Low or high flow through sump?

[umbis]

Trying to fine tune my system. 75 g dt, 20 g sump, 2" overflow, 1175 gph pump. 3 powerheads.

Do you guys generally like low or high flow through your sump? I've got my return ball valve closed half way (3/4" flex return line). No idea what flow rate is going through my sump atm, but it seems on the low end.

 

[MrHermit85]

I guess it depends on what your sump is used for? If you have a fuge down there you probably don't want rapids going through as your macros and all won't have time to do squat. Or at least that's what I think

 

[umbis]

No fuge (yet). Just skimming and I have filter bags with carbon and phosphate remover.

 

[MrHermit85]

No fuge (yet). Just skimming and I have filter bags with carbon and phosphate remover.

Then blast it lol. Just kidding I am not sure about with no fuge, it's just makes sense to me to have slowish flow through the fuge area. Maybe someone will chime in that doesn't have a fuge in their sump.

 

[Poseidon]

I would say put as much through as your drain can handle. But that's just my humble opinion

 

[Neopimp]

I would say put as much through as your drain can handle. But that's just my humble opinion

What he said.  I run like 1500ish through mine. But I also have a slow flow refufium.  Look at it this way,  You skimmer can process a certain amount of water.  Whether slownflownormfast flow the skimmer is still going to process the same amount.  Either was will work.  If you go slow stuff can settle out in the sump or if you go fast up can use that flow in the display tank. 

People here run both and other than the fast flow using slightly more power, I wouldn't over think it.

 

[Neopimp]

If that makes no sense I blame the percocets I am on . Weee

 

[theyangman]

I enjoy it at a medium pace.....

 

[Pistol]

I run @ 2000 gph, but I have a 140 gal sump and a separate low flow fuge as well, skimmer has no problem pulling the gunk out.

 

[MrHermit85]

I run @ 2000 gph, but I have a 140 gal sump and a separate low flow fuge as well, skimmer has no problem pulling the gunk out.

Holy crap my poor chaeto ball would fly into the opposite wall if I put 2000 gallons through my tiny 20 gallon sump lol. That said I do get a lot of gunk settling in my sump but I just scoop it out. I have under 400gph going through my sump.

 

[KBennett]

I never understood why you'd want more flow than your skimmer can handle.  If stuff settles it's just easier to vacuum out at water change time.

 

[harleymike]

Im running about 550 gph in mine. Just some liverock, skimmer, gfo reactor, and filtre sock.

 

[draper]

if you compare a sump to a marsh (slow moving water) then one would think low flow.

 

[Pistol]

if your sump is a marsh then your tank is a marsh to, a refugium is a marsh

 

[Neopimp]

I run fast simply because that's how large the pump is.  My skimmer will process the same regardless of sump flow.  Trade off sett lability for more water flow in main tank. 

 

[Duke]

i run high flow and my refugium is flourishing with thousands of feather dusters and wall to wall macro algae. over 1500gph through a 40 gallon sump

 

[curiousphil]

I'm kind of in the same school of thought as neo.  Running a magdrive 18 as my return with a single T off for my GFO reactor.  30 gallon sump, maintained at about 15 maybe (to handle backflow (yes I have alot)).

 

[Neopimp]

This discussion comes up every year.  And every year it's a different conclusion.

All that tells me is that it really is not that important . Don't turn your sump into a stagnant pool or into a whitewater bubble machine and you are good.