the input
Taz