Shopping list?!? 180

[Alexander]

Are you going to do a closed loop too or what were you planning to do as far as current is concerned?

[reeffreak]

Just a fair warning,Magdrives are very noisy ran externally.My only concern is heat if ran in the sump,they are big pumps afterall especially the 18 and ups.My suggestion is to go external pumps like the Panworld,Little Giant,Iwaki(japan).


Equipment wise,the list looks good.The return will not be enough flow.Consider circulation pumps,wavemaker system or controller,or doing a close loop.

[Melonbob]

I really don't like the idea of a closed loop, because I am not drilling, I have to go over the top, and I find it even fuglier than powerheads. Unless someone can show me pics of a simple over the top idea that looks good........

As of right now, I'm going with a mag 18, internally. Heat shouldn't be too bad, as I live in northern ontario, and I am running t5's. This saves me drilling the sump. Actually, my sump has a bulkhead, but I don't this this would help with a return pump as its at the top of the tank. For the rest of my flow, I was thinking of koralia 4's or even magnums (2). Always open to ideas

[reeffreak]

Koralias should be fine,I don't even know what magnums are.

[Melonbob]

they are new koralias, I believe the magnum 6 pushes around 2100gph, the 8 around 3400gph

[RyanG]

Bob really you dont need a mag18 for a return pump. Unless you are going to be running three 1.5" overflows. A mag12 is plenty if you go with the 18 you will have to throttle it way back causing more heat and shortening the life of the pump considerably. The only over the top CL that I have seen that looked good was a one inch manifold that made a complete circle around the top(covered by the rim of the tank) with outputs coming out of it.

[Melonbob]

I'm getting very different opinions on what exactly I need for a return pump, I've been told everything from a reeflo dart to a mag 9.5. I'm figuring a mag 18 with 5-6ft head, and a 60g sump is the best balance of what everyone figures I should get....lol! And there is virtually no price difference up here

[daugherty]

the only prob is that the mag 18 is going to pump way to much water to the tank than it will be able to drain.

[hoopsdaddy]

I agree with Ryan. The mag 12 is the right size if you are doing an overflow. If you are drilling and doing a closed loop then you could go bigger. Dual siphon overflow with a mag 12 should be very close to what you need. Just T off the return line and add a ball valve and run that to your sump. That way you can adjust the return if it is a little to much. 3-4 Koralias 4's will take care of the current.

[RyanG]

With my 180 with a 75 gal sump(not that it matters in this case) I run two 1.5" overflows with a mag12 return wide open. No fluctuations at all none whatsoever. Take it for what its worth as its only my two cents but you will be replaceing the mag18 soon if that is what you decide on.